Kenya: Visit from Adventist president bolsters unity Nairobi/Kenya | 29.08.2008 | International Be 'ambassadors of peace,' Paulsen says; Christianity a 'higher identity, new humanity' Seventh-day Adventist world church president Jan Paulsen called for forgiveness and reconciliation during his first visit to Kenya since violence fueled by contested presidential elections erupted there in January. Acknowledging the ethnically driven conflict, Paulsen said while the church cannot change the inevitability of war, it can change its response. Faith in God transcends ethnic loyalties, a me
North American Presbyterians, Adventists continue conversations Louisville, Kentucky/USA | 29.08.2008 | Ecumenism Third round of talks in July focus on ‘distinctives’ of each communion After three rounds of conversations, representatives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America say they have found more than enough common ground to continue their talks, perhaps even drawing in representatives of other Reformed denominations. "Our differences are not of such a nature as to preclude fellowship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ," said the R
Dead Sea Scrolls going online Jerusalem/Israel, | 29.08.2008 | International Israel Israel Antiquities Authority, the custodian of the Dead Sea Scrolls that shed light on the life of Jews and early Christians at the time of Jesus, said it would take more than two years to complete the project to make the ancient documents available online. Using powerful cameras and lights that emit no damaging heat or ultraviolet beams, scientists in Israel have been able to decipher sections and letters in the scrolls invisible to the naked eye. The scrolls, most of them on parc
India: Saffron Mob burns Adventist pastor Berhampur, Orissa/India | 28.08.2008 | International Violence leaves14 dead, sends Christians fleeing for their lives Hindu extremists are being blamed for the death of a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in the East Indian State of Orissa, late last week, local church leaders reported. The pastor of the Phulwani Adventist Church, M. Samuel Nayak, and his mother were burned to death during anti-Christian violence sweeping the region of India, said Gordon Christo, communication director for the Adventist Church in Southern Asia. Nayak's family
Adventist Euro-Africa president to retire December 2008 Berne/Switzerland | 19.08.2008 | International The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Euro-Africa Division, pastor Ulrich Frikart, announced his retirement August 12. Frikart will officially leave office at the end of December 2008. The Swiss theologian Frikart became president of the region in 1995. He previously served as secretary of that Church division, with headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. During his presidency, Frikart promoted outreach to postmoderns and young people and updated church communication methods in an e
Adventist West-Central Africa president announces retirement Abidjan/Cote d'Ivoire, | 19.08.2008 | International Daniel to leave office at end of year Luka T. Daniel, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's West-Central Africa Division, announced his retirement August 15. Daniel will officially leave office at the end of December 2008. Daniel became president of the region in 2003. He previously served as president of what is now the church's Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Daniel, 65, said the decision was based upon reaching retirement age and his recent health issues. "Our th
First Adventist woman commissioned to serve as U.S. Navy chaplain Berrien Springs, Michigan/USA | 11.08.2008 | International Townsend calls military 'mission field' [img id=1301 align=right]Adrienne Townsend accepted the oath of office and was officially sworn in July 24 as the first Seventh-day Adventist woman to serve as an active duty chaplain in the United States Navy. Lieutenant Junior Grade Townsend said her four years as associate dean of women at Adventist-owned Andrews University prepared her for chaplaincy and called her new post a "huge mission field" where she could minister to similarly aged young
Major Protestant denomination calls for climate change action Prague/Czech Republic | 07.08.2008 | Ecumenism The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has called on Baptists world-wide to strongly support government, corporate and community initiatives to address the causes of human-induced climate change. In a resolution passed at its Annual Gathering at Prague, Czech Republic, on July 25, the Baptist World Alliance affirmed the biblical teaching that God created all things and that God’s creation was good (Genesis 1:1-2:2), and that God had entrusted the care of creation to humans (Genesis 1:28, 29; 2:15)
