Egyptian Christian leaders consider dialogue with Islamic groups
Christian leaders in Egypt are meeting to discuss opening a dialogue with Islamic groups as a way of addressing sectarian violence.
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God's new beginning
Linda Matties
One of the most famous announcements the world has ever heard is stated in this way: “For unto us is born this day ... a Savior.” It is no accident that the fulcrum of human history rests on a birth narrative. Given the limitations of human language, we struggle to find the vocabulary for momentous events. What better metaphor than a birth story!
Haifa's Holiday of Holidays festival embraces differences
Hanukkah dreidels
Both Christmas lights and Hanukkah dreidels (spinning tops) are appearing as decorations as the northern Israeli port city of Haifa throws a multi-faith party on December weekends.
Christopher Hitchens, atheist to the end, dies at age 62
Hitchens, the iconoclast.
Both opponents and advocates of religious faith are mourning the death of author, polemicist, and atheist Christopher Hitchens, who died Dec. 15 after a long battle with esophageal cancer.
In Canada, Jewish, Muslim comedians joke about Christmas
Christmas can be a lonely time for non-Christians in North America. Jews have Hanukkah -- and traditionally go to Chinese restaurants on Christmas Day. Muslims, well, can always go to the movies.
Irony and challenge in Durban
Willard Metzger (2nd row, right) marches through the streets of Durban in support of climate justice with other people of faith. – photo by Kaitlin Bardswich
For Mennonite Church Canada Executive Director Willard Metzger, the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa was an eye-opening experience that began with a twist of irony.
On the eve of the event, Durban was in the midst of a dramatic and destructive increase in rainfall – after a spring of exceeding dryness.
Another tree planting in Luther Garden signals unity
The 'Mennonite tree' is among the 150 maples, ashes, lindens and hawthorns in the garden as a symbol of worldwide unity. (Photo credit: Frieder Boller)
On a cold, blustery day in the German town of Wittenberg, Bishop Yuri Novgorodov of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan patted down the dark soil at the base of a freshly-planted linden tree. Not more than a hundred yards away, the tower of the Castle Church soared into the bright winter sky.
'Waging Peace' has Canadian connections
The story of Muslim and Christian women working together on a quilt at Floradale Mennonite Church (Ont.) is one of several inspiring but obscure stories revealed in Waging Peace Muslim and Christian Alternatives. The quilt eventually found its way to Palestinian refugees.
A new one-hour documentary produced by MennoMedia’s film department, Third Way media, explores threads of peacemaking in the Christian and Muslim faiths through the centuries and shows how Muslims and Christians today are working for peace.
Calgary's 'Singing Tweets' go Global
More than 20,000 YouTube views, a profile on CNN, posted on more than 60 blogs from around the world, and continuous sharing on facebook and twitter have taken the “Singing Tweets” video to an international audience.
Government won't resolve First Nations housing crisis
Due to the shortage of houses in the Attawapiskat First Nation community, shacks like this are being used as homes. --MCC photo by Lyndsay Mollins Koene
While recent media attention has focused on the shortage of houses and lack of water and sewage systems in the Attawapiskat First Nation community in northern Ontario, many other First Nations communities are experiencing similar problems, says a spokesperson for MCC Canada.
Will 'Arab Spring' turn into 'Arab Winter'?
David Victor R. Youssef from the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services in Egypt
Churches in Egypt are praying and helping migrants, who flee home due to political turmoil, violence and uncertain future. There is a great need to develop stable democratic societies if the “Arab spring” is to bear fruits. Or else it might turn into an “Arab winter” with religious minorities at the risk of persecution.
African priest's "miracle cure" stirs debate
In villages to towns across Africa, messages of HIV prevention are resonating through churches in the wake of global events marking World AIDS Day.
Cultural and religious beliefs obstacles to gay rights, says Hillary Clinton
Clinton commits $3 million to seed Global Equality Fund.
The world needs to act more proactively to promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, said United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a keynote address delivered at the European headquarters of the United Nations.
Church leaders join fight against Italian energy giant in rural Guatemala
Mayan Ixhil community members protest outside the Catholic church in the town of Cotzal after ENEL representatives failed to show up for a scheduled August 2, 2011 negotiation session. Photo by Yasmin Méndez.
Tension filled the cramped, block-wall room in the Guatemalan highlands as indigenous leaders sat across from negotiators for ENEL, an Italian-based energy company building a $228-million hydro-electric dam in the area.
Castello wins $3,500 music award
Mary Castello, second year music student at Wilfrid University
Mary Castello is the 2012 recipient of the $3,500 Abner Martin music scholarship given by Menno Singers, a community choir in the Waterloo Region of Ontario,
MCCO stands with the Attawapiskat
MCCO supports the growing plea for a sustainable housing plan in Attawapiskat and other remote First Nations. --MCCO Photo by Lyndsay Mollins Koene.
Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCCO) supports the growing plea for a sustainable housing plan in
Nearly 100 churches report on their singing
The present hymnal will be 20 years old in 2012
Nearly 100 congregations in Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada are reporting on the songs they sing. They are helping to determine what the next collection of music for the church will look like.
But the planners of the next hymnal or song collection are looking for more churches to participate in the current song survey.
MCC intern shocked by NYC's 'secularism'
The Rev. Mautji Eloridge Pataki, general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, met with Keyla Cortez Vanegas, a Mennonite World Conference intern at MCC U.N. Office, to encourage her while he was in New York City for a meeting. --Doug Hostetter photo
As a Christian who takes her faith seriously, Keyla Cortez Vanegas was shocked by New York City’s secularism when she arrived there in August. Cortez Vanegas belongs to Esquipulas Brethren in Christ church —one she describes as “traditional”—in a small Nicaraguan town.
Carbon emissions: 'Practice what you preach'
Will Braun: 'The case would be stronger if North American reps stayed home.'
When it comes to carbon emissions and care for the Earth, Canadian faith leaders should practise what they preach, says a local environmental activist.
MC Canada supports flood relief in Bangkok
Pat and Rad Houmphan, with the congregation of Living Water Church in Borabu, will use the money to assemble care packages.
Mennonite Church Canada has wired $3,500 for flood relief in Thailand. Executive staff approved the emergency gift on Nov. 16.
Mennonite Church Canada workers Pat and Rad Houmphan, with the congregation of Living Water Church in Borabu, will use the money to assemble care packages for those who have been displaced by flooding.
Norwegian Christians and Muslims condemn religious extremism
Anders Behring Breivik is being held in custody charged with mass murder.
In the aftermath of attacks last July that killed 77 and were carried out by a self-described "cultural Christian," Norwegian Christians and Muslims on Nov. 22 jointly condemned religious extremism as "contrary to the teachings of our religions."
Faith groups oppose proposed cluster bomb accord
Religious groups are opposing a proposed new international law on cluster bombs currently being discussed in Geneva since they say it would put more civilians at risk than an existing treaty.
Sudermans spend five weeks at AMBS
During a lunch gathering on their last day at AMBS, Irene and Jack Suderman reflected on forty years of ministry. A prevailing theme, Jack noted, is the important role of the church in our lives and in the world. “The peoplehood of God is the primary strategy God wants to use to heal the world,” he said.
Robert J. (Jack) and Irene Suderman say it was a gift to spend five weeks at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary where they studied almost 40 years ago.
Despite protests, Polish order defends silencing priest
A Polish monastic order has defended its decision to bar a former superior-general from speaking to the media, despite a protest against the decision from thousands of the priest's supporters.
Forced to flee, he now assists refugees
From left: Payam Bagheri, Esteban Rivera (coordinator), Maria del Pilou Ofunoz, Michael Seviour (mentor) and Weiwen Ye at a conversation class organized by RIAC in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador. --MCC Photo by Nina Linton
Jose Rivera understands the diverse needs of newcomers as they try to develop a sense of belonging in a new country.Death threats forced him, his wife Maria and their two children to flee Colombia in 2002 and rebuild a new life in St. John’s.
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