ZCC commit to facilitate National Healing

10 December 2009

The Zimbabwe Council of churches ZCC have committed itself to facilitate peace building, national healing and reconciliation in the country urging the regional and international community to also accompany it in this process.

In a pastoral letter to the nation on 27 October 2009 the church leaders were candid in their calls to the principals of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to fully commit themselves to addressing expeditiously all of the outstanding issues of the GPA.

Excerpts of the pastoral letter read

‘We call upon the principals and their political parties to respect the lives of Zimbabweans and put their selfish interests aside and build the once beautiful land of Zimbabwe.

‘We call upon those perpetuating division and polarization to stop all beatings, false accusations, torture, intimidation and any threats and redirect such energy to nation building.’

The pastoral letter also called upon the government to repeal repressive laws and create more democratic space for people as a necessary condition for genuine constitutional reform, and true national healing and reconciliation.

Calling all people of goodwill in Zimbabwe, Sadc, Africa and the world the pastoral letter urged all friends of Zimbabwe to continue to teach and preach the message of hope and peace and also remember the church as it seeks guidance, wisdom and courage to resolve the political, economic issues in the country.

Commenting on civil societies role in the national healing process Fambai Ngirandi Advocacy and Policy officer at Nango advised that the work by the church and the civil society should not be undermined by politicians.

He said that at the moment the government is planning an expert’s conference followed by a stakeholder’s conference to consider all the issues of national healing.

However the voice of the Church and their role in this process should be clear and uncompromised, he added.

Karnataka churches unite against violence

09 December 2009

Churches in southern Karnataka state in India have put on a united front in the face of a barrage of anti-Christian violence in the past year.

More than 500 church leaders and representatives from two dozen churches of different denominations gathered at Bangalore – the state capital – earlier this month under the banner of the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR).

At the meeting in the Church of South India (CSI) St Mark's Cathedral, church leaders said the atrocities waged on the Christian minority have brought denominations together at a time when support was most needed.

Read more: Karnataka churches unite against violence

Beat recession, Jamaica graduates urged

03 December 2009

Jamaican university students have been urged to help create a better future for their country in the face of the economic recession.

Graduates from the International University of the Caribbean (IUC) which was founded by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI), were urged to work hard and focus on their studies by government minister Robert Montague.

Speaking at the IUC’s graduation ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre, he also urged new graduates to be resilient as they go out into the world.

Read more: Beat recession, Jamaica graduates urged

CNI celebration launches 40th anniversary

03 December 2009

The Church of North India (CNI) has officially marked the start of its fortieth year with a special celebratory service in New Delhi.

CNI general secretary Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan told members the church was “waking up to a new dawn” at the event, which kicked off celebrations marking 40 years since the church was born on 29 November 1970.

The service, which took place at the Cathedral Church of Redemption over the weekend, was part of a two-day celebration to launch a year-long programme of events exploring mission and worship for CNI’s 40th anniversary.

Read more: CNI celebration launches 40th anniversary

Police praise for NZ Presbyterian church

03 December 2009

Police chiefs from a New Zealand town have hailed local church members a “God-send” for helping transform their community through a special police project.

Churchgoers from the Papakura East Presbyterian Church – a member of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand – have been taking part in the Awhi Wraparound Project – an initiative aiming to bring social agencies together to renew the community.

The project targets 350 households that are deemed responsible for 90 percent of Papakura’s crime and social issues, PCANZ magazine Spanz reported.

Read more: Police praise for NZ Presbyterian church

UK churches join climate change ‘wave’

03 December 2009

CWM’s UK member churches have called on their congregations to join a climate change demonstration in London ahead of the UN summit next week.

Members of the United Reformed Church and the Presbyterian Church of Wales will be pounding the streets of the country’s capital this Saturday as part of The Wave Campaign.

Organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, tens of thousands of people will march in a public call to world leaders at the UN summit in Copenhagen to take urgent action on climate change.

Read more: UK churches join climate change ‘wave’