Amid renewed tensions over the Falkland Islands, the Argentinian Methodist Church has sent a letter to the Methodist Church in Britain, expressing its desire for their governments to resolve their issues peacefully. “A war is always a human failure in the light of God’s project that we share his creation and that we all enjoy the resources that He has [...]

The Church of Scotland’s Moderator has written to all 1,450 Kirk congregations asking them to raise at least £100 each to help a charity for homeless Scots, following the loss of Scottish Government backing.

The Protestant Federation of France has turned its spotlight on chaplaincy challenges and issues this year. ekklesia – At the group’s General Assembly on 21 and 22 January 2012 in Paris, members examined the issues chaplains face in hospitals, prisons and the military and urged member churches to take steps to support chaplains’ work. Pastor Claude Baty, president of the federation, [...]

Churches from all denominations are preparing to ‘break barriers’ in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2012, say organisers. ekklesia – The week takes place from 28 January to 5 February. Over 100 events are planned across England, including flash mobs in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, discussions in Sheffield, arts events in London and Cambridge, baking in Leicester, a fair in [...]

Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders have issued a joint call for the government’s household welfare benefit cap to exclude child benefit. ekklesia – Many will also be joining the wider rebellion against the cap wholesale, and the major Free Churches (Methodists, United Reformed and Baptists) are among those who have focused on the cuts aimed at disabled and sick people [...]

A coalition of major charities is calling on the Government to pause the Welfare Reform bill and carefully consider its reform of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). ekklesia – The move has come ahead of another important debate in the House of Lords today (17 January 2012) on the bill, which is now in the final stages of its Parliamentary passage.

The Kirchentag, Germany’s bi-annual ecumenical celebration, is making greater efforts to be environmentally friendly, according to organisers – writes Ruby Russell. ekklesia – With over 100,000 people attending each year and huge stages for live bands, the Kirchentag’s (literally “church congress”) energy requirements are enough to make any carbon-conscious soul wince. But as the CEO of the new Hamburg office explains, [...]

Christian youth are bringing their passion for change to the UN climate conference in Durban, South Africa, eager to learn how to spread the message that God’s creation needs better care – writes Mike Langa-Lulanga. ekklesia – About 28 youths from church and faith-based organisations on six continents are taking “Youth For Eco-Justice” training during the 17th Conference of Parties to the [...]

A number of faith groups have joined with equality campaigners in welcoming a new law that comes into effect today (5 December). It will allow legally recognised same-sex civil partnerships to be registered on religious premises in England and Wales. ekklesia – Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Jews have already said that they plan to take advantage of the provision in [...]

A veteran human rights campaigner has warned of growing restrictions on religious freedom in Russia, and urged Western governments and churches to do more to address the issue – writes Jonathan Luxmoore. ekklesia – ”Although the [officially atheist] Soviet Union collapsed 20 years ago … religious believers still face serious problems,” said the Rev Michael Bourdeaux, president of the Oxford, UK-based Keston [...]