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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.



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.

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.



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.

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

Muslim-Christian meeting in Lebanon warns against internal divisions

Al Hariri (above) has refused to support the appointment of Hezbollah-chosen Najib Miqati as the new prime minister.

Lebanese religious leaders have warned against growing internal divisions in their country and urged national leaders to work towards unity and tolerance, following a joint Christian-Muslim meeting convened on May 12 in Bkirki by newly appointed Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.



Global South Anabaptists on the rise

General Secretary Larry Miller (left) and General Secretary-elect César García (right) share a light moment at the MWC Executive Committee meetings in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo by Merle Good

The rise of Anabaptist-related churches in the global South is becoming much more than a matter of membership. At this year’s meeting of the Mennonite World Conference’s Executive Committee, May 4-10, actions on staffing and structures also reflected that growth.

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