Rather than be split by a much-trumpeted schism,the Anglican Communion emerged from its meeting in Tanzania this week as a new kind of twenty-first century Church, reflecting changes in ecclesial and geopolitical power

Will the Anglican Communion survive? Before the Primates’ Meeting in Africa this week there was much discussion of schism, and an atmosphere of crisis prevailed. At the heart of the problem is how Anglicans reconcile the value they place on diocesan and provincial structure of autonomy at the national level with the legitimacy given to a comprehensive range of practices and positions with the bonds of ecclesial communion that allow the Communion coherence as one effective, united, interdependent worldwide body of Christians. Given that, what does the Anglican Communion mean? Is it a fellowship of independent national churches with historical roots in the Church of England that worship through a provincial expression of the Book of Common Prayer, or is it a hierarchical system with the Archbishop of Canterbury at the top as a sort of mini-Pope?
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Each year during Lent, churches across Saskatoon encourage study and reflection on a variety of Christian topics. This year, we have the following programmes to announce. Some have already begun, but you can join in at any time.

Ecumenical Lenten Worship. The churches of the Nutana Park Ecumenical Committee are again hosting their annual Lenten worship series. The services are held Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. at Calvin Goforth Presbyterian Church, 3rd Street at Sommerfeld. The services are planned and led by the various churches of the neighbourhood.

Reconsidering Jesus. This series of 5 talks will be held at Knox United Church, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning on February 28. The program seeks to further ongoing discussion throughout the church of the relevance and meaning of Jesus in his person and works. The talks will be led by various leaders in Saskatoon’s faith community. For further details, call Knox Church at 306-244-0159.

Searching the Scriptures. This is a series of 5 talks held at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, 2101 Lansdowne Avenue, Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting February 28. The free program will study the weekly lectionary readings with Dr. Mary Ann Beavis, a biblical scholar and professor of religious studies at St. Thomas More College. Dr. Beavis will introduce participants to historical as well as traditional Jewish and Christian methods of interpretation.
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A weekend for young adults led by Brother Emile of Taizé will be held in Edmonton from February 23 to 25th, 2007. “Leaving Discouragement Behind – Finding new Hope” is the theme of the weekend. This ecumenical time of prayer, reflection, and sharing is part of Taizé’s “Pilgrimage of Trust across the Earth.”
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The Massachusetts Council of Churches executive director Diane Kessler “stunned” the Council with her announcement of retirement at the end of June 2007. What was more stunning was the legacy she has left after thirty-two years of service.

As Director of the Council, Kessler was responsible for direction and public presentation of the Council’s work in areas such as education and evangelism for Christian unity, ecumenical worship, cooperation with local councils of churches, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, and social mission and prophetic witness.

Kessler, an Andover Newton graduate and ordained United Church of Christ minister, started with the Council in 1975 as an associate director, and became director in 1988. In those three decades she was able to help the 17 member denominations take ideas and transfer them into action, for example, by fostering an atmosphere of openness in ecumenical and interfaith relations, by developing a legislative campaign against casino gambling, and by founding the Ecumenical Institute of New England which has currently educated 500 people. She has done this while ensuring responsible stewardship of the Council’s resources, which come primarily from its member denominations. Kessler served as diplomatic liaison among religious leaders and denominations. “I have always thought it important to treat all churches with appreciation and respect,” she said. “Their diverse spiritual traditions enrich all of us.”
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Une nouvelle série télévisée canadienne intitulée “La petite mosquée dans la prairie” attire l’attention des médias du monde entier depuis son lancement le 9 janvier. Des journaux comme The New York Times, le Jerusalem Post, le quotidien saoudien Arab News et d’autres ont parlé de la série dans leurs colonnes. Cette série suit d’un regard humoristique les efforts d’un jeune imam, fraîchement débarqué de la grande ville où il était avocat, pour mener un petit groupe de musulmans qui a réussi à convaincre un prêtre anglican de les laisser établir une mosquée dans la cave de l’église locale.
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[Toronto] A new Canadian television series, “Little Mosque on the Prairie” has attracted worldwide media attention since its debut on 9 January. Coverage of the show has made the pages of newspapers such as The New York Times, the Jerusalem Post and the Saudi Arabian daily newspaper, Arab News, and further afield.
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Bishop Douglas Albert Ford, who stressed ecumenism as diocesan bishop of Saskatoon, died Jan. 23 at the age of 89. Read the complete Anglican Journal obituary of Bishop Douglas Ford at www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/100/article/bishop-ford-championed-ecumenism/.
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The Friends of Sophia are pleased to be hosting Dr. Barbara Reid, OP, who will be presenting a series of three lectures entitled “The Passion of Christ: A Feminist Perspective.” Planned for January 28 and 29, 2007, the lectures will be held at St. Andrew’s College and St. Thomas More College on the university campus. Further details are available on the Friends of Sophia website at www.usask.ca/uscm/friendsofsophia/
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The Friends of Sophia will be hosting Dr. Barbara E. Reid, O.P. on January 28 & 29, 2007. Dr. Reid is professor of New Testament at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan. An educator, scholar, and retreat director, she is the author of “New Collegeville Commentary on
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Once again, Scripturefest will be held at Queen’s House, Saskatoon. Theme: “The bread that we break – the cup that we bless: Scriptural perspectives on the Lord’s Table.” Keynote speaker will be Christian Eberhart, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $35 (with lunch).
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When Pope Benedict XVI was elected to replace the inimitable Pope John Paul II, he promised to carry on his beloved successor’s work, particularly that related to ecumenism. As is often the case, the press of events can overtake the best laid plans and so ecumenism has often appeared to play second fiddle to other issues.

Yet it remains deeply and ineradicably imbedded in the church’s teaching, thanks to the Second Vatican Council and the post-council popes.

As we celebrate the 2007 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 21-28), we would do well to recall some initiatives of the last year that did not produce the kind of documents we usually associate with ecumenical dialogue, but represent progress in a way that cannot be summed up in precise theological language.
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Des responsables d’Eglise de Jérusalem ont averti les factions palestiniennes en conflit qu’elles risquaient de déclencher une guerre civile et, proposant de jouer les médiateurs, ils les ont exhortés à mettre fin à la violence afin de pouvoir se concentrer sur la priorité absolue de leur peuple : l’indépendance.

“En tant que responsables des Eglises chrétiennes à Jérusalem préoccupés par la situation actuelle dans les territoires palestiniens, nous tenons à exprimer nos craintes pour nos populations, qu’elles soient chrétiennes ou musulmanes, en raison de la détérioration des relations entre les leaders du Fatah et du Hamas et entre leurs forces armées,” ont-ils déclaré.
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Church leaders in Jerusalem have warned warring Palestinian factions they could trigger civil war and, offering to play a mediating role, they are urging an end to violence in order for them to focus on the true priority of their people – independence.

“As leaders of the Christian churches in Jerusalem concerned at the present situation in the Palestinian Territories we feel we must voice our anxiety for all our people – Christian and Muslim alike – at the deteriorating relations between Fatah and Hamas leaders and the armed forces,” they said.
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The outgoing president of the North American Academy of Liturgy and a leading Catholic liturgist has told The Catholic Register the most recent translation of the Roman Missal is “a step backwards” for ecumenical relations.

“It’s going to feel like the ecumenical movement has taken a hit,” Fr. Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Church in Missouri and author of a half-dozen books on Catholic liturgy, said following an opening liturgy for the North American Academy of Liturgy annual meeting in Toronto Jan. 4.

New, more literal, translations from Latin of liturgical texts scheduled to hit parishes in two years are a departure from the Second Vatican Council’s movement toward common texts with Anglican, Lutheran and other churches, Turner said. Those common texts were a specific goal of council fathers in the 1960s, and non-Catholic scholars were consulted by Catholic liturgists and translators in the past.

“That same effort is not being made today,” he said.
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[LWI] The participants of the 13th Plenary of the international Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission have affirmed recognition of the “broad areas of agreement” in their respective traditions with a view to the understanding of the Eucharist in the life of the church. They adopted a Common Statement titled, “The Mystery of the Church: The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” In a communiqué from the 2-9 November meeting of the Joint Commission in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, members of the international dialogue group stated that the “Orthodox and Lutherans both confess that Christ’s body and blood are united with bread and wine, to be consumed by communicants, uniting them with Christ and with each other.”
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Future of Ecumenical Assemblies Is of Crucial Importance for Conciliar Ecumenism in the 21st century [CHAVANNES-DE-BOGIS, Switzerland] The Officers of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), holding their meetings in the course of overlapping days, met for the first time in joint sessions on
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The annual Restorative Justice Week will be marked in Saskatoon by a workshop at Mount Royal Mennonite Church, Avenue O & 29th Street on November 15 at 1 p.m. Theme: “Creative Partnerships – Collaborative Action: Working Together for Restorative Justice.” The afternoon workshop will include a shared supper. Registration is $15.
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La semaine du 12 au 19 novembre est la Semaine de la justice réparatrice au Canada. Le thème de 2006 est Partenariats novateurs, collaboration solide. « Ce thème célèbre l’esprit d’innovation qui caractérise déjà certains partenariats existants. Il nous appelle à poursuivre nos efforts en établissant de nouveaux partenariats plus solides où tous les intervenants s’entraident
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The week of November 12-19 will be observed across Canada and around the world as Restorative Justice Week. The theme for 2006 is “Creative Partnerships & Collaborative Action.” This theme celebrates the expression of the creativity found within existing partnerships and challenges us to forge new and stronger ones. These new alliances provide an opportunity to introduce restorative justice principles, values, and initiatives to broader cross sections of Canadians.
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Multi-Faith Saskatoon will present the 22nd Annual Festival of Faith on Oct. 29, 2:00 p.m., at Nutana Park Mennonite Church (1701 Ruth Street). More information will come later.

A one woman musical entitled “The Gospel of Mary Magdalene” will be performed on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Andrew’s College Lounge. The musical play was written and composed, and will be performed, by Angie Tysseland. In the musical, the story, spirit, and songs of Mary Magdalene are sung and played with a contemporary spin. The original music is at times meditative, and at times quirky and lively.
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Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI by 38 Leading Muslim Scholars and Leaders.
In an unprecedented move, an open letter signed by 38 leading Muslim religious scholars and leaders around the world was sent to Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 12, 2006. The letter, which is the outcome of a joint effort, was signed by top religious authorities. All the eight schools of thought and jurisprudence in Islam are represented by the signatories, including a woman scholar. In this respect the letter is unique in the history of interfaith relations.
The letter was sent, in a spirit of goodwill, to respond to some of the remarks made by the Pope during his lecture at the University of Regensburg on Sept. 12, 2006. The letter tackles the main substantive issues raised in his treatment of a debate between the medieval Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an “educated Persian”, including reason and faith; forced conversion; “jihad” vs. “holy war”; and the relationship between Christianity and Islam. They engage the Pope on an intellectual level concerning these crucial topics–which go well beyond the controversial quotation of the emperor–pointing out what they see as mistakes and oversimplifications in the Pope’s own remarks about Islamic belief and practice.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism’s Fall Workshop for Ecumenical Contacts will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at St. Francis RC Church, Saskatoon (Willow St. & Melrose Ave.) from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Our theme is “After you say hello: going deeper in inter-church dialogue.” Lots of people can generate some enthusiasm for ‘surface’
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Les Églises du Canada ont depuis des années fait du soin de la Terre une dimension intégrale de leur travail de promotion de la justice. Il n’est pas de plus grande menace pesant sur notre avenir commun que la destruction des écosystèmes dont dépend toute vie. Prendre soin de la création est un engagement spirituel envers Dieu que notre foi ne rend pas optionnel.
La Loi sur la qualité de l’air qu’annonçait le gouvernement canadien le 19 octobre, en faisant la pièce maîtresse de son soi-disant Plan vert « fait au Canada », manque de vision et de courage. Elle ne peut pas s’attaquer avec force au problème des changements climatiques.
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For years, the Canadian churches have made care for the Earth an integral aspect of their justice work. There is no greater threat to our collective future than the destruction of the ecosystems upon which all life is dependent. Caring for Creation is a spiritual commitment to God that is not optional in our faith.
The Canadian government’s Clean Air Act announced on October 19 as the centerpiece of its so-called “Made in Canada” Green Plan for Canada lacks the vision and courage to seriously tackle climate change.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism’s Fall Workshop for Ecumenical Contacts will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at St. Francis RC Church, Saskatoon (Willow St. & Melrose Ave.) from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Our theme is “After you say hello: going deeper in inter-church dialogue.”
Lots of people can generate some enthusiasm for ‘surface’ ecumenism (occasional potlucks, an annual joint service, etc.), but how do you move yourself and your church from polite greetings to meaningful, lasting engagement? This can be particularly challenging for lay people who operate at varying distances from the centres of power in their churches. Sharing enthusiasm and tested ideas with us will be the Rev. Dr. Jim Halmarson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, who is serving with the Anglican parish of Christ Church, Saskatoon, and who also teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary.
The workshop forms part of the ongoing training and development of Ecumenical Contacts – people in parishes and congregations who accept the call to work for Christian unity and reconciliation – but it is open to anyone who is interested in the subject. Registration is from 8:30 am. There is no charge for the workshop (donations welcome). For further information call the PCE at 306-653-1633 or email pce [at] ecumenism [dot] net.
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Le dialogue Anglican Catholique du Canada (ARC-Canada) tient un forum sur le rapport d’ARCIC « Marie : grâce et espérance dans le Christ » le jeudi 28 septembre 2006 à 19:30h chez Montreal Diocesan College, 3473 rue University, Montreal. Des présentations et les réponses seront données par Dr. Cathy Clifford, professeure de la théologie à l’Université Saint-Paul, Ottawa et le révérend Canon Kevin Flynn, directeur des études Anglican à l’Université Saint-Paul, Ottawa. Après les présentations, joindre svp les présentateurs et d’autres membres du l’ARC-Canada pour la discussion et les rafraîchissements.
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The Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada invites you to attend a forum on the ARCIC Agreed Statement “Mary, Grace and Hope in Christ” on Thursday, September 28, 2006, 7:30 pm at Montreal Diocesan College, 3473 University St., Montreal. Presentations and responses will be given by two members of the dialogue: Dr. Catherine Clifford, Professor of Theology, St. Paul University, Ottawa and the Rev’d Canon Kevin Flynn, Director of Anglican Studies, St. Paul University, Ottawa. Discussion and refreshments to follow with presenters and other members of the Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada.
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A global gathering will be held in Montreal from 11-15 September 2006. The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, which convened the meeting of the latest Parliament in Barcelona in 2004, has officially recognized this global congress as a Post-Parliament event. For detailed information visit the website of the Global Congress or contact
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger today signed a joint Declaration which sets out a framework for continuing dialogue between them. Dr Williams described the agreement as historic: “This is a most significant step in developing better mutual understanding and trust between the Anglican Communion and the Chief Rabbinate and worldwide Judaism.”
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(Prague, République tchèque — WEA/APD) Des représentants de l’Eglise adventiste du septième jour au niveau mondial et de l’Alliance Mondiale Évangélique (WEA) se sont rencontrés pour un dialogue du 8 au 11 août 2006 sur le campus du Séminaire baptiste international, situé à Prague, République tchèque. Bien que des contacts informels aient eu lieu au cours des 50 dernières années, c’était la première rencontre officielle de ces deux groupes. Les objectifs de ce dialogue étaient : d’arriver à une compréhension plus claire despositions théologiques de chacun de ces groupes ; de clarifier des malentendus ; de discuter avec franchise et sur une base biblique les points d’accord et de désaccord ; et d’explorer des domaines possibles de collaboration.
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Representatives of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Evangelical Alliance met in dialogue August 8-11, 2006 on the campus of the International Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Prague, Czech Republic. Although informal contacts had occurred during the past 50 years, this was the first official meeting of the two groups. The purposes of the dialogue were to gain a clearer understanding of the theological positions of each body; to clarify matters of misunderstanding; to discuss frankly areas of agreement and disagreement on a Biblical basis; and to explore possible areas of cooperation.
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Le centre canadien d’œcuménisme est heureux d’annoncer la nomination de Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre. M. Mansour possède une vaste expérience d’homme d’affaires. Il tient une licence dans la physique de Bishop’s University dans Lennoxville, Québec ; un MBA de Southeastern University à Washington, C.C ; et un certificat en théologie
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[WCC News] The newly-elected moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee speaks in this interview about the beauty of the ecumenical vision and the enthusiasm it engenders, the scandal of divisions between Christians, and his dream of churches which allow themselves to be renewed so as to experience the unity of the
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“Pourquoi une destruction si épouvantable?” C’est la question que les membres d’une délégation pastorale œcuménique n’ont cessé d’entendre à propos des attaques israéliennes contre le Liban.

Chargée par le Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE), la Conférence des Eglises européennes (KEK), la Fédération luthérienne mondiale (FLM) et l’Alliance réformée mondiale (ARM) d’exprimer la solidarité du monde œcuménique envers les Eglises et les populations touchées par le conflit au Moyen Orient, la délégation est rentrée avec pour mandat de transmettre à la famille œcuménique internationale les espoirs et les attentes des Eglises du Liban, de Palestine et d’Israël.
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“Why such awful destruction?” was the question heard over and over again by members of an ecumenical pastoral delegation in relation to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.

Entrusted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) with the mission of expressing global ecumenical solidarity with churches and people affected by the conflict in the Middle East, the delegation returned with the task of transmitting the hopes and expectations of the churches in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel to the international ecumenical family.
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Church leaders and inter-church organizations around the world have been speaking out about the current crisis in the Middle East, and despite differences in perspective, are urging an immediate ceasefire.
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C’est avec un sentiment de regret que le Centre a appris le départ de son directeur actuel, le Dr Stuart Brown et de son épouse, Margaret, à la fin de juin. Ils retourneront au Nigeria, en Afrique, où le Dr Brown s’est vu offrir une chaire au département d’études religieuses de l’université Abti à Yola. Margaret l’y accompagnera et occupera un poste au département des archives de la bibliothèque de l’université.
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A prominent Italian newspaper editor has appealed to Muslims to visit Marian shrines in Italy. Reminding his readers that the Qu’ran devotes an entire sura to Mary, and that Muslims and Christians jointly venerate Marian shrines in Muslim countries, Magdi Allam is puzzled why more Muslims do not visit shrines in Christian countries. Allam, an
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by Emily Enders Odom, PCUSA News Promoting the unity of the whole church is a call that the Rev. Jerry Pillay lives out daily. Pillay, the pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Benoni, South Africa, and an ecumenical representative to the 217th General Assembly, is moderator of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
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Disponible maintenant sous forme électronique et imprimée (en anglais seulement), le document WCC Annual Review 2005 est un compte rendu illustré des programmes et activités du COE tout au long de l’année. Il contient également des informations de base sur les Eglises membres, les organes directeurs, les finances, les publications et autres documents du COE.
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Now available in electronic and printed format, the WCC Annual Review 2005 is an illustrated account of WCC programmes and activities over the year. The Annual Review also contains key information on WCC member churches, governing bodies, finances, publications and other resources.
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The Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches USA hopes people will see a new connection between film and theology when it holds its first-ever Oikumene Film Festival to promote further exploration of visual media as a form of ecumenical expression. The festival will be part of the commission’s 50th-anniversary celebration, July
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Pope John Paul II has invited leaders and theologians of other Churches to help him in seeking new forms for the papal ministry. In this article the Bishop of Rochester makes a contribution from the Anglican Communion’s point of view. As I write, conversations are taking place in Rome on the future of Anglican-Roman Catholic
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The Saskatoon Peace Coalition is sponsoring a town hall meeting to discuss the Canadian participation in the ongoing war in Afghanistan. What is this conflict about: Nation building? War on terror? Control oil resources? Canada – U.S. relations? Political agenda? There will be a moderated panel discussion followed by an opportunity for questions from the
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Dozens of religious leaders from a broad array of faiths have signed a declaration calling violence against women “morally, spiritually and universally intolerable.” “While as people of faith we hold divergent opinions on a wide range of issues, today we proclaim with one voice that violence against women exists in all our communities and is
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Nidus is a festival for people from all streams of Christian faith with music, arts, keynotes, worship, dialogue, drama & dance. Several thousand youth, young adults, families and others will gather in Kitchener, Ontario from August 4th to 6th. It will be a unique opportunity for people to come together to express faith, celebrate through
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Le 8 mai 2006 — Vingt dirigeants d’églises canadiens, représentant les membres du Conseil canadien des églises, ont fait appel au premier ministre Stephen Harper pour annoncer promptement six nouvelles initiatives dans le combat contre le VIH/SIDA. Les mesures rapides que les dirigeants d’églises veulent incluent l’annulation des dettes ont dû par pays avec des
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May 8, 2006 — Twenty Canadian church leaders, representing the member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches, have appealed to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to promptly announce six new initiatives in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The sweeping measures the church leaders want include cancellation of debts owed by countries with HIV/AIDS rates above
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Dear Prime Minister Harper:

As national leaders of Canadian Churches and members of the Canadian Council of Churches, we are extremely concerned about the human impact of the global AIDS pandemic. Currently more than 40 million people are infected with HIV. Last year, over 3 million people died as a result of AIDS. There are 15 million child orphans because of AIDS. These statistics speak powerfully to the human cost.

Our first response to the depth of this tragedy is compassion. We suffer with those who suffer, and work to ease that suffering. We support the many members of our Churches who dedicate themselves to caring for persons living with HIV and AIDS.
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