World News

PEACE WITH the Earth was the focus of IEPC Bible studies and workshops on Friday. Exploring how churches can positively respond to the challenge of climate change and environmental destruction was the aim of one of the workshops of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) Friday in Kingston, Jamaica. The content of the workshop called “Empowering Churches from North and ...

After losing his father, uncle and grandmother to violent and, in some cases, suspicious causes of death, Martin Luther King III still believes that that there is a higher and more noble way and that is to "dislike the evil act" but "still love the individual." In the case of the recent killing of Osama Bin Laden, "it is hard ...

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will be web streaming the plenary sessions and special events of the upcoming International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC). The video streams will be live from the Mona campus of the University of West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where the convocation is being held, beginning Wednesday 18 May. The streaming will be available through the ...

Christian and Muslim clashes in Egypt have left 12 people dead, 238 injured and two Coptic churches in Cairo burned, the state media reported. Faith and political leaders condemned the weekend violence, which was triggered by rumours that a woman who had converted to Islam was being detained at the sixth-century Coptic Church of St. Mena in the working-class neighborhood ...

The Chernobyl disaster of 25 years ago remains a human and environmental tragedy so severe the consequences will continue for centuries. Its anniversary this week is especially timely given the current emergency in Japan which echoes some of Chernobyl’s hard lessons. To learn them would honour those who suffer from the past and could save lives in the future. Lessons ...

When Prince William and Kate Middleton walk down the aisle at London’s Westminster Abbey on 29 April, Britain’s unique and historic ties between church and state will be on full display. Some here think — even hope — it could also be the last powerful stroll for church and state in this increasingly secular country, Religion News Service reports. As ...

IN THE aftermath of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, a Christian network is joining with Buddhists to provide bereavement services to prevent suicides, according to a Japanese interdenominational network. The Sendai Buddhist Federation through the Miyagi Prefecture Liaison Council of Religious Corporations has established a counseling room at a funeral hall in Sendai, said the Rev. Naoya Kawakami, who heads ...

A UK-based environmental conservation group said it is offering financial support to African faith groups to help them develop environmental conservation plans. "This is simply seed money to help consultations to take place. We know for faith communities to introduce new dimensions to their work, is not easy," said Martin Palmer, general secretary of the Alliance for Religions and Conservation ...

SEVERAL CHURCHES in Argentina explored the subject "Christian faith and ecology: towards an eco-ecumenical theology" in a conference held 28-29 March at Instituto Universitario (ISEDET), a Protestant theological school. The event was sponsored by ISEDET, the Argentina-based Rural Reflection Group and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) Latin America and Caribbean region and was supported by the World Council of ...

IN MID March the Uniting Church in Australia launched an emergency appeal in response to the devastating impact of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. UnitingWorld, the relief and development agency of the church, will facilitate the appeal. UnitingWorld is in contact with the leadership of the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ), assuring them of the Uniting Church’s prayers ...