Member Church News: Books, Peace, Prayers

The introduction and installation of Tara Curlewis as WCRC ecumenical liaison officer in Rome and pastor of St. Andrews Church, respectively, has received coverage from both the Church of Scotland and the Waldensian Evangelical Church.

A Christian perspective on environmental stewardship is at the heart of three new books by Steven Bouma-Prediger of the Hope College religion faculty.

Book Review: Calvin and the resignification of the world: creation, incarnation, and the problem of political theology in the 1559 Institutes by Michelle Chaplin Sanchez. “This brilliant book brings John Calvin’s writings into conversation with contemporary debates over power, politics, and the possibility of resistance.”

Audrey Del Campo is an ordained pastor through ECO. She is a worship leader, songwriter, and now author of her first book, “Wind and Waves.” This is a 40-day devotional book written out of a storm in her life where God spoke identity, purpose, and restoration, reminding her that the wind and waves of life must still obey God’s name.

An exciting new book has just arrived at the United Church Bookstore from author David Sparks: Called to Act: Prayers with Roots in the Gospel of Mark, a collection of responsive prayers inspired by reflections on Mark’s gospel, calls to us to be bold disciples and to be daring in our quest for justice.

Read the latest news about the partnership between the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu.

At the end of October, Emest Van Eck, president of Knox College in Toronto, Canada, and his wife, under the leadership of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, visited a trio of seminaries to strengthen international theological cooperation.

As hostilities and violence continue in Israel and Palestine, the number of Palestinians killed has surpassed 10,000 people, and the number of Israeli deaths is around 1,400. The United Church of Christ continues its response by joining partners to urge for an immediate ceasefire and pray for a just peace.

WCC to host webinar on Framework for Dialogue, a response to HIV Stigma: Entitled “Changing Hearts and Minds: Uganda and Nigeria in the Fight Against HIV Stigma,” the webinar is organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC). This online event, scheduled for 14 November from 15:00 to 17:00 CET, will bring together esteemed voices from both the faith communities and networks of people living with HIV.

The World Council of Churches and International Committee of the Global Christian Forum, during a meeting held 2-5 November at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, finalized plans for the a global gathering in 2024 in Accra, Ghana; renewed a five-year contract with Global Christian Forum secretary Casely Esssmuah; and signed a renewed memorandum of understanding that affirms the two organisations’ distinct and complementary roles in the quest for Christian unity.

The World Council of Churches hosted the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey from 30 October-3 November.

The Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches and the Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences issued a declaration on the situation in the Middle East calling for prayers and action for just peace and an end to the ongoing violence.

The Middle East Council of Churches releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2024, under the title “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). The title has been chosen at a time when the world and the Middle East are suffering from many wars, conflicts, crises and divisions in light of a wave of injustice, inequity and hate speech.