A delegation from the Church of the Brethren has made a historic visit to North Korea, to make direct contact with four farm enterprises that have received support from the church - an act yet rarely extended to people from the United States.

Anabaptism, a dissenting Christian tradition associated with the world's historic peace churches, provides a specific way of understanding what it means to follow Jesus, a leading presenter at a major Mennonite consultation has declared.

Pope Benedict yesterday received the first Mennonite World Conference delegation ever to come to Rome, following the Anabaptists' split from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. He especially commended their their long standing witness to peace.

Mennonites and Catholics in conflict-ridden Colombia have discovered common ground in their recent dialogue about peacemaking, part of an international series of meetings to encourage more fruitful contact between the two Christian traditions.

The US Church of the Bretheren, an Anabaptist denomination, has called for the outlawing of depleted uranium weapons and has backed anti-war initiatives from Christian Peacemaker Teams and the World Council of Churches.

Keen public interest in Anabaptism, the positive growth of initiatives from churches related to that tradition, decline in some areas, and challenges in relating Christian faith and public life were among the issues highlighted in reports from seven countries delivered by 20 Mennonite church leaders from across Europe who gathered recently for their annual meeting.

Anabaptist churches, heirs to what is often called 'the radical Reformation', are working in support and solidarity with communities still recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the southern United States.