Latest News from Ekklesia

China reeling from largest earthquake in 30 years

agency reporter — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:23:10 +0100

The most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years, registered at a magnitude of 7.9, has killed at least 10,000 people in the south-western Sichuan province, with thousands more trapped and injured, says the BBC and news agencies.

Methodists told to expect mixed prospects for the future

staff writers — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:53:08 +0100

Methodists in Britain have been told by their president that the future holds a mixed prospects for both renewal and demise for. The Rev Dr Martyn Atkins was speaking at a large Pentecost rally in the heart of the capital.

Putin successor Medvedev gets Patriarchal blessing

Ecumenical News International — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:42:24 +0100

President Vladimir Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has been inaugurated in the Kremlin with pomp, circumstance, and prayers from Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church - which has paid tribute to the new national leader.

Violence, ethnicity, religion and ancient symbols

Savi Hensman — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:23:50 +0100

A closer look at the Sri Lankan experience may throw some light on other situations where struggles supposedly based on ethnicity or religion turn out to be more complex – and where human rights are of critical importance, says Savi Hensman.

US churches meet to explore new paths to peace

staff writers — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:09:43 +0100

Is it possible for a broken church to act as an agent for healing in a divided society? A gathering of people from peace church denominations in the United States has met to explore the practical and ecclesial issues.

Tax evasion 'costs the lives of 1,000 children a day'

Agencies — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:30:25 +0100

The lives of 1,000 young children a day are being lost to disease and poverty in poor countries because of illegal trade-related tax evasion, says a new report from Christian Aid. It has calculated that this evasion costs the developing world at least US$160bn annually.

Kirk set to express outright opposition to death penalty

agency reporter — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:36:35 +0100

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is set to express its outright opposition to the death penalty for the first time. It has never previously resolved to oppose capital punishment ‘unequivocally’.

Anabaptists take the lead on vital North Korea farm programme

staff writers — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:13:24 +0100

While the food crisis in North Korea continues largely unnoticed in the wider world, due to the country's isolation, a North American Anabaptist peace church is taking quiet steps to provide agricultural assistance.

Brown condemns generals' Burma relief inaction

staff writers — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:56:09 +0100

Burmese cyclone survivors face a massive crisis unless they are urgently delivered aid, leading aid agencies have warned - while Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Burma's generals to ease restrictions on outside assistance.

Burma's dictators make propaganda out of suffering

Agencies — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:29:01 +0100

Burma's military regime is distributing international aid today. But it is covering the boxes with the names of top generals in an effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

Religious polemics migrate to cyberspace

Adam Darlage — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:44:52 +0100

New technology has always played a part in religious polemics and in the sense of identity generated through the heated exchange of opinion, says Adam Darlage. Consider Luther and the Catholics, and also what we see happening in cyberspace today.

The struggle between good and bad religion

Giles Fraser — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:24:41 +0100

The struggle between good religion and bad religion is at a crucial juncture on te domestic and global stage, says Giles Fraser. He believes the Quilliam Foundation, a new Muslim think tank, can make a positive contribution.

Churches announce international Israel Palestine peace initiative

staff writers — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:54:26 +0100

The World Council of Churches is inviting member churches and others to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel. Participants will contribute to a common global witness for peace in early June 2008.

Outrage at Burma junta's emergency aid obstruction

staff writers — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:39:54 +0100

Development agencies and United Nations officials are exasperated at the obstructiveness of the Burmese junta toward an international aid effort aimed at bringing desperately needed supplies to victims of the recent cyclone.

Christian Research data defended, but church decline continues

staff writers — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:54 +0100

The Christian Research organisation, whose latest data survey on the decline of UK church attendance has annoyed the Church of England, has defended its work against accusations of being misleading.