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Church of England considers News Corp. divestment

Rupert Murdoch was summoned by the British Parliament committee investigating his hacking scandal to give evidence next Tuesday, July 19, but it is not yet clear whether he will turn up. --Huffington Post

Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) said it will consider selling its 3.8 million-pound (US$6 million) investment in News Corp. unless the media organization conducts a full and open inquiry into a phone hacking scandal.

MEDA hires director; wins award in Egypt

Marion Good

Marion Good of Waterloo, Ont. has been named regional director of Resource Development in Ontario for Mennonite Economic Development Associates and MEDA has won a first-place award for a project in Egypt that it has partnered with--Promoting and Protecting the Interests of Children who Work (PPIC-Work).

South Sudan churches hope for new nation's peace

A new arrival from Somalia looks on as UNHCR chief António Guterres visits the Dollo Ado refugee transit centre in south-eastern Ethiopia. --UNHCR photo

Church leaders in South Sudan expressed their readiness to help secure peace, stability, growth and development in their new nation, which was proclaimed an independent state on July 9.

Sudanese clergy seek to give aid in South Kordofan

Sudan's enormous humanitarian needs follow many years of inequitable development, marginalisation and internal conflicts that have displaced over 6 million Sudanese, including 2 million in Darfur and 2 million in the South, and left many destitute.

The government must allow humanitarian access to civilians who have been displaced by the fighting in Sudan's South Kordofan state, Sudanese clergy said, amid reports of continued bombardment in the Nuba Mountains.

Judaism a problem for democracy, says Jewish scholar

Representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths, speaking on June 27 at the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel's (ICCI) annual lecture, considered the highly sensitive subject of religion's role in Israel's 63-year-old democracy.

Appropriate missionary conduct recommended

From left to right: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (PCID), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (WCC), Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe (WEA)

“Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct,” a five-page document on the conduct of mission “according to gospel principles,” was released during a public presentation on Tuesday, June 28 at the Ecumenical Centre here.

Anthem reversal revives Goshen College debate

Jesus Radicals and others replace the American and U.N. flags on the campus of Goshen College with the Agnus Dei and Earth flags. This was a protest against the college's decision to play the national anthem a year ago.

Praise, support, indifference, disbelief, outrage — and lots of media attention. Responses to a Goshen College decision not to play the national anthem covered a wide range of perspectives.

'War through women's eyes'

Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network-Africa, and Abigail Disney, the producer of documentaries on women peacebuilders, including one featuring Gbowee in Liberia, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” --Photo by Lindsey Kolb/EMU

Filmmaker Abigail Disney says she learned “to look at war through women’s eyes,” as a result of visiting Liberia in 2006 and meeting Leymah Gbowee, who now holds a masters in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).

Gbowee was one of the leaders of a women’s movement that was instrumental in ending Liberia’s 14-year-long civil war in 2003.

Lutherans to dialogue with Roman Catholics/Mennonites

Martin Junge is the first Latin American to hold the office of general secretary..

At a meeting in Geneva that concluded on June 14, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council approved plans for three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Mennonites.

Christian council will return torture documents to Brazil

During a two-decade period of brutal dictatorship, in 1979, Brazilian church workers and dissenting lawyers found a loophole in the legal system allowing them to gather evidence of atrocities and other abuses committed by the military regime.

Three boxes containing records of brutal torture and repression suffered under two decades

Froese replaces Plenert as head of MC Canada Witness

Tim Froese replaces Janet Plenert

Janet Plenert resigns after five years as executive secretary of Witness.

Tim Froese, executive director of Mennonite Church Canada’s International Ministry program, now heads the office of Witness

MCC gifts to Japan will aid clean up, trauma healing

Mr. William, far left, owns Moriya Fruits Shop in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. His shop has been reclaimed from tsunami damage and is again open to serve the community. Also pictured are (l.-r.), Willie Reimer, MCC; Takeshi Komino, CWS; Shingo Kobayashi, who heads CWS’ implementing partner organization in the city; and volunteer “Dancho."

Japan in May, MCC director of Food, Disaster and Material Resources Willie Reimer was reminded that response to disaster must be personal and address individual trauma, however massive the tasks demanded by the surrounding devastation.

Lutheran president urges members to pursue justice

Bishop Munib Younan: "Popular uprisings in support of democracy in Northern Africa and the Middle East should be an important opportunity for churches in Arab countries."

The president of the Lutheran World Federation, (LWF), Bishop Munib Younan, urged members to pursue justice in the world, as the federation's governing Council considers a strategic plan for 2012 to 2017.

Egyptian Christians fearful of security situation

Coptic Christians protest against violence by Muslims.

The security situation in Egypt has "deteriorated considerably" since former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11, leaving a security vacuum and Christians feeling "threatened more than ever," according to aid workers.

Forty-seven tractors raise $34,000 for museum/mental health

The stop in Kleefeld at noon gave local residents the opportunity to see the tractors up close. --Photo by Eden Foundation

Forty-seven tractors chugged their way through the Manitoba villages of

German church gathering ends on note of reconciliation

Rev. Margot Kaessmann told a Bible study she believes that a suggestion to pray with the Taliban by candlelight is "a much better idea than bombing water tank lorries in Kunduz."

The biennial faith gathering called the Kirchentag ended on June 5 after five days of theological and political discussions, concerts and a sense of reconciliation in a city devastated during World War II.

Brunk reflects on 22 years as seminary dean

George R. Brunk, left, enjoys a conversation with 2006 seminary graduate Patrick Nafziger, pastor at Millersburg (Ohio) Mennonite Church, during the annual School for Leadership Training at EMS. Photo by Lindsey Kolb

When George R. Brunk III joined the Eastern Mennonite Seminary faculty in 1974, little did he imagine that three short years later he would be named dean.

But, in 1977, he was appointed dean of EMS and held that position for 22 years, until 1999.

Canadian Mennonite 1st choice for national/local news

Despite a small survey sample—only 215 out of more than 14,000 subscribers took the time to send back the two-page questionnaire in our Feb. 21 issue—it is clear that readers still believe Canadian Mennonite “should be a primary source of information about Mennonite Church Canada”; 89 percent agree or strongly agree with this sentiment.

Larry Miller appointed to Global Christian Forum

Larry Miller

The Global Christian Forum (GCF) has appointed Larry Miller to become

European institutions 'more open than ever' to church co-operation

A senior ecumenist has welcomed growing co-operation between leaders of European institutions and churches, and predicted a growing advisory role for religious communities.

Peace message closes Decade to Overcome Violence celebration

German Mennonite theologian Fernando Enns, who first proposed the Decade to Overcome Violence, speaks at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, an event held to celebrate the decade. WCC photo by Peter Williams

Thomas Finger, a former professor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va., leads a workshop on “Peace: The lens for re-visioning Christian theology and mission,” at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation. WCC photo by Marcelo Schneider

Participants at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)—held in Jamaica

Six Canadians graduate from AMBS

Six graduates from Canada, are, from left, Alicia Buhler, Virginia Gerbrandt, Mark Tiessen-Dyck, Miles Reimer and Carrie Martens; Christine Kampen graduated in absentia. Photo by Steve Echols.

With words “God’s justice and God’s peace” from the first hymn in Hymnal: A Worship Book as a backdrop

Canadian Mennonite wins eight CCP awards

Layout and Design award for the Aug. 2, 2010 edition

The Canadian Mennonite has earned eight awards from the Canadian Church Press (CCP)

Osborne succeeds Snyder at Conrad Grebel

Dr. Troy Osborne

Dr. Troy Osborne has been appointed as assistant professor of History at Conrad Grebel University College, beginning July 1, 2011, succeeding Arnold Snyder who retires in May. Osborne comes to Grebel from Bluffton University in Ohio where he has taught for the past three years.

Strong calls from global peace voices

Rev. Dr Margot Kaessmann: "It is time that religion refuses to be misused by pouring oil into the fire of war and hatred.”

The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) formally opened here on May 18 as theologians, faith leaders and the prime minister of Jamaica welcomed some 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries.

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