Ecumenicalnews
- World churches group condemns violence, racism calling for justice in US after black police suspect killedThe World Council of Churches has joined the United Nations in condemning violence, racism and police brutality in the United States, following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a police officer.
- Churches prepare to reopen during pandemic, but more than 100 COVID-19 cases reported after German serviceThe novel coronavirus has infected more than 100 people in the surroundings of a Baptist congregation in Frankfurt am Main in Germany at a time that in different parts of the world authorities are considering reopening places of worship
- Health as a 'primary common good' debated at World Health AssemblyCOVID-19 has brought to light the interdependence between nations and the necessity to consider health as a "primary common good", which requires solidarity and globally coordinated action the Vatican's representative at the UN in Geneva has said at a highly charged World Health Assembly.
- Global religious groups say COVID-19 presents 'prophetic moment' for governments on healthcareThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new urgency to adopting an "Economy of Life," and global religious groups that represent millions of people are saying now is the time for governments to bolster support for healthcare and social protection.
- Holy Land Christians put their faith in the Resurrection during pandemicDuring Easter in Jerusalem, the Via Dolorosa, the last path of Jesus on his way to crucifixion, has been deserted over Holy Week, but the famous celebration of Holy Fire celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus will not be virtual like many of the Easter church services for people.
- With world turning virtual during COVID-19 crisis, it's easy to prayPeople pray daily for an end to the coronavirus-COVID-19 that is gripping the world, turning human interaction into a virtual affair and upending lives everywhere during a struggle against a silent enemy about which little is known.
- Iranian dissident film clinches Berlinale Ecumenical Jury PrizeThe Ecumenical Jury at the 70th Berlinale film festival awarded the prize for the best film in the International Competition to an Iranian film which "reflects upon the importance of moral conscience."
- Prayer campaign begins worldwide to end 70-year Korean WarA war erupted on the Korean Peninsula 70 years ago that divided Korea and that has yet to end. So, the world's churches have launched a "70 Days of Prayers - Global Prayer Campaign" for peace.
- World Council of Churches head appointed presiding bishop for Church of NorwayThe (Lutheran) Church of Norway has appointed World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit as its new presiding bishop.
- Trump-Netanyahu plan for Palestine and Israel 'an ultimatum, not a path to peace' says world churches headThe World Council of Churches and The Lutheran World Federation, both with churches in the Holy Land, have criticized a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for regional peace for the lack of consultation in their pitch.
Countercurrents
- Education in the time of PandemicThe coronavirus pandemic is seen as a ‘useful crisis’ in which to transform the economy. Yet the university system has not received any such ‘stimulus’ of fresh ways of thinking about education. While exams do play a role, they are being fetishized as the return of ‘normalcy’ even as many students have been left to […]
- Can Humanism Survive the Onslaught of Hate? | Ram PuniyaniLately when India is undergoing the massive crisis of the Corona epidemic and the offshoots of its mishandling, we have also seen the pandemic being used to demonise a particular community in India. These hate mongers, operating through powerful medium of TV, and widespread social media which also has resorted to Fake news has intensified […]
- How long will it take Kashmir to celebrate and not mourn deaths & devastation on EID?Every year before we think of celebrating EID in Kashmir, anything devastating happens that dashes out the hopes of everybody and all are put to mourn the deaths & destruction of our fellow Kashmiris Burhan wani, Shujaat Bukhari, abrogation of Article 370 & 35A, domicile act and now Junaid Sehrai to mention few are […]
- To Be A DissidentWhat does it mean to be a dissident? At its simplest, it means to critically engage with and seek to change the material and the ideological structures of the society in which you find yourself, whether local, national, regional, or global. It means the ability to say “no” to those in power, even if the […]
- The ‘Vayye-Vayya’ society: Morbidity and medicalization in KeralaA lot had already been written about the high morbidity conscious Kerala society and especially what was being called in the early eighties as the ‘Kerala Paradox’. This essentially is a conceptual complex which meant that the morbidity rate was very high in Kerala compared to the low mortality and it also meant that the […]
- A Left Perspective on Emerging Post-Pandemic Global RelationsIntroduction COVID-19 pandemic, its emergence, global spread and the crisis therefrom are inseparably linked up with the character of neoliberal accumulation today. As is widely recognised, its origins are rooted in profit-driven corporate capital’s unbridled plunder of nature and consequent invasion and intrusion in to wild life ecosystem leading to spill-over of viruses to humans […]
- Gruesome Face Of Indian PatriotismAs a student of political science we have been familiar with Samuel Johnson’s amazing words on patriotism, an essential ingredient of nationalism. He wrote: ‘Patriotism is last refuge of scoundrel.’ History has been witness to the truthfulness of this dictum multiple times globally. Back at home what does it mean could be witnessed personally and […]
- Tribute to Dr Vijayam, renowned humanistDr Goparaju Vijayam or popularly known as Dr Vijayam, passed away, in the morning today at his home at the Atheist Center in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The loss is tremendous as far as the humanist movement in India is concern as Vijayam Garu was one of the pioneers. He was also the Executive Director of […]
- Social Inequality in a Political DemocracyIn spite of India’s perceptible economic and social development, the caste system still obstructs and isolates the section of its population, the Scheduled Caste (SC) also called as Dalits and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The Dalits, who form around 16.6 per cent of Indian population[1], undergo systemic discrimination, and excluded from the development process even after […]
- In search of the ultimate justice: Dismantling rape culture in India20th March 2020, the Nirbhaya accused were hanged in the wee hours, at 5 o’ clock, and we all woke up inhaling the sense of closure. Deep down it wasn’t so oblivious that the death sentence would actually never serve as a future deterrent. But, nevertheless the perpetrators left no stone unturned to make the […]
Nachrichten
- ÖRK-Exekutivausschuss veranstaltet virtuelle Tagung und betet für eine Welt unter der Bürde von COVID-19Der Exekutivausschuss des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK) trifft sich vom 1. bis zum 3. Juni zu einer virtuellen Tagung und bekundet zu diesem Anlass seine Solidarität mit einer Welt, in der sich viele Menschen vor dem Hintergrund der COVID-19-Pandemie in einer kritischen Lage befinden.
- ÖRK-Präsidentinnen und -Präsidenten an Pfingsten: „Wogen der Verzweiflung und Zungen wie von Feuer“In einer Pfingstbotschaft zum Thema „Wogen der Verzweiflung und Zungen wie von Feuer“ beschäftigen sich die regionalen Präsidentinnen und Präsidenten des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen mit der mächtigen Gegenwart Gottes.
- Junger Mann aus Uganda ist Hoffnungsträger für zukünftige bessere Versorgung von HIV-Kranken und für mehr GendergerechtigkeitHillary Nuwamanya, 24, kam HIV-positiv zur Welt und hat sich dazu entschieden, sein Leben so zu leben, dass er ein Beispiel für andere Menschen in ihrem Kampf für mehr Hoffnung sein kann. Ein wichtiger Teil der Ökumenischen HIV- und AIDS-Initiativen und Advocacy des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen besteht darin, dass Menschen wie der aus Uganda […]
- ÖRK trauert um Pastorin Prof. Dr. Mary-Anne Plaatjies van HuffelDer Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) trauert um die verstorbene Pastorin Prof. Dr. Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, eine südafrikanische Pastorin und Akademikerin, die seit 2013 als ÖRK-Präsidentin für Afrika im Dienst stand. Sie starb am 19. Mai.
- ÖRK grüßt herzlich alle Menschen muslimischen Glaubens, die das islamische Fest des Fastenbrechens Eid al-Fitr feiern.Im Namen des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK) hat der amtierende ÖRK-Generalsekretär, Pastor Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, herzliche Grüße an alle Menschen muslimischen Glaubens gesandt, die überall auf der Welt das Fest Eid al-Fitr feiern.
- ÖRK veranstaltet Online-Konsultation mit Gesundheitsversorgern aus aller WeltDr. Mwai Makoka ist Programmreferent für Gesundheit und Heilen beim Ökumenischen Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK). Im Kontext der COVID-19-Krise hat er Mitte Mai eine Online-Konsultation mit ökumenischen Gesundheitsversorgern und -netzwerken aus aller Welt organisiert und moderiert.
- ÖRK und Gesamtafrikanische Kirchenkonferenz drängen auf engere Beziehungen zwischen Kirchen und GesundheitsversorgernDer Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) und die Gesamtafrikanische Kirchenkonferenz haben in einer gemeinsamen Erklärung auf eine engere Zusammenarbeit von Kirchen und kirchlichen Gesundheitseinrichtungen und Verbänden gedrängt.
- ÖRK zeigt sich schockiert und entsetzt nach Angriffen in AfghanistanDer Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen reagierte zutiefst schockiert und entsetzt auf den Anschlag auf ein Krankenhaus in Kabul, Afghanistan, bei dem mindestens 15 Menschen einschließlich zweier neugeborener Babys ums Leben kamen und zahlreiche weitere Personen verletzt wurden. Bei einem zweiten Zwischenfall in der Provinz Nangarhar riss ein Selbstmordattentäter mindestens 25 Menschen mit in den Tod […]
- „Working Together“-Tagung vertieft die Beziehungen zwischen dem ÖRK und den kirchlichen Diensten und WerkenEine Reihe von Working Together-Veranstaltungen in der vergangene Woche hat einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Intensivierung der Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Ökumenischen Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) und seinen Rundtisch-Gesprächspartnern und kirchlichen Diensten und Werken einschließlich des ACT-Bündnisses geleistet. Die Tagung, die im Normalfall jedes Jahr im Mai im Ökumenischen Institut in Bossey stattfindet, wurde online vom amtierenden […]
- Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen und der Rat der Kirchen im Nahen Osten fordern die EU in einem gemeinsamen Schreiben zu einer konsequenten Haltung gegenüber der geplanten Annexion palästinenischen Territoriums aufIn einem gemeinsamen Schreiben an die Außenminister und Außenministerinnen der Länder der EU haben sich der ÖRK und der Rat der Kirchen im Nahen Osten für eine konsequente und prinzipientreue Haltung der Europäischen Union gegen jede Annexion besetzter palästinensischer Gebiete im Westjordanland durch den Staat Israel ausgesprochen.
Palestine Updates
- Soldier throws grenade in Palestinian Arab village(Video)The leftist organization B’Tselem has circulated a video showing an IDF soldier puncturing the tires of a car and soldiers throwing gas grenades into a house in the Palestinian Arab village of Kafr Qaddum near Shechem (Nablus). The soldiers were in the village during violent disturbances that took place there. The two videos released by […]
- World Bank: Palestinian economy could shrink by 11%The Palestinian economy could shrink by as much as 11% in the coming year as the coronavirus pandemic inflicts yet another blow to the Palestinian Authority’s already shaky finances, the World Bank said Monday. The economic deterioration comes as tensions with Israel soar ahead of Israel’s plans to annex large parts of the occupied West […]
- UN paper warns of Palestinian economic collapse due to COVID-19In this photo made Tuesday, May 19, 2020, a Palestinian vendor with a mask displays his fresh fruit juice in the street as the markets remain partly closed, part of a lockdown and quarantine measures to protect residents from the coronavirus, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) Special coordinator for Middle […]
- Palestine Update Nr. 369 – 21. Mai 20 – Zwei erklärende politische FaktenPalestine Update Nr. 369 – 21. Mai 20 – Zwei erklärende politische Fakten Meinung *Zwei erklärende politische Fakten – Zwei Auszüge aus Artikeln, die Sie lesen müssen* In der Geschichte der Unterdrückung, die einem ganzen Volk oder einer Nation angetan wird, dürfen die Betroffenen ihre Erinnerung nicht ausradieren. Rache ist nicht die ideale Option. Aber […]
- The Little Girl and the Sea: Eid in Palestine in PhotosMillions of Palestinians celebrated Eid al-Fitr despite Israeli military restrictions and social distancing measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. For Gazans, the sea remained their main escape, as thousands of families flocked to the beaches, picnicking, playing, and riding horses. In the photos below, I try to provide a glimpse of how besieged Palestinians in Gaza celebrated […]
- Israel’s ‘Peace Now “wants Israel to end criminal settlement policyPalestine Update 371 Opinion Israel’s ‘Peace Now “wants Israel to end criminal settlement policy Israel can never ignore the embarrassing fact it is under a state of siege – a point that Palestine Updates repeatedly affirms. All land occupied by settlers is stolen in broad daylight. It violates every law in every law book. It […]
- Palestine Update Nr. 368 – 19.5.22 – Israels Apartheid verdient VerachtungPalestine Update Nr. 368 – 19.5.22 – Israels Apartheid verdient Verachtung Meinung *Israels Apartheid verdient Verachtung und noch mehr Schläge* Zwei kritische Berichte zu Israels Apartheid-Entwürfen Zusammengestellt von Ranjan Solomon *Die israelische Apartheid ‚abwatschen‘ – Verurteilung von Yifat Doron (Auszüge)* Der 1. Juli, der Tag, an dem Doron ihre Verurteilung zur Gefängnisstrafe antreten soll, […]
- Palestine Update Nr. 365 – 14.5.22 – Schwedische Christliche Frauen … Palestine Update Nr. 365 – 14.5.22 – Schwedische Christliche Frauen … *Schwedische Christinnen anerkennen Israels Annexionspläne nicht* *Die Beziehung zwischen den Kirchen Schwedens und den palästinensischen Kirchen ist sehr stark. Die „Church of Sweden“ arbeitete über den Lutherischen Weltbund bereits, als die Palästinenser Flüchtlinge wurden und in den Jahren 1948-49 die erste Nakba erfuhren.* *In […]
- Will Palestine squarely face the threat of annexation?Palestine Update 370 Opinion Will Palestine squarely face the threat of annexation? There is skepticism about whether President Abbas will actually bite the bullet this time around, if and when Israel makes good on the annexation plan. From the sense of things, both Abbas and Netanyahu may fulfill their vows. Israel’s confidence in implementing annexation […]
- Image and reality of a conflictThe Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance Rashid Khalidi writes a sharp and insightful history of the region, explaining how and why Palestinians continue to pose a stiff challenge to Israel’s growing ambitions Stanly Johny Far cryA Muslim woman prays, wearing gloves, in east Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, […]
Christian Conference of Asia
- GS Statement and Letter (2016-2019)(1). Statement Condemning the Police Firing against Farmers in Kidapawan, Mindanao in the Philippines (2). GS Keynote Address In Search of a New Vision for Christian Mission in Asia_March 2016 (3). GS Letter to Suicide bomb attack against innocent people in Pakistan (29 March 2016) (4). Report of the CCA General-Secretary-18 July 2016(5). Statement on […]
- Sudhir Adhikari, Bangladesh Ecumenical Leader Passes AwaySudhir Adhikari, a prominent ecumenical leader in Bangladesh passed away this morning (21 September) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Born in Barisal, Bangladesh in a traditional Baptist Christian family, Sudhir Adhikari was a scientist by profession and worked with the government of Pakistan and Bangladesh for several years. As a devoted lay member of the Bangladesh Baptist […]