Member Church News: Confessing, Walking, Celebrating

During its recently concluded synod, the Waldensian Evangelical Church of the Rio de la Plata celebrated the 850th anniversary of the beginning of the Waldensian movement.

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa has issued a statement as a response to Germany’s decision to defend Israel’s military actions in Gaza before the International Court of Justice where South Africa filed an application instituting proceedings against Israel concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Waitangi Day 2024 Message: Pursuing Unity Amidst Division: “We honour the Treaty, [and] see relationship [to be] at the heart of how we operate: relationship between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti (all others who have come here). We uphold respect for and the worth of people of other cultures.”

After twenty years of hard work, a translation of the Bible into the Indigeneous Taiyal language has been completed, which was celebrated at Yushan Theological Seminary.

Special Presbyterian Church (USA) committee to write a new confession: Many of the committee’s conversations “focused on the times in which we live, when there is so much hatred and division,” said Dianna Wright, Director of Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations.

This Lent, Christian groups from around the globe are walking the length of Gaza in prayerful solidarity with Palestinian Christians and the people of Gaza. The Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage calls for an enduring and sustained ceasefire and raises funds for humanitarian relief and refugees. Listen to Alex Sangster, Advocate for the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly Working for Justice Circle, explain why she is joining the Melbourne pilgrimage. Find out how to join.

Shaping or Being Shaped? Digital Technology and Christian Formation: In recent decades digital media such as smartphones, streaming services, and social media have reshaped society and the way people interact with the world around them. Dr. Felicia Wu Song explored how this shaping has happened, and how Christians can develop habits to stay oriented to Christ and his people.

As the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) prepares to celebrate its 100th jubilee, Paul Haidostian, president of the UAECNE, president of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and Middle East Council of Churches president for the Evangelical Family, says a special word.

Justice, peace and reconciliation in Ukraine is the focus of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) Pathways to Peace Initiative. The programme was developed further by the Pathways to Peace Steering Group which met in Brussels from 29 to 30 January to promote dialogue and action.

Scholars invited to submit abstracts for conference on First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: The World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is inviting emerging and senior scholars from diverse Christian traditions to join an international conference that will delve into the ecumenical significance of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and its relevance in today’s rapidly changing world.