Queensland Synod News

Church leaders who minister to migrants and victims of human trafficking, have disclosed at a global church gathering in Brazil that trafficking of women for enforced prostitution usually heightens during international sports events. "It is now public knowledge that organized syndicates have plans to bring in young women, particularly from eastern Europe and from other poor countries, to Germany in ...

Pacific islanders are a source of hope for other Christian communities seeking a culturally-based communal economy based on sharing and cooperation, participants at a global church gathering have heard. During the 14-23 February ninth assembly of the World Council of Churches some participants have identified Pacific island communities as an alternative to the type of economic globalisation that happens under ...

The World Council of Churches has deplored the publication of cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad, and urged its members to join in non-violent protests with those experiencing attacks on their religion. "Misuse of the right to freedom of speech should be met with non-violent means like critique and expressions of firm disagreement," the WCC’s assembly, meeting in Porto Alegre, stated ...

The Dalai Lama has met religious leaders during a visit to the Holy Land in which he carried a message of non-violence, religious tolerance and hope, but he was not able to carry that message over to Palestinians in Bethlehem. The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists also urged Jewish and Muslim leaders to play a role in making peace between ...

Young people from developing countries are losing the means to be citizens in their own countries due to commercialised education, which stresses producing graduates for the global market, church and youth leaders gathering in Brazil have said. "Young people are losing meaning in their lives, and losing what it means to be citizens in their own country. This is because ...

The World Council of Churches has condemned terrorism but in doing so has urged its members to challenge the idea of the "war on terror", warning that anti-terrorist legislation risks violating human rights. "Every attempt to intimidate others by inflicting indiscriminate death and injury upon them is to be universally condemned," the WCC assembly meeting in Brazil stated in a ...

The fight for freedom from Indonesia for the East Timorese people may have ended after they voted for their president, raised their own flag, and sang their own national anthem on 19 May 2002. But the process of rebuilding the new nation of just over one million people remains a big challenge, which a young former East Timorese freedom fighter ...

WA is one of many states organising NCYC 2007. Although WA is the “host state” and assumes the Lion’s share of the workload, people in states other than WA are being given the opportunity to participate in the organisation of NCYC 2007 by managing specific areas of need, such as pastoral care, overseas delegates and community leadership training. Convention Manager ...

A conservative US Christian group has criticised a statement from US church leaders attending the assembly of the World Council of Churches that asks for forgiveness because the church had not done enough to protest against sins leaders said were committed in the name of US foreign and domestic policies. The 18 February declaration by the US church leaders was ...

A group of openly homosexual church leaders meeting during the assembly of the World Council of Churches have advocated a more inclusive Christian faith that embraces people of all sexual orientations. "We are here, because we do not wish to be segregated or isolated," said the Rev. Nancy Wilson, moderator of the US-based Metropolitan Community Churches. "And we are here ...