Please pause for a moment and pray for all impacted by the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and Vietnam. With extensive loss of life and destruction, our prayers are desperately needed for all who are left homeless, all who lost loved ones, and all whose lives have been terribly disrupted.
Year: 2013
Newsline for November 11, 2013
NEWS: 1) Brethren Disaster Ministries challenges church to raise $500,000 for Typhoon Haiyan response. WCC 10th ASSEMBLY: 2) Church of the Brethren general secretary takes part in plenary on peace. 3) World Council of Churches Assembly adopts statement on just peace.
4) Assembly documents address unity, politicization of religion and rights of religious minorities, peace on the Korean Peninsula, among other concerns. 5) African moderator is historic choice for WCC, elections also name Noffsinger to Central Committee. 6) Ecumenical conversation works at new definition of ‘security.’ 7) Leading EYN through its most difficult time: An interview with Samuel Dante Dali.
Assembly Adopts Documents Addressing Concerns for Unity, Politicization of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities, Peace on the Korean Peninsula, Among Others
The WCC Assembly adopted a number of documents addressing public issues, a statement on unity, and a “message” coming out of the experience of the assembly.
World Council of Churches Assembly Adopts Statement on Just Peace
A “Statement on the Way of Just Peace” was adopted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) 10th Assembly on Friday, Nov. 8, with an expression of strong support from the delegate body.
New Young Adult Steering Committee Members Announced
The Young Adult Steering Committee is meeting Nov. 8–10 to plan for Young Adult Conference, scheduled for May 23–25, 2014, at Camp Brethren Woods in Virginia. Visit www.brethren.org/yac for more information.
Church of the Brethren General Secretary Takes Part in Plenary on Peace
“When Jesus said ‘Love your enemies,’ I think he probably meant don’t kill them,” said Stan Noffsinger at the plenary on peace at the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly. He was quoting a popular Brethren bumper sticker written by San Diego-based peacemaker Linda Williams.
Ecumenical Conversation Works at New Definition of ‘Security’
The ecumenical conversation on “human security” at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 10th Assembly was an exercise in changing the concept of what security means, as well as opening minds and hearts to the suffering of those who live in insecurity around the world.
Thoughts on Mission and Unity from the WCC 10th Assembly
Each day at the World Council of Churches Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea, has focused on a particular subtheme related to either the overall theme and prayer of the meeting–“God of life, lead us to justice and peace”–or the main goals of the ecumenical movement. Monday of this week focused on mission, Tuesday focused on unity. Here are just a few of the thoughts about mission and unity:
“Mission belongs to the very being of the church.” — A leader of the World Evangelical Alliance bringing greetings to the assembly during the plenary session on mission. He also said in his remarks that, “Witnessing to the gospel should never be done in a way that overturns human dignity.”
Leading EYN Through Its Most Difficult Time: An Interview with Samuel Dante Dali
Samuel Dante Dali, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), attended the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly as delegate for the Nigerian Brethren. Here he talks about the increase of terrorist violence in northeast Nigeria where members of EYN have been among the many killed in attacks by extremist Islamists.
First Impressions: Words and Images from the Opening Days of the WCC 10th Assembly
Sound bites in words and images from opening days of the World Council of Churches Assembly in Busan, South Korea–the 10th for the WCC. Held only every 7 or 8 years, each WCC assembly represents the largest and diverse gathering of Christian denominations from around the world. The Church of the Brethren is a founding member.