The United Church of Canada‘s 39th General Council has rejected a proposal calling for divestment from Israel, in favour of what is described as a “pro-peace” investment strategy. The proposal originally presented to the General Council called for the church and its congregations to selectively divest from corporations that support or contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The General Council is held every three years as the highest decision making body in the United Church of Canada (UCC). The meeting August 13 to 19 was in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Approximately 400 commissioners from across Canada participated in the General Council meeting.
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Canadians spend more on gambling than they do on education or personal care. According to a report from the Vanier Institute of the Family, legal gambling in Canada attracts $1,080 per household compared to $1,007 for education or $834 for personal care. Gambling losses in 2003-2004 amounted to $596 per adult, or nearly $50 per person per month. Using data from Statistics Canada’s 2002 “Canadian Community Health Survey,” the Vanier Institute reports that almost 1.2 million Canadians exhibit at least one indication of problem gambling behaviour — roughly enough persons to fill a major Canadian city.

The report, entitled “Gambling with our (Kids’) Futures: Gambling as a family policy Issue” was written by Arlene Moscovitch, and is available online or in print through the Vanier Institute. The report argues that gambling is more than just a personal problem. Treating problem gambling as an individual pathology discounts its impact on the families of the problem gambler, as well as the wider society. Recent research supports a move towards a public health model that considers the impact of gambling on the community. Social policy relating to alcohol and tobacco has been greatly strengthened by a similar move to a public health model.

In related news, the Roman Catholic bishop of Calgary has sent a letter to each Catholic school in the Calgary separate school system critical of a recent decision of the school board. In late 2005, Bishop Frederick Henry asked the Catholic school board to put an end to school-based fundraising practices that involve morally repugnant forms of gambling. On May 31, 2006 the board adopted a task force report on school-based fundraising. One recommendation of the report rejected the bishop’s request, allowing the continued use of fundraising under guidelines to be established by the school district in consultation with school councils and principals. In Bishop Henry’s recent letter, dated June 20, the bishop said: “The acceptance of the Task Force’s recommendations constitutes a failure in Catholic leadership, pays lip-service to the pillar of ‘Catholicity,’ and is equivalent to Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage (cf. Gen.25: 29-34).”
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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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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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En reconnaissance de sa contribution à l’œcuménisme au plan local, national et international, l’Ordre du mérite œcuménique pour 2006 est décerné à Renaude Grégoire. Née en 1960, dans le souffle du Concile Vatican II et le signal donné de l’ouverture aux autres confessions chrétiennes, Renaude Grégoire a fait ses études en théologie à l’Université de Montréal, en côtoyant les grands penseurs chrétiens de diverses confessions chrétiennes.
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In recognition of her contribution to ecumenism on the local, national and international levels, the 2006 Ecumenical Leadership Award is presented to Renaude Grégoire. Born in 1960, in the aura of the Second Vatican Council and the opening up towards other Christian denominations, Renaude Grégoire studied theology at the University of Montreal, rubbing shoulders with the great thinkers of the various Christian churches.
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A major international conference entitled, “Turning the Wheel: Henri Nouwen and our Search for God” will bring together scholars, ministers, university students, and spiritual seekers to explore themes and ideas that preoccupied Nouwen in his lifetime and which have particular relevance in today’s context.
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The World Council of Churches ended its once every seven years assembly held in Brazil with calls to reach out to Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Evangelical churches that do not belong to the Geneva-based grouping.
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Le Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE) a terminé son Assemblée, qui se tient tous les sept ans, par un appel à renforcer le dialogue avec les Eglises catholique romaine, pentecôtistes et évangéliques qui ne sont pas membres de l’organisation, dont le siège est à Genève.
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La Journée internationale pour l’élimination de la discrimination raciale est mars 21, l’anniversaire du massacre à Sharpeville en 1960.
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The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is March 21, the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960.
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Les assemblées du COE ont adopté des textes qui proposaient une vision — ou précisaient les qualités — de « l’unité que nous recherchons ». L’Assemblée de Porto Alegre, au Brésil, est invitée à étudier et à adopter la présente invitation adressée aux Églises.
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WCC assemblies have adopted texts offering a vision, or identifying the qualities, of “the unity we seek”. This assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is invited to consider and adopt the present invitation to the churches.
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“Transforme le monde, Dieu, dans ta grâce” est le thème choisi pour la Neuvième Assemblée du ConsConseil œcuménique des Églisese réunira à Porto Alegre, Brésil, du 14 au 23 février 2006. L’Assemblée sera un temps de rencontre, de prière, de célébration et de délibération pour des milliers de chrétiennes et de chrétiens du monde entier.
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The 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches will meet in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14 – 23 February 2006, addressing the theme “God, in your grace, transform the world.” The assembly will be a time of encounter, prayer, celebration and deliberation for thousands of Christian women and men from around the world. The World
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Four Canadian cities will host Taizé weekends in February-March 2006: Montreal (10-12 February), Quebec (17-19 February), Ottawa (24-26 February), Toronto (3-5 March). A brother of Taizé will lead the times of prayer, reflection. All of these gatherings, which are designed for young adults between the ages of 17 and 30, are part of the “pilgrimage
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Quatre villes du Canada accueilleront une rencontre de Taizé sous forme de fin de semaine en février-mars 2006 : Montréal (10-12 février), Québec (17-19 février), Ottawa (24-26 février), Toronto (3-5 mars). Un frère de Taizé sera présent à chacune de ces rencontres. Ces rencontres sont organisées en réponse à une invitation du service de la
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Semaine de prière pour l’unité chrétienne 2006 Du 18 au 25 janvier Cette année, le thème de la Semaine de prière pour l’unité chrétienne nous remémore une promesse de Jésus : « Car, là où deux ou trois se trouvent réunis en mon nom, je suis au milieu d’eux. » (Matthieu 18, 20) Être réceptif à cette
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2006 18-25 January The theme of this coming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sets before us a promise of Jesus: “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18, 20). Being as receptive as possible to the presence of Jesus in
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We have just celebrated the birth of Jesus, the coming of hope to our world: hope for love and belonging; hope for compassion and sharing; hope for forgiveness and reconciliation; hope for justice and peace. How does the celebration of Christmas hope shape our interactions during a federal election campaign? An election campaign provides many
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[KAIROS Canada] The upcoming federal election has been seen by many as an intrusion on the Christmas season — something that doesn’t — and shouldn’t — be on our minds during this festive, family time. At KAIROS, we think there is another way to look at the relationship between Christmas and public affairs. Perhaps the
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