Ploughshares Applauds Treaty
Project Ploughshares, a peace and justice NGO supported by the Presbyterian Church, celebrated the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations’ General Assembly in April.
Canada voted with the majority to pass the treaty, which seeks to control the $70-billion global arms trade. There were 154 delegates who voted in favour of the treaty, while Iran, Syria and North Korea voted against it. There were also 23 abstentions. Civil society is now waiting to see if Canada will be one of the first to sign the treaty when it opens for signatures on June 3.
A first of its kind, and the first time the UN has agreed to a major treaty to control conventional weapons since the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, it is being praised by many as a much needed start to protecting vulnerable people; however, it does have its limits.
“The scope of the treaty is limited to seven major combat weapons categories plus, very importantly, small arms and light weapons. These categories do not include much standard military equipment such as military transport vehicles, counterinsurgency aircraft and drones,” said Ken Epps, Ploughshares’ senior program officer. “States are encouraged, however, to apply treaty provisions to ‘the broadest range of conventional arms.'”
Stephen Allen, the Presbyterian Church’s associate secretary of Justice Ministries, noted that Project Ploughshares has worked “tirelessly and persistently since 1998 with governments in pursuing this Arms Trade Treaty,” and encouraged Presbyterians to get involved: “The treaty will enter into force 90 days after the 50th country signs and ratifies it. I encourage members of the Presbyterian Church to urge their Members of Parliament to support Canada signing the treaty.”
¦ —Amy MacLachlan
Record to Hire Major Gifts Officer
The Presbyterian Record is planning to hire a major gifts/planned giving officer over the summer. David Harris, the magazine’s publisher, said donor generosity makes it the perfect time to give people another way to support the Record’s ministry.
“We see growth opportunities,” said Harris, “and we are excited about the possibilities this position will bring.”
Details are still being worked on, but interested readers are encouraged to email the Record with a little information about themselves.
Send to dleader@presbyterian.ca
Topping Honoured
Rev. Dr. Richard Topping, a professor at St. Andrew’s Hall at the Vancouver School of Theology, was honoured by both his students and colleagues, being named VST’s new principal and receiving a Just Desserts award for his outstanding contributions to student life.
His new position as principal is effective July 1.
“[Dr. Richard Topping] challenges his students to be the best they can be and has the utmost care for their wellbeing,” according to a statement read at the awards ceremony on behalf of VST students. “He is committed to the education of his students because of his love for theology, for his belief that theology makes a difference.”
He is the first professor from VST to receive the award.
Topping came to VST in 2009, after serving the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal since 1997.
He is currently professor of studies in the Reformed tradition, and said he will continue teaching despite his new responsibilities.
“I love when the lights go on,” said Topping. “Once students learn the explanatory depth and power of interpreting the world, the church and their own lives by means of the gospel it is quite powerful.” ¦ —AM
Kenya’s Future Still Uncertain
Despite a mostly peaceful election in Kenya last March, newly elected president Uhuru Kenyatta has been summoned for trial for “crimes against humanity,” leaving Kenya’s political future uncertain.
Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta, defeated Raila Odinga by a margin of 8,000 votes. Odinga contested the results, appealing to the newly created Supreme Court. Amidst worries of ensuing violence, both leaders urged Kenyans to keep the peace and respect the appeal process.
After the court confirmed Kenyatta was indeed president there was some unrest, but it ended after two days.
Five years earlier, the story was drastically different. When President Mwai Kibaki was sworn in amidst allegations of election fraud, violence erupted across the country. More than 1,300 people were killed. Over 300,000 were displaced. Kenya’s economy, one of the strongest in Africa, took a nosedive.
But this election would be different, officials promised.
“The Kenyan people are quite proud that the process was peaceful,” said Dr. Rick Allen, a PCC mission staff person stationed in Nairobi.
“Part of it is trust in the new constitution,” said Allen, referring to the charter Kofi Annan helped draft with Kibaki and Odinga in a power-sharing deal to end the violence in 2007.
Another contributing factor was the involvement of church leaders.
“Five years ago the churches didn’t see the violence coming. Then they remained silent when all the horrible things happened. Later they officially apologized for their inaction,” he said.
Allen expressed optimism, but said he worries about how the West will treat Kenya in the near future, now that Kenyatta has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity” in connection with the violence that took place after the 2007 elections. ¦ —Seth Veenstra
CIDA Merges with DFAIT
CIDA, Canada’s once-independent international development agency, has been folded into the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade by the Conservative government.
The amalgamation was announced in March in tandem with the new federal budget. In an official statement, Julian Fantino, minister for international cooperation, explained the merger would “put development on equal footing with trade and diplomacy.”
While most agree alleviating poverty is ultimately beneficial to the economies of Canada and its international partners, many critics question how much emphasis will be put on “advancing Canadian interests.”
“We need to understand if ‘Canadian interests’ runs counter to a pro-poor policy,” said Ken Kim, director of Presbyterian World Service and Development.
“We would not use any Presbyterian donation in a way that runs counter to our beliefs as Presbyterians. Similarly, we wouldn’t seek or accept CIDA funding if the conditions required are counter to our beliefs.”
And while Kim said funding for PWS&D’s current five- and three-year projects will continue, the long-term future is less certain.
“The big question now is how our relationship with CIDA will proceed. We’re in a wait-and-see position,” said Kim. ¦ —SV
Ghanaian to Receive E.H. Johnson Award
Rev. Dr. Abraham Berinyuu, an associate professor at the University for Development Studies in Ghana and a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, will receive this year’s E.H. Johnson Award for service on the cutting edge of mission.
“Abraham is a genuine Christian servant. He stands firmly on the solid rock of his faith and makes no apology,” said Rick Fee, general secretary of the Life and Mission Agency and a personal friend of Berinyuu’s. “He is bold to speak for those dispossessed and for those who need guidance and help … He has championed those who are disabled and advocated on their behalf.”
Childhood polio left Berinyuu partially disabled, making it difficult to do mission work in any context.
“The people we choose … help us push forward and broaden our sense of mission. They’re doing something new and exciting; they’re making a difference, working in areas that are not necessarily mainstream,” Rev. Duncan Jeffrey, convener of the E.H. Johnson Committee, told the Record.
Berinyuu is also researching traditional African medicine, exploring the church’s relationship with that kind of healing and is working to build stronger relationships between Christians and Muslims in the area.
The Dr. E.H. Johnson Memorial Fund was established in 1981 to continue Johnson’s commitment to a global view of mission. This year’s award will be presented at a luncheon during General Assembly in Toronto.
¦ —AM & SV
