news in brief
Lebanon: Churches shelter refugees
Thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing their homes in southern Lebanon are finding shelter and safety thanks to churches and Christian organisations opening their doors.
True Vine Baptist Church in Zahlé has provided refuge to 150 people and at least 30 families fleeing south Lebanon, both in the church building and in the homes of members. The church also has a school that serves 600 refugee children, although classes are currently suspended for security reasons.
‘Evangelicals for Harris’ in late push for votes - but face struggle as vote looms
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 28 Oct 2024
Although many US evangelicals are backing Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has supporters among them too.
‘Evangelicals for Biden’ has rebranded as ‘Evangelicals for Harris’ in an effort to mobilise Christian voters for her campaign. The group argues that her faith ‘shines through in her clear Christian values displayed in her unwavering support for American families.’
news in brief
Cuba: Evangelicals press government
The Alliance of Christians of Cuba (ACC), which brings together around 50 religious leaders from several Christian denominations, issued a joint statement after its recent national gathering in Santiago.
It made three requests to the Cuban government. Firstly, to free all those imprisoned for exercising their inherent rights. Secondly, to allow every religious movement on the island to associate and obtain legal status and protection under the law. Thirdly, to respect the right of each Cuban citizen to exercise all their inherent rights, and that they do not persecute them for this.
letter from South
Africa: Called to the nations
Jordan Brown
Date posted: 1 Oct 2023
This letter marks the last one I will write while still actually in South Africa. Our stay is coming to a close and my final letter in November will serve as a reflection on our time here.
This month, I will provide a few thoughts on how we have found our winding-down time – and on a recent trip.
GAFCON in sexual civil war
Charles Raven
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
The Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Henry
Ndukuba, has released without warning a
statement accusing the Anglican Church in
North America (ACNA), another GAFCON
province, of departing from the authority of
Scripture.
‘The deadly ‘virus’ of homosexuality has
infiltrated the ACNA’ he alleged, and this
had
‘serious
implications’
for Archbishop
Foley Beach’s leadership of GAFCON (the
Global Anglican Future Conference, made
up of orthodox believers unhappy with
Anglicanism’s liberal sexual trajectory).
Authentic Anglicanism and false fears
Charles Raven
Date posted: 1 Feb 2020
Nearly four years ago, Chancellor George Osborne claimed that the UK’s exit from the European Union would be ‘a shock to the world economy’. Thus began what became known as ‘Project Fear’, but with Brexit imminent there is no sign of financial panic nor of the other dire consequences foretold.
This is not to say that Remain had a monopoly of misleading claims, but it is a reminder of how politically-driven communication can stretch facts and evidence. Sadly, the Anglican Communion is not exempt. It has its own ‘Project Fear’.
USA: eugenics targets African-Americans
Christianheadlines.com
Date posted: 1 Mar 2019
Dr Martin Luther King’s niece stated in January, on Martin Luther King day, that Planned Parenthood (PP), the US abortion provider, targets African-Americans.
Dr Alveda King, the Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn said: ‘The leading cause of death in the African-American community is not gang violence … it’s abortion. [With] 60 million-plus abortions legal in America since 1973 [and] about a third of those in the African-American community [who make up] 13% or less of America’s population, that means we are having more abortions.’
Billy Graham 1918 - 2018
JEB
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Billy Graham was arguably the most successful evangelist of the twentieth century. He died at his home in North Carolina on 21 February at the age of 99 having long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments.
Many millions of people have heard the gospel message from him through his city-wide crusades and his weekly ‘Hour of Decision’ radio programme broadcast around the world. Later millions more were reached through TV, video, film and webcasts.
news in brief
Bangladesh: murdered
On 5 June, Sunil Gomez, a Christian grocer, was murdered inside his shop in a Christian neighbourhood in the district of Natore.
On 7 June, Ananda Gopal Ganuli, a Hindu religious leader, was killed in Jhenaidah after performing his regular religious rites in a temple in the Naldanga area, where he served as a priest. Attacks on religious minorities by extremist groups in Bangladesh have escalated rapidly in recent months. Responsibility for the murders has reportedly been claimed by Daesh (Islamic State).
Australia: church statements – home and away
Peter Riddell
Date posted: 1 Mar 2016
As Australian churches entered the New Year, the attention of the church media was devoted to several pressing issues of debate, both domestic and international.
The push in Australia for the somewhat euphemistically named ‘same-sex marriage’ has been increasing in momentum in recent times. Opposition is coming from various quarters, including the different Australian churches, in partnership with other faith communities.
Disagreement or departure?
The Global South Conference planned for
Tunisia from 12–18 October was targeted
by a credible terrorist threat and cancelled.
The Global South Primates therefore met
in Cairo from 14–16 October. They claimed
to represent the majority of the active membership of the Anglican Communion.
Locating Lambeth?
Chris Sugden
Date posted: 1 Dec 2014
Transition of leadership is always a testing time for organisations.
This is certainly true for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), which came into being in 2009. Following the consecration to the office of bishop of a man who was in a samesex relationship, those who could not accept this within a Christian church formed a new church, faithful to Anglican teaching. It was recognised by the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON), which first met in 2008 in Jerusalem.
news in brief
Algeria: arrested
A Christian man, Sofiane, from the Algerian
city of Biskra, was arrested on August 23 by
the National Gendarmerie at a checkpoint
near Biskra, according to a member of the
Protestant church of Algeria (EPA).
Sofiane, married and father of one child,
was in a shared taxi from the city of Oran
when he was arrested. He was taken to
Biskra for questioning. The Christian community in Algeria, including EPA officials, is
concerned by the news of the arrest and by
the fact that Sofiane is still in custody.
news in brief
Australia: euthanasia
New South Wales (NSW) will once again be
subjected to an attempt to legalise euthanasia, it was reported in May.
Catherine Faehrmann MP (Greens NSW
Party) in late April announced her intention
to submit legislation titled Rights of the
Terminally Ill Bill 2013 for NSW’s Upper
House to discuss. Previous such attempts in
NSW have been defeated by a wide range of
cross-party opposition.