On Oct. 20, 2010, the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution designating the first week in February to be an annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. The General Assembly called for dialogue among the different religions internationally, nationally, and locally to enhance interfaith harmony and cooperation.
Peace
Newsline for December 29, 2011
The Dec. 29, 2011, issue of the Church of the Brethren Newsline offers the following stories: 1) GFCF gives grants to Rural Service Center, Brethren group in Congo; 2) EDF sends money to Thailand, Cambodia for flood response; 3) Brethren staff leave North Korea for Christmas break; 4) Hoslers conclude their service in Nigeria, report on peace work; 5) NCC condemns attack on worshipers in Nigeria; 6) BVS Europe welcomes largest number of volunteers since 2004; 7) Juniata takes action during Sandusky investigation; 8) Royer retires as manager of Global Food Crisis Fund; 9) Blevins resigns as advocacy officer, ecumenical peace coordinator; 10) World Interfaith Harmony Week is Feb. 1-7; 11) Peace meditation: Reflections from a BVS volunteer in Europe; 12) Brethren bits.
Peace Meditation: Reflections from a BVS Volunteer in Europe
Brethren Volunteer (BVS) worker Susan Pracht has completed a term of service with Church and Peace in Laufdorf, Germany–the first BVSer to serve there since the late 1980s. Church and Peace is an ecumenical organization of more than 110 corporate and individual members from all over Europe. Before departing Europe, Pracht posted this meditation on Facebook.
GFCF Gives Grants to Rural Service Center, Brethren Group in Congo
Recent grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) have gone to the Rural Service Center in India and an agricultural development project of Brethren congregations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
New Brethren Staff Are Placed in South Sudan
Athanasus Ungang and Jillian Foerster have begun work in South Sudan on behalf of the Church of the Brethren. Both have been placed with ecumenical partners, with sponsorship from the denomination’s Global Mission and Service program.
Blevins Resigns as Advocacy Officer, Ecumenical Peace Coordinator
News bits range from a job opening for a district executive and writers sought for the Gather ’Round curriculum, to an opening date for online registration of delegates to the 2012 Annual Conference and news from the Brethren-related colleges.
Hoslers Conclude Their Service in Nigeria, Report on Peace Work
Church of the Brethren mission workers Nathan and Jennifer Hosler are concluding their service in Nigeria and returning to the United States this week. Following is an excerpt from their final newsletter reporting on their work at Kulp Bible College of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
‘Prepare the Way’ is Theme for Annual Advent Offering
Resources are now available for the 2011 Church of the Brethren Advent Offering on the theme “Prepare the Way.” The offering is designed to help congregations connect with Church of the Brethren peace and justice ministries through worship and reflection, and provides support for the denomination’s core ministries fund.
Honor to Whom Honor Is Due: A Reflection on St. Martin’s Day, Nov. 11
A reflection from the chapel service at the Church of the Brethren General Offices, Elgin, Ill., this week, given by Global Mission and Service executive director Jay Wittmeyer. The reflection focuses on the story of St. Martin, the saint’s day that is celebrated in the US as Veteran’s Day, and the story of Dr. James Kim, founder of Pyongyang University of Science and Technology in N. Korea.
Northeast Nigeria Again Experiences Violence, EYN Church Burned
Northeast Nigeria has again suffered terrorist-type violence since Friday, when attacks blamed on the Boko Haram sect began. “Pray for peace and safety in Nigeria,” said a note of condolence from Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of the Church of the Brethren’s Global Mission and Service department. “Our condolences to the family of Jinatu Libra Wamdeo, general secretary of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria, whose wife’s brother was killed at a road block on his way home from work in Sokoto State.” At least one church of EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria–has been burned.