Queensland Synod News

The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has heard Christian leaders in Taipei express concerns about Taiwan’s vulnerability due to the increasing proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region, especially the threat from China and North Korea. Kobia WAs visiting Taiwan from 23-26 November and he addressed faculty and students of the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary, which ...

The Anglican Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, has called on British Airways (BA) to reconsider its decision to refuse to allow Nadia Eweida, a check-in worker, to wear a necklace cross on the outside of her uniform. The airline announced on 20 November that her appeal against the original instruction not to wear the cross at work had been rejected ...

Pope Benedict XVI and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, have prayed together and committed to strengthening Roman Catholic-Anglican ties, but the two remained divided over key issues, including the ordination of women priests and the role of homosexual clergy. The Pope and the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion met at the Vatican on 23 November to celebrate the ...

Zimbabweans are dying of depression as well as from HIV/AIDS and hunger, 60-year old Pius Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Roman Catholic archbishop of Bulawayo, says. On a visit to Britain he told the BBC that inflation in the southern African country is in excess of 1000 per cent "and people are extremely depressed and tired of being harassed by President Mugabe’s secret ...

The normally jammed-packed streets of Beirut during rush hour were even more frantic as residents scrambled following the news that Christian politician Pierre Gemayel had been gunned down and killed in the streets of a Beirut suburb. Horns blared, sirens screeched and a thick air of apprehension took hold as people struggled with the news on 21 November. For a ...

Late last month, history was made in Caloundra with over 800 people celebrating the official Opening and Blessing of an ecumenical school, Unity College. Unity College is owned and operated by Brisbane Catholic Education in partnership with the Uniting Church of Caloundra. In keeping with the ecumenical spirit of the College, the Official Blessing was conducted by Archbishop John Bathersby, ...

R&B/pop diva Stacie Orrico will become one of the biggest acts to perform on Main Stage at AGMF 07 next Easter (6-8 April 2007). At just 20 years, the honey voiced US singer is already an eight-year veteran of the music industry. She was discovered at 12, released a gold-selling record at 14, and traveled the globe to support her ...

Plans for a new government refugee holding facility on Christmas Island were leaked last week, prompting comparisons with the highest security prisons, and even the US facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “If what we are hearing about the new centre on Christmas Island is true this sounds more like a prison than anything else,” said the Revd John Henderson, General ...

“Organisations that appealed for funds to smuggle Bibles into China were wasting ninety percent of their donors money,” said Bible Society NSW CEO, Daniel Willis. “Complete Bibles and New Testaments are legally printed in China on the Amity Printing Press in Nanjing and distributed through 55,000 churches and meeting points throughout the country,” he said. Speaking in China, where he ...

The Christmas Bowl is a program of Christian World Service (CWS), a Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia. It is in its 58th year. The are grateful to everyone who has supported the Christmas Bowl over the years. Education and Communications Officer for CWS Colleen Hodge said, “It is much appreciated and it is making a real ...