The United Reformed Church has appointed the Rev Roberta Rominger as its general secretary. She becomes the first woman to hold the senior post in the Church, or in any of its predecessor denominations.

Faith groups in Northern Ireland and America have been seeking to learn from one another about making peace in the human and the physical environment together. Earlier this month a US interfaith group visited the province.

In a move that is designed as a challenge to "consumerism as usual" and a reminder of the dominance of money in our lives, the Methodist Church in Britain has launched an alternative Credit Card containing a "buy less" message.

The Methodist Church in Britain and the Church of England are calling on congregations to get involved in Education Sunday 2008 on 20 January - when the vocation of teaching and the contribution of Christians and others is celebrated.

The Christmas message is that God in Jesus commits to transforming human ordinariness, not to fantasies about a super-hero figure or military conquerer, the President of the Methodist Conference has said in his seasonal message.

Nigerian Methodist Archbishop Michael Kehinde Stephen has been chosen to moderate the Continuing Committee on Ecumenism in the 21st Century, a group assigned to monitor and encourage initiatives in a global quest for Christian unity.

Anti-gambling and addiction agencies have welcomed the news that gambling firms that do not meet UK regulatory standards will be banned from advertising in the UK. They are also calling for international agreements.

In an unusual diplomatic move, Methodist Bishop Eugenio Poma, an indigenous Aymara Indian from Bolivia, has become his country's ambassador to Denmark. Poma also used to work for the World Council of Churches.

Speaking ahead of the G8 Summit to be held in Germany on 6 June 2007, the heads of Britain's major Free churches have appealed to the UK government and world leaders to make global poverty their top priority.