Queensland Synod News

The US-led military offensive in Iraq has strengthened its neighbour Iran, and led to a weakening of the moral authority of the United States, US civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson said during a visit to Britain. "Saddam [Hussein] was a manufactured threat," Jackson told Ecumenical News International on 12 November. "We had him contained through inspection by the ...

The Czech government has agreed, after almost two decades of dispute, to compensate churches for properties confiscated under communist rule, and also to make them financially independent from the state. "There’s a common desire now to solve these problems; what remains are the specific conditions," said Jiri Grecka, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic bishops’ conference in the Czech Republic. "If ...

Leaders meeting in Kenya belonging to all main Christian traditions, and from countries ranging from Armenia to Zimbabwe, have pledged to convene international, local and regional meetings to deepen reconciliation and understanding. "Recognising that unity is first and foremost God’s gift through the work of the Holy Spirit, our commitment is to press on in promoting ever greater understanding and ...

Prospective US Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has been urged to reconsider his acceptance of the endorsement of a controversial televangelist known for scathing attacks on Muslims and Islam. In a news release on his campaign website, Giuliani is quoted as saying he is "encouraged" by the endorsement of Pat Robertson, chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). "His experience and ...

A group of Asian and African Anglican leaders recently returned from a visit to China have praised a decision by the country’s ruling Communist Party to include the word "religion" in its constitution. "This is a recognition of the increasing role that the Church plays in the nation’s economic and social development," the Anglican leaders said in a statement issued ...

A peace worker and Development Manager with the Uniting Church in Australia’s Uniting International Mission (UIM) has been nominated for Australian of the Year. Joy Balazo is a former nun who has spent the past 25 years working in the Asia Pacific region, providing peace building and reconciliation programs to some of the world’s most conflicted countries. Her tireless energy ...

The President of the Uniting Church, Rev Gregor Henderson, today added his voice to the call for a bipartisan consensus on Australia’s overseas aid policies. “The plight of people overseas suffering from abject poverty has surely to be seen as one of the biggest moral issues of our time” Mr Henderson said.  “Turning a blind eye to the world’s poor ...

A unique gathering of high level church leaders starting on Tuesday 6 November 2007 near Nairobi, Kenya, features the broadest range of Christian traditions ever represented at a global meeting, says its organisers. The gathering will "allow for a discussion of unprecedented ecumenical breadth on what Christians are called to do – together if possible – in the world today", ...

The Uniting Church SA is joining with the Church’s Aboriginal arm to campaign for a treaty with the South Australian Government to restore the rights of Indigenous South Australians. The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) wants a treaty that is consistent with the intentions of the South Australian Letters Patent of 1836. The Letters Patent guaranteed the rights ...

“Seeing the struggle of people in the world’s poorest nations of Africa changes my perspective of many things,” says 28 year old medical scientist, Kathryn Evans, who is serving her third term as a volunteer with Mercy Ships. “The people of Liberia, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy is currently on field service, struggle with poverty and have to deal ...