ENI—The global economic crisis has led to a rise in reported incidents of anti-Semitism in Canada, says a prominent Jewish human rights and humanitarian organization.

Karen Mills says her life has done a complete turn-around since discovering Family Futures, a program that helps single mothers and is run out of St. Paul’s, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

In the fall of 2007, Mills was pregnant and also had four children. The church’s community kitchen has a partnership with Family Futures, a non-government organization that works with mothers who are pregnant or have recently had a child and are at risk due to different socio-economic factors.

Once a month the church hosts a cooking class and provides all the ingredients for a meal. Family Futures provides the transportation and childcare. Families work together to make meals for each family to take home, and also discuss different recipes and budgeting.

Through attending the Family Futures meal nights at St. Paul’s, Mills met several ladies at the church who she describes as friendly, outgoing, understanding and supportive.

Rev. Dr. Richard Topping has been appointed the first professor of Studies in the Reformed Tradition at St. Andrew’s Hall. He will begin July 1.

ENI—German Bishop Margot Kässmann has criticized the Protestant work ethic ascribed to the 16th century theologian John Calvin, saying it has excesses in the current social and economic climate.

Ten graduates (see photos elsewhere in this issue), one candidate in lay leadership and three honorary degrees were handed out early May at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal, for the 142nd convocation of Presbyterian College.

Rev. Glynis Williams, executive director of Action Refugiés Montréal, was awarded an honourary Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa), presented by Professor Robert C. Culley. A former nurse, Williams was ordained in 1989. The organization she leads was founded in 1994 by the Anglican and Presbyterian churches to help refugees realize their right to asylum and rebuild their lives in a new community. It is one of the few organizations in Quebec that facilitate private sponsorship of refugees living in danger overseas. Action Refugiés also “twins” volunteers with newly arrived refugees and provides support and counsel to those detained by Immigration Canada, emphasizing the particular barriers faced by women and children.

ENI—Germany’s top Protestant cleric, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, has castigated the fact that his country has become the top armaments exporting nation of Europe.

After thorough revisions by members of the Han-Ca presbyteries, a church doctrine subcommittee and a publisher in Korea, a Korean version of Living Faith is expected to come before General Assembly later this month.

The Presbyterian Record received four first place awards at the annual Associated Church Press conference.

Jayne Self, author and wife of moderator-elect Rev. Harvey Self, is among six finalists contending for this year’s Word Guild prize for best new Christian author.

“In 27 years of ministry, I have never been able to work in a building so well suited for native ministry, that we could call our own,” said Rev. Stewart Folster, director of Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry, referring to the new building in downtown Saskatoon.

Rev. Harvey Self of Tweedsmuir Memorial, Orangeville, Ont. is the moderator-elect of the 2009 General Assembly. His nomination will likley be affirmed on June 7 when assembly begins in Hamilton, Ont.

Self said he was excited and honoured by the opportunity, and by the vote of confidence from “a church that I’ve served for 28 years and have loved all my life, and that has been a huge part of my family.”

He hails from a long line of Presbyterian ministers, elders and chaplains, and served nine years as a military chaplain himself. As moderator, he hopes to make contact with the Presbyterian chaplains serving in the regular forces and reserves. It will be a challenge for the church, he said, “to find a way to speak as one to our military chaplains and others who are going through difficult times on our behalf. To say something meaningful, when saying nothing would be more comfortable.”

A week-long “friendraiser” challenge launched by the communications office in late April sought to double membership in a Presbyterian Church in Canada group on Facebook, a popular internet network. The impromptu campaign fell short of its goal, garnering 145 new members—an increase of 51 per cent. But it’s never too late to join.

“It was partly a social experiment and partly trying to get more critical mass in the group,” said Colin Carmichael, associate secretary of communications. “When you look at the stats on Facebook, especially in Canada where one in three Canadians has an account, it seemed strange that there would only be 200 Presbyterians on Facebook.”

This year, “it all comes down to Presbyterians Sharing,” Stephen Roche, the Presbyterian Church’s chief financial officer told Assembly Council in March. “How 2009 unfolds will be reflective of the mindsets of people, but will also be reflective of the messages we give. It all comes down to, are there personal stories in congregations about Presbyterians Sharing?” Contributions to the national fund are voluntary.

Roche stated that the church has not suffered unduly from the economic downturn. He assured members that the church’s funds are invested conservatively, and although total net investments lost $4 million between the end of 2007 and 2008, the unrealized losses can be recovered as markets improve in the coming years.

Since the economy began its downward spiral last fall, the Scott Mission in downtown Toronto has seen 10 per cent more men and 20 per cent more women make use of its programs on a regular basis, compared to the same period last year.

According to David Smith, CEO and executive director, there are many new faces amidst the drop-in centre’s usual crowd. “They don’t look like what you’d think of as homeless people,” he said. “Often they’re people whose economic situation was tenuous anyway and now they’ve crossed the line into poverty. Many have never used a food bank or soup kitchen before.”

Five environmentally-minded, inner-city youth, sponsored by the Yonge Street Mission and Banyan Youth, traveled to Washington, D.C. for a green conference in March.

PowerShift 2009 focused on creating green jobs, sustainable energy use, and building enthusiasm among a new generation of environmentalists. As members of the St. James Town youth council, the teens hope to promote environmental projects in their impoverished Toronto neighbourhood.

In the centre of the church hall a dozen youngsters were seated in a circle together with three adults. All held an olive branch in their hands.

The group consisted of eleven-year-old Jewish, Muslim and Christian boys and girls—two boys and two girls from each faith. The adults were advisers from each of the faiths. This was a training meeting of Kids4Peace in the town of Raineh on the outskirts of Nazareth in Galilee.

ISARC—As MPPs inside Ontario’s legislature debated the provincial budget, representatives from diverse faith communities prayed at Queen’s Park for the government and the poor throughout the month of March.

Thirteen years after it was launched by PCC web pioneer Rev. Michael Farris, the PCC Web Daily is read by over 64,000 subscribers around the world, and has archived over 4,000 devotions on its website.

ENI—Leaders of the All Africa Conference of Churches demanded the Sudanese government “allow uninterrupted humanitarian assistance” in the country following the expulsion of 13 international aid agencies from Sudan’s western Darfur province.

ENI—Episcopal (Anglican) bishops in the United States say their church has failed to adequately address economic concerns because it has been too consumed with internal controversies.