Christian communication rights group calls for public role for HIV+ people in churches Toronto/London, | 30.11.2007 | Health & Ethics The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling on its members and partners to encourage their faith communities and their local media to make visible the contributions of people living with HIV and AIDS in parish and community life. In a statement issued today, the organisation's General Secretary, the Rev. Randy Naylor says, "Men and women living with HIV and AIDS make daily contributions to the life of their faith communities. Sadly, these contributions are not always
Anglican Theologian Gibaut To Lead WCC Faith And Order Geneva/Switzerland, | 26.11.2007 | Ecumenism The Executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Council’s governing body, which met September 25-28 in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, ratified the election of Rev. Canon Dr John Saint Helier Gibaut, from the Anglican Church of Canada, as director of the WCC Faith and Order Programme. He will head the Secretariat of Faith and order as of January 2008. A scholar specialized in liturgical and historical theology, Gibaut has extensive ecumenical experience, particularly in the area of
OSCE Publishes Guide on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools Madrid/Warsaw | 27.11.2007 | Religious Liberty The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), will launch a new guide on preparing curricula for teaching about religions and beliefs in a manner sensitive to human rights concerns on November 28 in the Spanish capital Madrid, ahead of the OSCE's Ministerial Council. The 134-page publication, "Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public School", is designed to assist educators
China Christian Council produced first ever Jesus Film DVD Nanjing/China | 26.11.2007 | Bible Recently, Campus Crusade for Christ Asia (CCCA) and United Bible Societies (UBS) were able to support the China Christian Council (CCC) in producing their first ever "Jesus Film" DVD, packaged with the Luke Gospel booklet. The DVD comes in 8 languages and dialects: Mandarin, English, Korean, Mongolian, Lisu, Chaozhou (Teochew), Guangdong (Cantonese), Minnan (Hokkien). UBS has supported the Church in the distribution of 290,000 sets of this Video CD with a Luke Gospel portion over the past yea
50 Million Bibles printed in China Nanjing/China | 26.11.2007 | Bible On September 11, 2007, the 50 millionth Bible rolled off the Press at Amity Printing Company (APC) in Nanjing, the capital of China's Jiangsu Province. A celebration will be held in Nanjing on December 8 to celebrate this major milestone in Bible production in China. At the December celebration, the United Bible Societies (UBS) and Amity Foundation (AF) will sign an agreement to extend the Joint Venture Agreement between UBS and AF for a further 10 years when the current Agreement expires in
Principality of Liechtenstein Plans Separation of Church and State Vaduz/Principality of Liechtenstein | 13.11.2007 | Religion + State Liechtenstein plans to reorganize the relationship between Church and State. Prime Minister Otmar Hasler has presented a concept for disentangling Church and State. Constitutional amendments and new laws will govern the new relationship between the State and the various religious communities. Under the Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, which entered into force in 2003 after a popular vote on a partial revision, the Roman Catholic Church continues to enjoy a special status. Th
Polish Adventists join other Protestants in denouncing posters attacking Luther Lublin/Poland | 08.11.2007 | International Protestant leaders in one of Poland's largest cities have condemned a poster campaign denouncing Martin Luther, the 16th century German Protestant leader, as a blasphemer and heretic, a November 7 news release by Ecumenical News International (ENI) reported. "What would happen if someone hung placards outside a Roman Catholic church attacking the 'blasphemy and heresy of John Paul II,' or the 'blasphemy of Muhammad' at a mosque?" said Mariusz Maikowski, a pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist
Let's take risks, WCC General Secretary Kobia tells Global Christian Forum Limuru/Kenya | 08.11.2007 | Ecumenism "Some would have said that this event was not possible, but here we are - and the world wonders what will come next," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at the opening of the Global Christian Forum (GCF) taking place in Limuru, near Nairobi, Kenya, from 6-9 November. Stressing the "unprecedented breadth" of the event in his address to a room packed with some 240 high level representatives from Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical
Billy Graham's 89th Birthday Caps Year Of Transition Charlotte, North Carolina/USA | 06.11.2007 | International As evangelist William (Billy) F. Graham marks another birthday, turning 89 on November 7 (Wednesday), he expressed gratitude for his health, his family and the ongoing hope of being reunited with his wife Ruth in Heaven. Since the passing of his marriage and ministry partner of nearly 64 years on June 14 this year, Billy Graham said he has been surprised at the depth of his grief, but simultaneously encouraged by the commensurate magnitude of God's grace. "At times, I feel as if part of m
Urban population overtakes rural areas; Adventist Church focusing mission Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 06.11.2007 | International Populations in urban areas now outnumber those in rural areas, United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) officials said in an announcement earlier this year. But as Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders create strategic plans, leaders say the church's presence in urban areas remains minimal. "When you see the raw statistics it's frightening," says Gary Krause, director of the world church's Office of Adventist Mission. "We're just not touching the cities." But he notes that the Adventist Church h
Loma Linda University Centennial Complex: New Global Gateway Loma Linda, California/USA | 05.11.2007 | International By David James Heiss, Staff Writer [img id=1067 align=right]The US$78 million Centennial Complex at Loma Linda University promises to be a virtual global gateway. The four-story complex, started in January, is being built by McCarthy Construction Inc. of Newport Beach and was designed by Los Angeles-based Cannon and Associates. So far US$51 million has been raised, funded mostly through philanthropic efforts, according to university Chancellor Richard Hart. The Centennial Complex will
Kenya: Presidential Elections Planner Caters To Adventists, Muslims Nairobi/Kenya | 02.11.2007 | Religion + State Kenyans won't have to choose between worship services and civic duty during this year's presidential elections, according to remarks made by Samwell Kivuitu, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya, during a press conference earlier this month. To accommodate the country's Muslims, Kivuitu said, the December Election Day will not fall on a Friday -- the Muslim day of worship -- as it did in 2002. Kivuitu also indicated government officials would consider Seventh-day Adventists in choosi
