News
Continued Violence in Darfur Restricting Humanitarian Missions
In response to last week's report on Sudan by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the humanitarian agency Church World Service says that the debate over the location and composition of a war crimes tribunal diverts attention from the immediate priority...
Britain to Allow Legal Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples
It has been announced that civil unions between gay couples will begin to take place in the UK by the end of the year. The British goverment has announced that homosexual partners in Britain will be able to enter into civil unions beginning in December...
ELCA Commences Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took their first steps to developing a social statement on human sexuality for the 5-million member denomination by 2007, on 18-20 February 2005. The meeting, held at the church's Chicago...
Final Ruling Delayed in Jordan Custody Case
The judge of an Islamic court in Jordan postponed a schedule custody hearing until March 15 after receiving a request on Sunday by the the Muslim guardian of two minor children belonging to a Christian widow...
Churches Welcome WCC Consensus Decision Making Model
The meeting of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) ended yesterday. The Council is now ready to stride towards the ninth assembly with renewed constitutional rules and institutional structure...
Serbia Latest Religious Law Draft Discriminates Against Minority Protestants
Forum 18 News Service, yesterday revealed the critiques from domestic and international non-governmental organisations and religious groups concerning the latest draft of a proposed law on religious organisations in Serbia...
SAT-7 to Broadcast First TV Show Made by Iraqi Christians
Church Mission Society, the UK-based mission agency which is well-known for its focus on the unreached countries in Africa and the Middle East, reported that its partner SAT-7 is going to air the first Christian satellite-TV show made by Iraqis in Feb...
Archbishop Stresses a Peace-Making Church as Primates Conference Opens
All 38 Primates of the Anglican Communion met at St Patrick’s Church, Armagh, Northern Ireland on 22nd February evening for an Evensong Service to mark the opening of the five-day conference. In the sermon Dr Rowan Williams...
Anglican Primates Hold Worship Service as Ireland Gathering Begins
All 38 Primates from the worldwide Anglican Communion were scheduled to attend a worship session this evening at St Patrick’s Church, Armagh. Those attending include Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and also Archbishop Robin Eames...
WCC Central Committee Ends with Confidence towards Ninth Assembly
Tuesday 22 February is the last day of the meeting the central committee of World Council of Churches (WCC). After seven days of activities, the Council has been strengthened with confidence in preparations for the upcoming ninth Assembly in Brazil...
Missionaries Face Continuous Threats in Colombia Churches
Native missionaries working in remote jungle areas of Colombia face the constant threat of violence and extortion from the war-torn nation's powerful guerrilla groups, an indigenous missions agency have reported...
Strong Quake Hits Iran, Officials say Situation Under Control
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has hit southeast Iran early this morning at 02:30 GMT. The quake was centred on the town Zarand in the Kerman province, 740km from the capital, Tehran. The latest death toll stands at 400 with more than 1,000 injured...
Methodists Warn New Gambling Bill will Put the Vulnerable at Greater Risk
On 22nd February, the drafted gambling bill is due to have its second reading in the House of the Lords. The bill has been strongly opposed by the churches and social concern groups...
Ecumenical Future of UK to be seen in Churches Assembly
The annual assembly of the official ecumenical body in the UK - Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) will open today. The 4-day conference aims to discuss the future of ecumenical movement...
Pope Urges Bishops in France to Stand Up Against Secularism with the Gospel
The Pope has made a passionate address and urged French bishops to create a new generation of Catholic professionals to counteract the rising French and European secularism with true Gospel values...
Greek Orthodox Church Endorses Major Reforms
After the 102-member Holy Synod meeting - the governing body of the Greek Orthodox Church - in Athens at the weekend, a number of new measures were approved. The urgent reform has the aim to ease the Church out of the recent scandals and misconducts...