Rev. Donald Macleod's biography of Presbyterian minister W. Stanford Reid recently received the Donald Grant Creighton Award. The citation for the award states that the book about “Reid's spiritual and intellectual journey gives a balanced in-depth critique of the man and his times, never fawning or censorious.”

ENI – The head of Greece's Orthodox church has urged Christians of different denominations to step up cooperation to promote unity in the face of growing secularism in society.

Rosedale Presbyterian, Toronto, will daily provide a place of sanctuary for those attending the XVI AIDS Conference and the Ecumenical Pre-Conference, August 10 – 18, in Toronto. The church, decorated with PWS&D's new posters for the Towards A World Without AIDS campaign, will be open from 2 p. m. to 8 p.m. as a place of quiet reflection for the expected 20,000 international delegates.

This banner was made in Sarnia, Ont., (see People and Places) and travelled to Malawi with Rev. Carol Hamilton (left) who presented it to Esther Lupafya who works in the Ekwendeni HIV/AIDS program in Malawi. Hamilton was on a PWS&D HIV/AIDS study trip.

ENI – Clerics have not been spared in Malawi's spiralling of armed robberies and the situation is so severe the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian says it will allow some clerics to own at least one firearm for personal protection.

ENI – By a vote of 483 to 28 the Presbyterian Church (USA) set as church policy that “financial investments … as they pertain to Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, be invested in only peaceful pursuits.”

William P. Thompson, a United States church leader and layperson instrumental in bringing the world's Congregationalists and Presbyterians together in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and its first president, died at age 87.

The 14 Bhil people imprisoned in India since January 2004 have been acquitted of all charges and released. The accused had been imprisoned for incidents surrounding Hindu attacks on Christian homes. The Supreme Court of India's decision came on May 31st after years of delayed trials, no-show witnesses and judges and difficulty getting bail for the accused. The long-awaited decision was met with joy at the Presbyterian Church's national offices. “It feels great to get this news,” said Ron Wallace, associate secretary for International Ministries. “The dismissal of the charges against the Bhil prisoners and their release from prison are an answer to the prayers of many faithful people, both in Canada and in India.”

The Canadian Council of Churches has announced that Rev. Dr. James T. Christie has been elected president for the years 2006-2009. The United Church minister is currently dean of the faculty of theology at the University of Winnipeg and dean of the university's Global College. His specialty lies in inter-faith dialogue and he has extensive experience in ecumenism and global governance. Christie recently completed a three-year term as a vice president of the CCC.

Stories published in the Presbyterian Record in 2005 and subsequently about sexual assault charges against a Presbyterian minister played a key role in the church's eventual disciplinary proceedings in the matter, the church has been told.

A new statue outside of St. Andrew's, Ottawa, evokes thoughts of Jesus with an outstretched hand, encouraging passers-by to remember His words of compassion: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.” The bronze statue, entitled Whatsoever You Do, depicts a seated human figure cloaked in anonymity. Sculptor Timothy Schmalz was at the May 28th dedication. “I imagine people going to Parliament to see the great leaders of the nation, and as they walk there, they pass by this humble leader, Jesus Christ,” he said. “It's not meant to be a decoration. It is meant to be a confrontation; to challenge people.” St. Andrew's is located at the heart of the nation's capital, and has been since 1828.