France: Adventist Church Opens House of Hope in Paris Paris/France | 18.12.2009 | International The protestant Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated in Paris the official opening of the "House of Hope". This is the new spiritual and cultural center for more than 8.000 000 adult baptised Adventist Christians, living in the Northern part of France. During the opening ceremony, November 27, the deputy Mayor of Paris, Mr. Jean Tibeiri, said, "It's good that a church like yours is open to society. It's a good thing to have created such a cultural and spiritual center, and I am delighted th
Russia and Vatican to Establish Full Diplomatic Ties Rome/Moscow | 17.12.2009 | Religion + State Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Pope Benedict XVI agreed December 3 to establish full diplomatic relations between Russia and the Holy See. According to the Religion News Service (RNS), this step is "likely to be seen as healing decades of mutual suspicion and tension". "During the meetings both parties expressed their satisfaction at the cordial existing relations and it was agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Russian Federation," read a statement
Adventist leaders comment on Copenhagen climate summit <br> <br> Caring for environment is "Christian issue," Church president says Copenhagen/London/Silver Spring (USA) | 16.12.2009 | International Adventist News Network (ANN) recently reported on official Adventist church reactions to the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. Should Christians be concerned about caring for the environment? The president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, Jan Paulsen, says "yes," in a video released on YouTube, coinciding with the Copenhagen Summit. "Quite fundamentally, caring for the environment goes back to our [Adventist] earliest beginnings," Paulsen said. The archbishop of Canterbury,
Study Center for Adventist Muslim Relations with new director <br> <br> Pastor, seminary professor Merklin has served internationally Berrien Springs, Michigan/USA | 16.12.2009 | International Former mission institute director Lester Merklin assumed his new post December 1 as head of the Global Center for Adventist Muslim Relations of the Seventh-day Adventist world church. The center is one of five Global Mission religious study operations by the church's Office of Adventist Mission established to build bridges of understanding between the protestant Adventist Church and major world religions. The center consists of Merklin, who will also continue as a faculty member at Andre
Russia: Proposed amendments trouble country's religious liberty advocates <br> <br> Measure seeks to restrict missionary activity Moscow/Russia | 15.12.2009 | Religion + State Religious liberty advocates in Russia say proposed amendments to a national law seek to regulate free religious expression in the country and endanger profession of faith provisions in the Russian constitution. The amendments to the 1997 law called "On Freedom of Conscience and Association" specifically target so-called "missionary activity" in the country, experts say. If passed, the anticipated amendments will "not only contradict the constitution, but also violate the right to freedom
Turks Threaten to Kill Priest over Swiss Minaret Decision <br> <br> Slap to religious freedom in Switzerland leads to threat over church bell tower in Turkey Istanbul/Turkey | 15.12.2009 | Religious Liberty In response to a Swiss vote banning the construction of new mosque minarets, a group of Muslims this month went into a church building in eastern Turkey and threatened to kill a priest unless he tore down its bell tower, according to an advocacy group. Three Muslims on December 4 entered the Meryem Ana Church, a Syriac Orthodox church in Diyarbakir, and confronted the Rev. Yusuf Akbulut. They told him that unless the bell tower was destroyed in one week, they would kill him. “If Switzerla
Adventist religious leaders disappointed with Swiss ban on new Islamic minarets <br> <br> Construction of Mosque prayer towers restricted after national vote Zurich/Washington | 09.12.2009 | Religious Liberty Seventh-day Adventist religious freedom leaders in Switzerland and at the church world headquarters say they are disappointed over last week's national vote in Switzerland banning construction of new minarets -- prayer towers atop Muslim mosques. The action, effective immediately following the November 29 vote, was passed by 57.5 percent of voters following a national referendum supported by a far right-wing political party. The country's three other main political parties and the federal gov
Religious liberty advocates oppose Washington D.C./USA | 08.12.2009 | Religious Liberty Religious liberty experts warn a so-called "defamation of religions" resolution slated for consideration by the United Nations General Assembly this month will invite restriction of religious speech worldwide. Meant to punish those whose speech may offend the religious sensibilities of listeners, passage of the resolution would create a troubling precedent for restricting freedom of religious expression, said James D. Standish, director of UN relations for the Seventh-day Adventist world chu
Switzerland minaret ban would be discrimination against religion, says Amnesty London/UK | 26.11.2009 | Religion + State A ban on the construction of minarets would breach Switzerland's obligations to uphold freedom of religion, Amnesty International (ai) said ahead of a referendum on November 29 on a constitutional amendment. The proposal, which was initiated by 16 individual members of the traditionally strong Swiss People's Party (SVP) and the Federal Democratic Union (EDU), will ask Swiss voters if they wish to add the sentence "The construction of minarets is forbidden" to Article 72 of the Constitution.
Christmas Message 2009 from the WCC General Secretary Samuel Kobia Geneva/Switzerland | 17.11.2009 | Ecumenism CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2009 FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
US court rules against "I Believe" car license plates Washington D.C./USA | 13.11.2009 | Religion + State A US federal judge has ordered South Carolina not to issue cross-adorned ''I believe'' car number plates, ruling it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. US District Court judge, Cameron Currie, ruled that the state legislature - which voted unanimously last year to approve the number plates that include a cross in front of a stained glass window - had clearly given favoured government treatment to a single faith, and ordered to halt its issue. "Whether motivated by
Adventist Church adds 1 million members sixth year in a row <br> <br> Leaders encourage honest look at records; cite membership audits as catalyst for growth Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 21.10.2009 | International More than 1 million people joined the protestant mainstream Seventh-day Adventist Church during the year ending June 30, 2009, marking the sixth consecutive year of million-member gains, church officials said. Adventist Church' Office of Archives and Statistics said an average of 2,818 people joined the church daily, bringing the world membership total to 16,049,101 baptized believers. Church leaders initially projected a world church membership of 17 million by 2009. However, partially d
Adventist world church, ADRA launch campaign to stop violence against women <br> <br> EndItNow signatures will go to UN Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 20.10.2009 | Health & Ethics The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Women's Ministries department joined together to stop violence against women October 14 during the launch of a new advocacy campaign. Titled EndItNow, the campaign calls Adventists around the world to work in their communities to stop violence against women and girls, campaign organizers said. The EndItNow campaign features a signature drive, aiming for 1 million signatures representing each of the
Reconciliation, unity, involvement are Adventist Church's Annual Council 2009 themes <br> <br> World church president emphasizes cross of Christ as central to Adventist message Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 19.10.2009 | International Without preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ, "there is no gospel," declared Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, on October 10 during a Sabbath morning worship service held at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. In a wide-ranging sermon, Paulsen noted areas where tensions may rise within the movement, which claims over 16 million baptized members and more than 25 million people attending weekly worship around the world. For ex
Health statement positions Adventist Church to lobby on global issues Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.10.2009 | Health & Ethics Seventh-day Adventist Health Ministries will now have greater emphasis on public health and possible partnerships with allied organizations, following action taken October 14 by the world church's Executive Committee. Adventist Church officials voted a recommended statement from a July conference, which brought together top Adventist Church leaders and World Health Organization (WHO) representatives to explore partnership possibilities for implementing public health initiatives. The statem
Moscow Patriarchate met Protestant church leaders and ministers Moscow/Russia | 16.10.2009 | Ecumenism Russian Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk received on October 5 in the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR) in Moscow a group of church leaders and ministers from several Protestant churches and communities in various regions in Russia. There were some sixty representatives of the Union of the Christians of Evangelical Faith in Russia, the Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Russia (RUECB), the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Russia and Presby
Adventist Church votes guidelines for mission unity, contextualization <br> <br> Statement urges core beliefs in outreach to other faiths, cultures Silver Springs, Maryland/USA | 14.10.2009 | International Meeting at the Seventh-day Adventist church's world headquarters for annual business meetings, the Executive Committee approved October 13 guidelines for balancing the need for contextualization against possible religious syncretism as the church ramps up outreach to other cultures and religions. The Roadmap to Mission policy statement comes at a time when religious expressions among Hindus, Buddhists, animists, could be at odds with core Adventist beliefs, leaders said. The document recogniz
Statistics of Religions: More Muslims than Catholics, More Adventists than Jews Rome/Basel | 26.09.2009 | International According to recent information provided by the Vatican, Muslims outnumber Catholics worldwide. At the end of 2008, there were 1.280 billion Muslims and 1.165 billion Catholics, reported Vittorio Formenti, director of the head office for statistics of the Roman Catholic Church. The Italian newspaper "Il Tempo" stated that the number of Christians worldwide totals 2.145 billion. The figure for Muslims was not divided into Shia and Sunni or other Muslim communities. Formenti also said that the app
ADRA Among Top 100 Most Powerful Non-profit Brands, Says New Report Boston, Mass.,/USA | 15.09.2009 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been recognized as one of the top 100 most valuable brand names, with worth US$60.4 million, among 1.5 million non-profit entities in the United States of America, according to a new report. The YMCA of the USA has the nation's most valuable nonprofit brand, worth almost US$6.4 billion, according to Cone's Nonprofit Power Brand 100 study. The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 report, which appeared in the New York Times and other leading
Adventists in U.S. slower to adopt new personal technology than public, study reveals Orlando, Florida/USA | 13.09.2009 | Media While Seventh-day Adventists in the United States are slower to adopt new personal technology than the public, they are on the "cutting edge" of Internet evangelism, research presented during the Global Internet Evangelism Network (GiEN) Conference on the church's approach to technology suggested this week. Adventists in the U.S. are generally older than the wider public, which may explain the trend, said Paul Richardson, executive director for the Center for Creative Ministry for the Advent
Korean churches and government stand ready to welcome WCC Assembly 2013 Geneva/Busan | 01.09.2009 | WCC Central Committee According to members of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCC), a beachfront location, an opportunity to be a witness for peace and reconciliation, and a commitment to engage the breadth of the region’s church community as widely as possible: these are among the features those attending the World Council of Churches' (WCC) 10th Assembly in Busan, South Korea can expect. The WCC central committee on 31 August chose Busan, the second largest city in South Korea with more than 4 mill
World Council of Churches 10th Assembly to take place 2013 in Korea Geneva/Swwitzerland | 31.08.2009 | WCC Central Committee The delegates at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee voted August 31 to hold the 10th WCC Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea in 2013. The decision was taken by secret ballot and decided in one round. A total of four member churches extended invitations to the WCC to hold its next assembly in their country. Three of the four invitations came from Orthodox churches; Damascus, Syria, Rhodes, Greece and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the fourth invitation came from the National C
Christian Unity remains central on Agenda of new WCC General secretary-elect Geneva/Switzerland | 30.08.2009 | WCC Central Committee World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary-elect Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit was asked on August 28 to outline his vision for the organization. He didn’t have to look far for inspiration. A tapestry on the wall just to his left at the press conference, in the same hall where he was elected to the office the day before, displayed the words – in Greek – of Christ’s prayer in John 17: ". . . that they all may be one". "That is the foundation of the World Council of Churches, and its goal,
Olav Fykse Tveit elected WCC general secretary Geneva/Switzerland | 27.08.2009 | Ecumenism Norwegian theologian and pastor Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 48, was elected 7th general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursday 27 August during its Central Committee meeting. Tveit will be the youngest general secretary since Willem A. Visser 't Hooft who had led the WCC while it was in process of formation and following its founding assembly 61 years ago. Since 2002, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has been the general secretary of the Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and In
US Lawyer appointed as new UN liaison for Adventist World Church <br> <br> Religious liberty expert hopes to secure church a 'seat at the table' Washington D.C./USA | 26.08.2009 | Religion + State A veteran Seventh-day Adventist religious freedom advocate and lawyer will return to employment at Adventist World church headquarters to serve as the protestant denomination's liaison to the United Nations, the church's Executive Committee announced last week. James D. Standish, Esq., served as Director of Legislative Affairs at the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters for seven years. He spent the past year as executive director of the United States Commission on International R
«We Are A Bridge Between The Voiceless And Hopeless» <br> <br> Adventist Womens Ministries International Congress for West-Central Africa Ikeja, Lagos/Nigeria | 09.08.2009 | International The Director of Women's Ministries at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Heather Dawn Small, has stressed the need to empower and revive African women from the shackles of poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and indiscrimination, which, according to her, has remained a stumbling block to the development of our society. Small said this during the Adventist Women's Ministries International Congress to mark the 50th Golden Jubilee of Babcock University as an educational instituti
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (August 9) <br> <br> WACC Calls for recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Communication Rights London/Toronto | 09.08.2009 | Media On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, August 9, 2009, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) calls for recognition of Indigenous Peoples' communication rights as integral to their human rights. "Such rights are not just a matter of civil and political rights, but include economic, social and cultural rights" says the Rev. Randy Naylor, World Association for Christian Communication General Secretary. "Implementation of human rights demands recognition of
Delegate selection begins for Adventist Churchs General Conference Session 2010 Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 30.07.2009 | International More than 2,400 voting members expected to gather in Atlanta; push for younger delegates Though it's nearly a year away, some 2,400 delegates are already being selected for the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 59th General Conference Session, scheduled for June 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Last week, the executive secretary's office of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists sent each of the church's 13 world regions, or "divisions," their quota of voting delegates for the 10-da
Adventist officials investigate student unrest in Uganda Luweero/Uganda | 30.07.2009 | Religion + State Seventh-day Adventist Church officials in East-Central Africa are investigating circumstances behind the shooting of two students July 26 when local police used live fire to quell a riot at a church-run secondary school in Uganda. The students remain in "stable condition" at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, the East African nation's capital, said Esther Mugerwa, education director for the Adventist Church in Uganda. Five other students are also recovering after reportedly sustaining minor injurie
Adventist Church activities in Honduras continue in wake of ousted president Tegucigalpa/Honduras | 30.07.2009 | Religion + State Leaders remain cautious as situation develops Seventh-day Adventist Church services and activities have continued uninterrupted in the wake of an interim government coming to power after the ousting of the nation's president several weeks ago. The overthrow sparked demonstrations in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where residents now follow a curfew and have noted an increased military presence. "So far all of our churches throughout Tegucigalpa and the rest of the country have conti
Adventist Church moves to strengthen partnerships with health organizations Geneva/Switzerland | 08.07.2009 | Health & Ethics Denomination's health focus can contribute to world heath goals, church president says The Seventh-day Adventist world church president July 7 called on Adventists to partner with other health organizations in offering primary healthcare globally, a request that urges the denomination's members and institutions to shed individualistic approaches to offering care in communities. World church president Jan Paulsen's remarks came on the opening day of a global health conference, which is expl
Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle in Geneva, July 6-11 Geneva/Switzerland, | 03.07.2009 | Health & Ethics From July 6 to 11, the city of Geneva (Switzerland) will host the Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle. The six-day international event, with the sub-title "An Exploration of Lifestyle in Primary and Spiritual Care", offers twenty tracts and seminars, over 250 presentations by 140 international specialists. Participants will receive latest scientific facts demonstrating how lifestyle choices impact primary medical and spiritual care to reduce medical costs, improve healthcare, and improve t
Norwegian Bible Society Elects Adventist Chairman Oslo/Norway | 01.07.2009 | Bible The Norwegian Bible Society (NBS), the oldest inter-church organisation in Norway, has elected June 11 Pastor Tor Tjeransen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway, as new Chairman. It is the first time that this position has been filled by a member of a free church in Norway. Until today a bishop of the Church of Norway has been holding this position. The Church of Norway confesses the Lutheran Christian faith. The Norwegian Bible Society was established in 1816 within the C
Sri Lanka: Health of Displaced Persons Major Concern for ADRA Wattegedara, Maharagama/Sri Lanka | 01.07.2009 | ADRA As the first phase of resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continues in Sri Lanka, a lack of basic emergency resources, such as water, food, and proper sanitation, are compromising the health and well-being of those currently residing in temporary camps in the northern region of the country, reports the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). “These people are arriving after months on the run, and have sustained losses to their homes, belongings, and families,” said Edg
Escalating Violence In Sudan Raises Concerns Over Stability Juba/Sudan | 01.07.2009 | ADRA Rising tensions in South Sudan are threatening to further destabilize a region already struggling with widespread poverty, chronic unemployment and inadequate access to basic services, including health care, education, and clean water, reported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "The need to continue to reintegrate returnees is critical for the stability of South Sudan," said Clement Arkangelo, associate country director for the ADRA Sudan Southern Sector office, based in Jub
Knighthood, Reception & Vision for New Governor-General of Jamaica London/UK, | 22.06.2009 | International A knighthood at Buckingham Palace, a reception at the Jamaican High Commission in London and visits to the Adventist Camp Meetings of North and South England Conference in Southport and Prestayn made for a very busy weekend for Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica. The first Seventh-day Adventist to serve as Governor-General of Jamaica was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Friday, 12 June. The same afternoon, the High Commissioner for Jamaica, His
U.S. Faith groups welcome tobacco regulation <br> <br> Faith coalition cheer Congressional approval of FDA regulation of tobacco industry Washington D.C./USA | 22.06.2009 | Health & Ethics American Faith leaders have applauded U.S. Congress for its action approving landmark legislation authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products. "Better late than never, the Congress has responded decisively to pleas from medical and scientific experts and hundreds of religious leaders across the country to give the American consumer regulatory protection from the relentless marketing of this deadly health threat," said Wesley "Pat" Pattillo, the National C
Former Baptist Chief Executive Officer Lotz receives international religious liberty award Washington D.C./U.S.A. | 19.06.2009 | Religious Liberty Denton Lotz, former general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), received the International Award for Religious Liberty on June 18, in the U.S. capital Washington D.C. Lotz, who was named General Secretary Emeritus upon his retirement from the BWA in 2007, was awarded for making "religious freedom a major focus of his ministry as church leader and church statesman," at the 7th Annual Religious Liberty Dinner, which was sponsored by "Liberty" magazine, the International Religious Lib
Pitcairn Island has greater Freedom and Responsibility under New Constitution Adamstown/Pitcairn Island, South Pacific Ocean | 12.06.2009 | International Pitcairn Island has a new Constitution, the fourth in the island’s 219-year European-Polynesian history, and although its provisions are being followed on the island its people have not yet formally voted on it. The new Constitution was accepted by the Pitcairn Island Council in August 2008, on the urging of the Auckland-based Pitcairn Commissioner Leslie Jacques, but the Pitcairn people have as yet not voted to accept the document, nor has it been officially promulgated on the island. Cha
British Adventists Vote To Streamline Future Business Sessions Stanborough Park, Watford/United Kingdom, | 07.06.2009 | International The Seventh-day Adventist administration of the countries of Britain and Ireland, known as the British Union Conference (BUC), voted a plan that is described as “more efficient and streamlined as well as giving a greater level of input for delegates and more information for members as a whole”. This took place at a special one day Extraordinary Session of the BUC on 17 May at Stanborough Park, Watford. Over 320 delegates heard that the current system could be seen as a drain on finances that
World Environment Day, 5 June 2009: <br> <br> Christian Communicators call for environmental actions Ontario/Canada | 05.06.2009 | International To commemorate World Environment Day, 5 June 2009, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling for action rather than words to solve environmental problems. "Global greenhouse emissions need to be dramatically reduced, while at the same time raising the quality of life for the majority of the world’s people." The full text of the WACC statement, released June 5, reads, as follows: "On World Environment Day 2009, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
Australia: Flood Victims in New South Wales Receive Assistance Sydney/Australia | 03.06.2009 | ADRA Tens of thousands of homes were without power and hundreds of schools closed on May 21 as a wild storm front lashed Australia's northeast coast. Heavy rains caused severe flooding in northern New South Wales (NSW). The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia provided immediate support to those affected, through the activation of its disaster recovery teams as part of the NSW Government’s Disaster Plan. Working from numerous evacuation centers throughout the region, ADRA’s tea
In War Torn Northern Sri Lanka, Camps Strain Under Pressure Colombo/Sri Lanka | 03.06.2009 | ADRA While Sri Lanka’s decades long civil war appears to have come to a sudden end, an ongoing humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen in overcrowded camps holding thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) unless unfettered access is given to aid organizations, said the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). To mitigate the humanitarian impact among the displaced civilian population, ADRA is preparing to conduct water trucking and distribute hygiene kits to IDPs in the affected r
Cyclone Aila Strikes Bangladesh; ADRA Launches Response Dhaka/Bangladesh | 03.06.2009 | ADRA Cyclone Aila made landfall on the southwestern coast of Bangladesh on May 25 killing approximately 180 people, displacing more than 500,000, and destroying homes, businesses, and thousands of acres of cropland, reports the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "Many villages are still underwater and because of the rainfall, we are afraid that the situation of survivors will continue to deteriorate," said Elidon Bardhi, country director for ADRA Bangladesh. "Currently, people are in
In Mexico, Adventist churches, institutions resume normal operations Mexico City/Mexico | 03.06.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist churches and schools in Mexico are open and operating normally a month after an alarming number of H1N1 flu cases in the country led its government to close schools and discourage large gatherings, such as church services. "We are thankful that things are back to normal for our churches and schools in Mexico," said Israel Leito, president of the Adventist Church in Inter-America. Letio credited precautions taken by local church leaders for safeguarding students and
Deadly Tobacco Products Devastate Developing World New York/Geneva | 27.05.2009 | Health & Ethics As World No Tobacco Day is commemorated on May 31, 2009, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is calling for increased efforts to control the tobacco epidemic focusing on the developing world, where those least able to combat the deadly and debilitating effects of tobacco consumption are also the ones who are most at risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. More than 80 percent of the world’s smok
Ireland's 'blasphemy law' worries religious liberty proponents <br> Proposed legislation may restrict freedoms of expression Dublin/Republic of Ireland | 27.05.2009 | Religious Liberty A proposed law criminalizing the criticism of religion in the Republic of Ireland may defy international standards of freedom of speech and indicate a troubling trend toward more state control over religious matters, religious liberty experts say. Members of the Oireachtas (Parliament) Committee on Justice are considering an amendment to the country's Defamation Bill that will effectively ban "blasphemous libel," making it a fineable offense to publish or utter such speech. The article w
Jean Calvin’s 500th Birthday Remembered at French Adventist University Geneva/Switzerland | 21.05.2009 | unknow An international symposium commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Reformer Jean Calvin (1509-1564) was held May 7 to 9 on the premises of Saleve Adventist University, Collonges-sous-Salève (Upper Savoy/France), near Geneva. The "Colloque Jean Calvin" was organized at the initiative of the Dean of the School of Theology, Roland Meyer, Saleve Adventist University (SAU), in close collaboration with US-based Andrews University (Berrien Springs/Michigan), supported by the Geneva Univ
Video conferencing brings Adventist leadership together for Inter-America church business meetings Miami, Florida/USA | 21.05.2009 | International Two weeks after Seventh-day Adventist leaders at the Inter-American Division (IAD) headquarters in Miami (Florida/USA) cancelled its mid-year executive committee meetings due to the health concerns of the Influenza A (H1N1), church business meetings have taken another form: video conferencing. Top church officials video conferenced with 16 of the 17 major church regions administrators to discuss growth, finances, soul-winning, conditions of the church and other pressing issues during a one-h
Church president calls Chinese Adventist faith Wuxi/People's Republic of China | 20.05.2009 | International A rendition of a popular Adventist hymn by a 45-member choir of the Wuxi Seventh-day Adventist Church, "Lift up the Trumpet," welcomed Pastor Jan Paulsen on his first official visit to the People's Republic of China as the world president of the Adventist world church. "I am often asked, 'How are our brothers and sisters in China?' Now, I will be able to say -- they are well and vibrant," Paulsen told the congregation of several hundred gathered in a 108-year-old city-center Protestant church
Adventist president's visit to China first by a top church leader in decades <br> Hub congregations support nearly 40,000 Adventists Shenyang/China | 20.05.2009 | International Two Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the Northeast Chinese city of Shenyang illustrate the dynamics of the church in China, where local churches often serve as both ministry and administrative hubs for smaller congregations. The Beiguan Church, with nearly 3,000 members, worships in a building situated in a modern neighbourhood and is often visited by sightseeing tours. Four miles away, the Beishi congregation shares an aging, overcrowded structure with another Protestant church amid a
Nighttime Hurricane Force Winds Topple Buildings and Trees On Pitcairn Island Adamstown/Pitcairn Island, South Pacific Ocean | 11.05.2009 | International Pitcairn Island is today, May 12, struggling to recover from night-time hurricane-force winds on Friday, May 8, which sent small buildings flying off their foundations, broke windows, damaged all the island’s banana groves, and plucked hundreds of oranges from fruit trees. "It was quite a whopper," said Pitcairner Kari Young. "It was the dreaded Headache wind, that is from the direction of Headache (a named geographical spot on the island) in Tedside (a section of land on the island’s northwe
Adventist Church cancels mid-year meetings for Inter-America region Miami, Florida/USA | 06.05.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist Executive Committee leaders for the Inter-American region, headquartered in Miami, Florida (USA), have cancelled mid-year business meetings scheduled for this month due to the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu. Four countries in the Inter-America region have confirmed cases of the virus, according to the World Health Organization. Mexico's four major church regions cancelled services last week and through the weekend. Adventist schools and universities
Understanding Islam conferences to amp Adventist interfaith outreach - <br> Areas of cooperation include mutual effort against alcohol, other drugs Washington D.C./USA | 05.05.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders say two conferences exploring areas of common understanding between Adventists and Muslims will bolster the church's interfaith outreach. Earlier this month, dozens of international church officials met in Grenada, Spain, to help erode misperceptions of Islam among Adventists and learn how focusing on mutual beliefs -- such as God, creation and healthy living -- can help members of both faiths build meaningful relationships. "We're living in a world w
Pitcairn Island, Fearful Of Flu, Closes Its Borders, Then Opens Them Again Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands, South Pacific Ocean | 05.05.2009 | Health & Ethics Tiny, isolated Pitcairn Island, which a few days ago sent out a world-wide invitation to visit its shores, on May 2 closed its borders due to the world-wide Swine flu scare. Some hours later, island officials downgraded the restriction to allow visitors who pass a local health check. Whereas an emergency meeting of the local population on May 2, resulted in a barring of all incoming maritime traffic, subsequently island officials have decided that yachties will be allowed ashore if they pass
In Mexico, Adventists cancel church services in wake of swine flu outbreak Mexico City, Mexico | 30.04.2009 | Health & Ethics In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, which has, according a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), claimed 57 lives in Mexico, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country is taking measures to reduce the probability of an outbreak reaching its institutions and churches. Mexico's four major church regions have cancelled church services throughout its 2,571 churches and suspended classes in the 230 Adventist schools and two universities, following the federal government's mandat
Adventist appointed religious liaison for Obama administration Washington, D.C.,/USA | 29.04.2009 | Religion + State A Seventh-day Adventist Christian will help U.S. President Barack Obama's administration consider the concerns of faith communities as it makes policy decisions, the White House announced recently. The Obama administration appointed D. Paul Monteiro, a lawyer and former Senate staffer, to serve as religious liaison in its Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs (OPL-IGA). "The president is serious about involving the views of faith communities in [policy] discussions -- from
Adventist Church Manila/Philippine | 29.04.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist world church leaders recognized spiritual maturity and financial stability last month when they voted a change of administrative status for the North Philippine region of the church. As a 'union conference,' the region is fully self-sufficient and responsible for electing its three main administrative officers: president, secretary and treasurer. Under their former 'union mission' status, the North Philippines received appropriation for operation from the Southern Asia-
Adventists join Interfaith group collaborating efforts against malaria Washington, D.C.,/USA | 29.04.2009 | Health & Ethics Members of faith groups from around the world, including representatives from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, are coordinating efforts to slow the spread of and eventually eradicate malaria. The One World Against Malaria Summit met April 24 in Washington, D.C. to discuss methods of partnering with government organizations and also between various faith communities. During the summit, a group of Muslim and Christian leaders announced the Nigerian Interfaith Action Association against mal
Pitcairn Islanders, Whose Ancestors Once Hid Away From the World Now Say 'Come Visit Us.' Adamstown/Pitcairn Island, South Pacific | 26.04.2009 | International On the eve of the 220th anniversary of the famed mutiny at sea that led to its becoming a hiding place from the world, tiny Pitcairn is now inviting the world to its shores. On April 28, 1789, sailors aboard the British naval vessel H.M.S. Bounty, revolted against their captain while the ship was sailing among the Tongan islands. To escape punishment, a number of them fled to remote Pitcairn island. It was nearly two decades later before the world knew the mutineers had settled on the then un
World Malaria Day: Community Mobilization Crucial to Malaria Eradication Washington D.C./USA, | 24.04.2009 | ADRA [img id=1485 align=right]On World Malaria Day, April 25, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its work to reduce the numbers of people infected and killed by malaria every year worldwide. In Mozambique, a country ravaged by this deadly disease, ADRA is working to change the attitudes and behaviours of more than a million people through the power of community mobilization. Despite the recent successes in the battle against malaria in Africa, the numbers of deaths at
Student riot closes Adventist school in Uganda <br> Lack of national standards, administration negligence cited; 37 students expelled, 17 students injured Kampala/Uganda | 14.04.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist-run Katikamu Secondary School in Uganda has expelled 37 students and closed late last month after students rioted, destroying property, looting the cafeteria and pelting Police officers. The rioting, which began March 22 and lasted for two days, came after rumors spread that the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) had shut down the school's examinations board when administrators failed to comply with the national standards. At least 17 students sought medical
Adventist Church reaffirm mission focus; saving relationships with Christ <br> 'Roadmap to Mission' document Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 14.04.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist world church leaders affirmed last week that evangelistic and outreach efforts among adherents of world religions are to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and not to simply enhance their current spiritual experience. The world church's Executive Committee tentatively approved a statement concerning church working policy during the 2009 Spring Meeting, one of two yearly business meetings held by the church. "God is constantly engaged in saving whomever H
After 200-Year Prohibition Liquor Now Flows On Pitcairn Island Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands/South Pacific | 10.04.2009 | Health & Ethics The tiny Pitcairn Island, home to some 60 descendants of the sailors of the famed mutiny on the Bounty - which hasn't had too good a history with the stuff in the past - now has laws permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages. An ordinance permitting the sale and consumption of liquor on Pitcairn has been signed by the island's Wellington-based governor on March 17, 2009. It carries the weight of law on the island. Interestingly enough, the ordinance prohibits the consumption of liquo
Adventist Church finance report highlights giving patterns, economy Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 07.04.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders from around the world gathered to discuss financial adjustments, outreach strategies and other organizational issues during the 2009 Spring Meeting, April 5 and 6. About 200 delegates and other attendants continued to monitor the economy as it relates to tithing patterns and how the world headquarters reacts to the current economic situation. In a report to the world church's Executive Committee presented April 5, finance officers revealed savings from
British Adventist Headquarters Coming Back from Flames <br> <br> Repair work continues; to be complete by 2010 <br> Watford, Hertsfordshire/UK | 27.03.2009 | International Less than six months after a devastating fire in Watford to the headquarters office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the UK and Ireland on November 16, 2008, the first stage of restoration is almost complete, officials report. Builders have been hard at work restoring the 'new wing' of the building that houses the Adventist Discovery Center, the Adventist Book Center and the Media Center. Work involved repairing or replacing water and smoke damaged walls and ceilings, rewiring parts of
Adventist Church television network breaks ground on new studio Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 25.03.2009 | Media Since its launch in 2003, the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Hope Channel television network has operated out of a basement studio at the world church's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland/USA. The current studio floor has enough space for one set, and production assistants need up to half a day to change designs for different shows. A new US$5 million, multiple-use building with 3,000 square-feet of studio space and room for six sets is expected to change that. The new facility will hel
«ESV Study Bible» named Book, Bible of the Year 2009 and Winner in the Bible Category Dallas, Texas/USA | 25.03.2009 | Bible The "ESV Study Bible" has been named the “Christian Book of the Year” by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), marking the first time the honour has been given to a study Bible. The Bible, which is in the English Standard Version (ESV), includes study notes from evangelical Christian scholars and other reference materials. Published by Crossway, it also won in the best Bible category. "This was a memorable evening in many respects," said Mark Kuyper, president of ECPA. "
Three Adventist families were killed in US plane crash Butte, Montana/USA | 24.03.2009 | International Three Seventh-day Adventist families are among the 14 victims killed in a March 22 airplane crash in Butte, Montana (USA). All three families were members or regular attendees at congregations in Northern California; the three husbands were longtime friends who attended both church-owned Pacific Union College and Loma Linda University. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it could be months before a cause is determined. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administratio
Hollywood Star Power Shines at Seventh Annual SONscreen Film Festival in April Simi Valley, California/USA | 23.03.2009 | Media The seventh edition of the Californian-based "SONscreen Film Festival" in 2009 continues its tradition of giving young filmmakers star access. The SONscreen Film Festival is annually held at AMP Studios facility in Simi Valley, California/USA. Confirmed presenters are Dick Wolf, award-winning creator and executive producer of the three Law & Order drama series, Christopher Erskin, feature film director, Chris Christmas, renowned marketer and official Denver Democratic National Convention merchan
Adventist aid organization to honour 2009 World Water Day Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.03.2009 | ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is observing the United Nation's World Water Day on March 22 by continuing to build safe, accessible wells and improving sanitation for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. World Water Day, established in 1993 after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), is an international day to raise awareness about the 1 billion people without access to clean water. In Mozambique, both the Adventist Development
Adventist leaders, Romanian ambassador affirm commitment to freedom <br> <br> After decades of human rights restrictions, country enjoys full religious liberty Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 16.03.2009 | Religious Liberty The presence of 100,000 Seventh-day Adventist Christians in Romania is "proof" of the church's contribution to the country, said Ambassador Adrian Cosmin Vierita, Romania's emissary to the United States, during a luncheon at the Adventist world church's headquarters March 12. Vierita, who has held his post in Washington, D.C. for the past 14 months, met with Jan Paulsen, world church president, and church officials before the luncheon meeting. The Seventh-day Adventist Church's roots in Roman
Baptists, Adventists meet to underscore common Christian values Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 13.03.2009 | Ecumenism Delegates from the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) met with Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen March 11 to affirm their denominations' common values and recommit to their shared goals of religious freedom. The meeting, which included other church leaders, took place at Adventist world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland/USA. "[Adventists and Baptists] share a Christ-centric faith and many of the same values," said John Graz, director of public affairs and rel
In Guatemala, Adventists mourn murdered pastor Guatemala City, Guatemala | 08.03.2009 | International Guatemalan Seventh-day Adventists are mourning the loss of a minister after he was gunned down in Guatemala's southern region February 26. Erick Cerritos (33), a native of Guatemala, was travelling in his car with his family when he was intercepted by another car and shot several times. Cerritos, who had spent more than a decade serving as a minister in the neighbouring country of Honduras, is the latest victim in a string of escalating violence the church in Guatemala has experienced.
Philippines: First Adventist woman earns theology doctorate Silang, Cavite/Philippines | 08.03.2009 | International A former engineer has become the first Seventh-day Adventist woman in the Philippines to earn a doctorate of theology. Jadaza M. Hintay (45), known to many as "Sister Jade," received her diploma during graduation exercises on March 1 from the Adventist International Institute of Advance Studies (AIIAS), in Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The graduate school is one of a handful of institutions directly affiliated with the Adventist church's world headquarters, located near Washington, D.C. in the
Leena Lavanya to receive Baptist World Alliance Human Rights Award Washington, D.C./USA | 06.03.2009 | Religious Liberty Leena Lavanya of India is the 2009 recipient of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award. Lavanya, referred to by some as the "Baptist Mother Teresa," is being recognized for her work among the poor and dispossessed of India. Her "Serve Trust" organization operates several ministries, including homes for the aged, lepers, and adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. Serve Trust operates a school for children in one of the most depressed areas of Narasara
New South Wales Bible Society's «Jesus. All about life» campaign Goes Statewide Macquarie Park, NSW/Australia | 04.03.2009 | Bible The Bible Society of New South Wales campaign "Jesus. All about life" will now cover all of New South Wales (NSW). It has already run successfully in Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania. "Jesus. All about life" is a non-denominational, advertising-based, mass-media campaign which aims to increase the general public’s awareness of the person of Jesus, and what he said ‘about life’. So far, it has the support of all the major denominations including the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church,
Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches 2009 reports decline in Catholic, Southern Baptist membership New York, N.Y. /USA | 23.02.2009 | Book review The 2009 edition of the Yearbook, edited by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (New York) has just been released. Published in its seventy-seventh edition by Abingdon Press (Nashville), the volume provides membership and financial statistics, descriptions of denominations, contact information for denominational offices, historical data, a directory of theological schools and ecumenical agencies, a calendar of religious holidays and festivals, and a listing of religious peri
Adventists Aid in Zimbabwe Cholera Cleanup Harare/Zimbabwe | 23.02.2009 | ADRA As an increasingly deadly cholera outbreak sweeps across Zimbabwe, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working to stop the spread of the disease through prevention training, health and hygiene education, and the distribution of disinfectants, water treatment tablets, and water containers. Since August 2008, the epidemic has killed nearly 800 people, the United Nations reported. ADRA is targeting 500 families, or approximately 2,500 people, in the Harare suburb of Kuwadzana,
Rebel attack postpones Adventist church visit to Equatorial Guinea Douala/Cameroon | 20.02.2009 | International An early-morning attack February 17 on Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, thwarted several Seventh-day Adventist church leaders' plans to visit the West African nation, postponing a rare opportunity to meet with church members in a country where Adventism was only established in 1986, local church leaders said. A plane scheduled to fly three church executives from Cameroon to Malabo was cancelled Monday evening, February 16, a few hours before gunmen in motorboats attacked the capital
In Venezuela, Adventists continue search for missing medical plane with 7 people on board <br> <br> National aviation authority ceases search after 72 hours; church hiring rescue service Gran Sabana, Bolivar/Venezuela | 20.02.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventists continue to search for a missing medical missionary plane, which disappeared Monday, February 16 in the jungles of La Gran Sabana, a vast southeastern region in Venezuela. The Cessna 182N plane (YV2480) piloted by Robert Norton, who volunteers for Adventist Medical Aviation (AMA) in Venezuela, is believed to have hit turbulent weather after taking off from the community of Carun en route to the community of Bethel. Also in the plane were six passengers: Neiba Norton,
Modern Translation of Chinese New Testament makes debut Nashville, Tennessee/USA, | 19.02.2009 | Bible The printing of 20,000 Chinese Standard Bible New Testaments, described as the first direct Chinese translation by scholars from the original Greek published by Holman Bible Publishers, reports the Baptist Press (BP). Copies are now being sold in the U.S.A., Canada and Brazil. Holman Bible Publishers is affiliated with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). "Our goal is that Chinese Christians would read this translation and love it," said Phill Burgess, executi
Adventist Church controlling costs during global financial challenge <br> Hiring freeze continues, most capital projects on hold Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.02.2009 | International Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church are keeping an eye on expenditures as the church begins to feel the effects of the economic downturn. On February 12, the church's Administrative Committee (ADCOM) voted to continue several restraints on spending, though no employee layoffs were announced. An almost complete hiring freeze continues at the US-based world headquarters, with only the most essential positions being filled when they become open. According to Robert E. Lemon, Ad
India: Christian-Hindu relations in Orissa still tense Orissa/India | 17.02.2009 | Religious Liberty Adventists who fled from violence have not returned, church leaders say Six months after violent attacks left dozens of Christians dead in Orissa, India, Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders report that conditions remain tense in the region. The August 2008 attacks began after right-wing Hindu groups blamed Christians for the assassination of a Hindu clergyman. Recent estimates put the death toll at 119, with over 4,000 homes destroyed and more than 50,000 people displaced from 360 villa
Thoughts on origins continue to evolve 200 years after Darwin: <br> Bicentennial celebration of scientist Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 17.02.2009 | International For some Christians, this year's bicentennial celebration of the birth of Charles Robert Darwin honours his contributions to science and education. For others, the anniversary might seem a reminder that his theories apparently threaten the Biblical account of creation. The famous British scientist and author of "The Origin of Species," Darwin is credited with pioneering the theory of evolution through natural selection. Born February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England, Darwin initially studi
Sudanese Civil War Returnees Struggle to Reach Home Khartoum/Sudan | 10.02.2009 | ADRA Four years after the end of the 22-year-old Sudanese civil war, returnees continue to face extreme hardships as they attempt to go back to their homes, many facing hunger, disease, and general neglect during their journeys from north Sudan, as well as various other countries, to their place of origin in the South, said the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). As part of an effort to help many returnees on transit make a smooth transition to their homelands, ADRA manages six way sta
Roma Children in Albania Fight Discrimination through Literacy and Language Skills Training Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 06.02.2009 | ADRA The ongoing social exclusion of Roma communities across Albania is creating significant gaps and deficiencies in education for thousands of children, a problem worsened by extreme poverty and few development opportunities, said the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). To address this problem, ADRA established an educational and social center for children in a Roma squatter community in Fushë Kruja, near Tirana, capital city of Albania, in 2004, that helps Roma children integrate in
Adventists Played Important Role in Obama Inaugural Events Washington D.C./USA | 25.01.2009 | Religion + State Seventh-day Adventist Christians played important, visible roles in the inaugural festivities and early celebrations for President Barack Hussein Obama, the first African-American elected as chief executive of the United States of America. Moments after President Obama’s inaugural address, Seventh-day Adventist pastor and U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black gave the invocation at the inaugural luncheon held in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall on January 20. The next morning, Wintley Phipps, a note
Historic Obama inauguration preserves tradition of prayer Washington D.C./USA | 20.01.2009 | Religion + State U.S. Senate chaplain on spirituality of nation's leaders; an Adventist's privilege Government officials and United States citizens who have gathered in the nation's Capitol today for the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama celebrated many firsts, but they'll also rely on a framework preserved for more than 200 years, bolstered by such standbys as the inaugural prayer, says U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black. A prayer isn't something to take a red pen to, he says. Unlike speeches,
"Hope Channel TV" To Air U.S. Adventist Ministries Convention Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 15.01.2009 | Media "Come and See! Renewing the Call to New Testament Evangelism" is the theme for the 2009 Adventist Ministries Convention, January 18-21, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina /USA. Hope Channel will broadcast all of the general sessions of the convention, including the general Leadership Sessions, the Worship Services, and the launch of "Share the Hope," the kickoff event for the 2009 Year of Evangelism. Speakers for general sessions include: George Barna, Ron Clouzet, Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant, Karl
