Maria Mackay
Fears in Russia Over Plans to Reduce Number of Visas to Foreign Missionaries
Fear has arisen among mission groups in Russia over reported plans by the Justice Ministry to tighten rules for granting visas to foreign missionaries. Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries predicts many foreign...
Australia: Church Groups Pessimistic About Welfare Overhaul
The Job Network, a group of employment organisations, including church-based employment organisations, has voiced opposition to the Australian Government's proposed changes to welfare...
Scottish Cardinal Intervenes in Debate over Quicker Divorces
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has come out to praise opponents of the Scottish Executive proposals to introduce quicker divorces. Cardinal Keith O'Brien praised the seven members of...
Bush Urges More Religious Freedom During China Visit
U.S. President George W. Bush has urged greater religious freedom for the people of China during a state visit to the country which ended Monday. President Bush made a special church visit on Sunday...
Chancellor tells Christians Global Justice Will take a Lifetime
Chancellor Gordon Brown has praised the work of Christian campaigners and groups such as CAFOD in pushing for debt relief and increase in aid, but warned the work will take a lifetime to complete...
UK Churches Set to Join in Narnia Craze
Churches across the country are set to follow the U.S. in promoting The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe before its premiere on 7 December. The film will be released nationwide on 8...
Youthwork Conference Gives Boost to Christian Youth Leaders
Speakers at the Youthwork Conference over the weekend have been encouraging hundreds of young Christian youth leaders in the difficult task of nurturing faith in young believer and non-believers. The Youthwork Conference, organised by the Youthwork partnership...
Hindu Militants Threaten to Burn Christian Converts in India
Extremist Hindu militants have threatened to kill over 60 new converts to the Christian faith in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh unless they agree to convert back to Hinduism...
Egyptian Pastors Prepare for National Training Conference
The All Egypt Pastors Conference, which takes place in Alexandria from 21 to 24 November, aims to equip pastors in bringing the message of the Gospel to non-Christian leaders in the community such as members of...
Glasgow Faith Survey Highlights Council-Faith Group Tensions
A new report by a group of academics at Edinburgh University, reveals the tensions between faith groups and local government. The report, Faith Communities and Local Government in Glasgow: 2005...
Christian Missionaries Ordered to Leave Venezuelan Indigenous Communities
The Venezuelan government has officially ordered a Christian tribal mission group to leave its tribal areas within 90 days...
Archbishop of York Warns Against Threat of Schism at Synod
The Archbishop of York has joined with the Archbishop of Canterbury in warning delegates at the Church of England Synod this week against the threat of schism. The Most Rev. Dr. John Sentamu urged...
Church World Service Marks One-Month Anniversary of Pakistan Earthquake
The Church World Service marked the one-month anniversary of the Pakistan earthquake by increasing its support to women. Hundreds gathered around last week in a prayer vigil...
Scottish Bishop Backs Mother’s ‘Right to Know’ Abortion Campaign
The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, has come out in support of the campaign by single mother of five, Sue Axon, against the right of under-16s to obtain an abortion without parental knowledge...
Hong Kong Churches Push for Democratic China
Church leaders in Hong Kong have pushed the Chinese government for democracy and guaranteed universal suffrage following their rejection of a proposed constitutional reform by the Chinese government. The October reform proposals of the Hong Kong government...
WCC and Partners to Launch Peacebuilding Programme for Africa
The World Council of Churches, together with Church World Service and the All Africa Conference of Churches, will launch an ambitious peacebuilding programme for Africa this Friday in Accra, Ghana...