WCC General Secretary Offers Condolences to Norway
Tveit, a native of Norway, had just left Oslo on the day a government building in that city was bombed, leaving eight people dead. A second attack on Utoya Island slew 68 more when the bomber, who was dressed as a police officer, opened fire at a political camp for young people.
“These horrible acts of violence have shaken us,” Tveit wrote, but added that the attacks had also caused the WCC to “recommit ourselves to join our forces and values to promote a world free of hatred.”
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is a member of the WCC. ¦ —EW
Racehorse Raises $7,000 for Malawi
Pastor Stephen, a racehorse named for the senior minister of Allentown Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, U.S.A., is raising funds for Malawi with every race he wins.
The horse’s owners, after being approached by members of the church, agreed to donate five per cent of his winnings this year to Villages in Partnership, an organization at work in Malawi. It was founded by the horse’s namesake, Rev. Stephen Heinzel – Nelson and his family after they spent a year in the African nation.
The pledged donations from Pastor Stephen’s winnings reached $7,000 by the end of July. ¦ —EW with files from the Monmouth and Middlesex Counties Examiner
Election Reform in India
The Election Commission of India praised election guidelines created by the church – led Mizoram People’s Forum at a consultation on electoral reforms in June, citing them as an example for the whole country.
Presbyterian churches in Mizoram, a small Indian state with a Christian majority, began campaigning for electoral reform in 2006, spurred by the rampant corruption during the 2003 election. In 2008 they released an election code of conduct that forbade wasteful campaign spending and door – to – door campaigning, a practice that had involved intimidation and bribery. According to Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi, the ban on door – to – door campaigning helped curb corruption in the 2008 election.
While the MPF was initiated by the Presbyterian Church in India, the anti – corruption campaign is now an ecumenical project, involving Catholics, Methodists and Buddhists as well as secular women’s, youth and social action groups. ¦ —EW with files from the Council for World Mission
Evangelical Author John Stott Dies
Rev. John Stott, a prolific author and a pivotal figure in 20th – century evangelical Christianity, passed away July 27 at the age of 90.
The Anglican minister and author of more than 50 books is often cited as one of the most influential voices shaping modern evangelism. He chaired the committee that drafted the Lausanne Covenant, a statement that helped unite evangelicals across the globe, and planned the first global Lausanne conference in 1974 alongside well – known preacher Billy Graham.
A believer in intellectual Christianity that’s integrated into all facets of a person’s life, Stott founded a number of organizations aimed at encouraging thoughtful evangelical study. Among them are Langham Partnership International (also known as John Stott Ministries in the U.S.A.) which helps train ministers, fund doctoral scholarships and subsidize evangelical books for pastors, students and seminaries in the developing world, and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, which aims to equip laypeople and churches.
During his career he turned down offers to advance in the Anglican Church’s hierarchy, opting instead to remain at All Souls Church in London’s West End, the church in which he grew up. He was rector for 25 years, and rector emeritus from 1975 until his death. He involved himself in a number of British evangelical groups, and served as chaplain to the Queen from 1959 until 1991.
Stott’s books include Basic Christianity, The Cross of Christ and The Radical Disciple among many others. ¦ —with files from the Religion News Service and Langham Partnership International
Malawi Churches Urge End to Violence
In the wake of anti – government protests that left at least 18 dead, the Malawi Council of Churches expressed its disappointment that the government had failed to meet with the churches to discuss issues facing the impoverished south African nation, and urged “all demonstrators to avoid resorting to violence.”
During a two – day protest on July 20 and 21, demonstrators rallied in Malawi’s three major cities—Mzuzu in the north, the capital Lilongwe in the central region, and Blantyre in the south—to protest rising prices, shortages of fuel and foreign currency, and to call for the resignation of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Police and troops cracked down on protestors, killing at least 18 and injuring about 40.
“While the Malawi Council of Churches would have wished that there were more round – table discussions to resolve the outstanding issues, we nevertheless urge all demonstrators to avoid resorting to violence or impinging on other people’s rights as they demonstrate,” the MCC said in a media statement.
Mutharika was elected in 2004 and again in 2009, but is barred from seeking a third term in elections scheduled for 2014. ¦ —with files from the Malawi Democrat and the BBC
