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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
The Global Christian Forum (GCF) has appointed Larry Miller to become
A senior ecumenist has welcomed growing co-operation between leaders of European institutions and churches, and predicted a growing advisory role for religious communities.
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 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
Layout and Design award for the Aug. 2, 2010 edition
The Canadian Mennonite has earned eight awards from the Canadian Church Press (CCP)
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.
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.
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.
Sex and sexuality seemed to dominate the headlines this week, not only in North America but around the world,
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.
Young Anabaptists (YAB) helping to decide are (l to r) Melani Susanti, Indonesia; Tigist Gelagle, Ethiopia; Rodrigo Pedroza Garcia, Mexico; Kristina Toews, Canada; Sumana Basumata, India, and Carlos Alberto Alvarez Woo, Colombia. Seated are Adi Walujo, Indonesia; Edgardo Sanchez, Argentina; and Sandra Campos Cruz, Costa Rica.
With eyes wide open about the visa challenges faced by international participants,
Three generations of peacebuilders from Argentina are studying at SPI: Maria Karina Echazu, an attorney; her nephew Joaquin Echazu, a university student studying security issues; and Lilian Burlando (Maria Karina's mother and Joaquin's grandmother), director of a Peace Center in Teirra del Fuego. --Photo by Jim Bishop
Those entering the opening session of Eastern Mennonite University’s Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) were handed felt markers and circles of fabric. Their assignment: “Tell what you bring here.”
Faisa Loyaan’s contribution: “learning and sharing.”
Amy Kosari, of Ellswroth, Wis. a representative of a Presbyterian church belonging to the Synod of the Lakes and Prairies in the Twin Cities area, speaks against an amendment to eliminate the celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy at the Peace Presbyterian Church in St. Louis Park, Minn. --AP Photo
Gay and lesbian advocates celebrated a landmark victory on May 10 when the Presbyterian Church (USA) entered the expanding ranks of Christian denominations that allow openly gay, partnered clergy. The winds of change, they said, are at their backs.
A girl is carried away after the shooting spree.
The National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil has joined a national disarmament campaign to combat violent crime in the country.
Another Church has been attacked and burned down in Egypt by a mob of Muslim extremists on the basis of “a rumour” that the Church was holding captive a Christian woman who, they claim, wanted to convert to Islam
Christian and Muslim clashes in Egypt have left 12 people dead, 238 injured
Bill Warren from Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, leading the study.
Working in a cluster of offices above a LifeWay Christian Bookstore, Bible scholars are buried in a 20-year project to codify the thousands of changes, verse by verse, word by word -- even letter by letter -- that crept into the early New Testament during hundreds of years of laborious hand-copying.
Katharine Jefferts Schori: "the reign of God lies in the direction of more porous borders."
In a world where crossing borders is becoming a literal fact of life in economics, work and culture, U.S. and Canadian Lutheran and Episcopal/Anglican church leaders crossed the borders of their countries on 1 May to mark a decade of their denominations' "full communion" relationships.
