Untitled Document

Ghanaians went to the polls on 7 December 2012 to elect a new president and parliament. The elections were to take place over one day, however due to problems with the biometric voting in 200 polling stations voting in some polling stations continued deep into the night and in some cases voting continued the following day.

When the results were finally declared and naming the incumbent President Mahama winner, Nana Akuffo Addo, the main challenger rejected the verdict. He sighted instances to claim that the figured were doctored at the collation centres. He has served notice of his party's intention to contest the results at the Supreme Court. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is calling for calm as they seek to have their grievances addressed lawfully.

SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland

High School students reflect on Eco-justice visions in South Africa

What will the world look like if we continue careering down a slide of eco-injustice? Ninth graders in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa have been forecasting the future of our planet and writing about it. In a campaign organised by Suwi Siwila, from the United Church of Zambia, the students pretend they are living in the future and write a description to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A student named Est writes: “Dear Great-Grandson, A tree is an object with green leaves, and some trees provide fruit. I doubt you can even go outside because of global warming. I hope that is not the case.” His friend Seb writes: “Dear Grandson, You may not experience the feeling of snow. Snow is cold and has a cotton-like feeling. When you touch it for too long, your hands go very cold. If you scoop a bit of snow in your hand and press it together to make it into a ball, you can throw it at people and play with it. Have you ever gone fishing? I am sure now that people might have fished everything out of the sea for food. I wish you could see what I see!”

Siwila, introduced the “Future Letters” campaign to schools in the Pietermaritzburg area of South Africa after he participated in Youth for Eco-Justice (Y4EJ) training in 2011, jointly organised by the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. The letters are a creative way to envision what's at stake generations from now, said Siwila. “This format does not limit the participants in terms of creativity and imagination but it makes them aware of some of the things we take for granted in our environment which future generations may not enjoy.” he said.

Report describing inter-tribal violence in South Sudan has been launched

The Small Arms Survey’s Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) for Sudan and South Sudan has released the issue brief, entitled My Neighbour, My Enemy: Inter-tribal Violence in Jonglei. The brief describes the inter-tribal violence involving the Lou Nuer, Murle, and the Dinka. This violence escalated in 2009. Underlying causes include persistent lack of services, increased competition over natural resources, the erosion of traditional leadership structures and the unspoken rules of cattle raiding. In 2010 the influx of weapons to insurgent groups in Jonglei, South Sudan, exacerbated the existing tensions. Local and national-level politicians have manipulated the conflict for personal and political gain, while Jonglei-based militia groups have provided weapons to tribal fighters to further their own agendas. The full report is available by following this link.

SOURCE: World Mission Council. The Church of Scotland

Defence of God’s creation is interpreted as defiance of Governmental Policy in the Republic of Korea

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea request for prayer and support from world partner churches to secure the release of Reverend Jung Yeon-Kil, a Methodist minister, who was imprisoned on September 6, 2012 as a result of a protest against the construction of a naval base at the southern coast of the island of Jeju. Concerned that the naval base construction on Jeju may foster an arms race in Northeast Asia and trigger a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula, the citizens of Gangjeong village and several environmental organisations formed a movement to obstruct the naval base construction. During the protest actions, the government, navy and the police acted with unrestrained violence and many villagers, peace activists and members of religious groups have been wounded and arrested. Jeju Island has been selected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, a world natural heritage and world geology park due to its outstanding natural treasures. Unfortunately, the defence of God’s creation has been taken as defiance to government policy. The Presbyterian Church of Korea considers that the behaviour of the Korean government lacks understanding and consideration of the concerns of religious groups and faith organisations, and is obviously suppressing religious groups.

SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland and The Presbyterian Church of Korea.

Church of Scotland’s HIV Programme launches informational resources for Souper Sunday 2013.

The Church of Scotland’s HIV programme has launched its information resources for Souper Sunday 2013. These includes everything that a congregation needs to do to hold a service and soup lunch to raise awareness and funds for the Church of Scotland HIV Programme. In 2012, £55,000 was raised from Souper Sundays around Scotland and beyond. The challenge remains to exceed that sum for 2013. For more information on the resources please follow this link. or contact hiv@cofscotland.org.uk.

SOURCE: World Mission Council. Church of Scotland

Protection of uprooted people is integral to religions, says WCC General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit

The World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary welcomed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Dialogue on Protection Challenges with the theme of "Faith and Protection" which was held on 12-13 December 2012 at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was part of the UNHCR’s efforts to bring faith-based organisations (FBOs) together to highlight the role of local and international religious communities in protecting uprooted people such as refugees, stateless people and internally displaced people (IDPs)."Churches can inspire states so that they see the potential of sharing responses with FBOs and pursue these dialogues at a national level, Hospitality and protection is central to the Christian values,” he said. “Jesus has taught us not to define limits to the definition of who is my neighbour, but to ask how we prove ourselves to be a neighbour of those who need us, and to protect the rights of human beings, both men and women, as they are created in the image of God”, said Tveit .

WCC offers sympathy in the wake of Connecticut school shooting

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) offered condolences and assured the people of Sandy Hook and Newtown, Connecticut in the United States of America, that the thoughts and prayers of people around the globe are focused on them and their communities. “May you be aware of God’s presence among you; however circumstances may numb your senses and bring even love into doubt. May you find friends and companions on this difficult journey, and again discover the road that leads to life” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. He praised the efforts of local churches, synagogues, mosques and other centres of prayer and service in Connecticut: “We commend all who stand in vigil with those in pain. With mourners everywhere, we cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, how long?’ And we support and pray for community and national leaders who are asking hard questions, hoping to prevent future tragedies.”

The World Mission Council joins with the WCC in praying for all involved in this terrible incident.

A South African church delegation witnesses to human rights violations in occupied Palestine

A group of twelve South African Christian leaders and members visited the occupied state of Palestine from 2 – 9 December. The delegation included Southern Africa heads of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, the Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa, a senior member of the Dutch Reformed Church and a representative of South African youth.

The church leaders stated that they did not expect the extent to which Israel violates international laws to oppress the Palestinian people. “Our exposure to East Jerusalem and the West Bank was overwhelming, one which traumatised us. Being South African, it felt like walking into another apartheid ambush. We witnessed violations of the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law on so many levels – the multiple house demolitions, the discriminatory legal system, the daily intimidation, the Apartheid Wall and its associated regime of restrictions on movement and access, the damage to olive groves, the imprisonment of a large percentage of Palestinians including children, the confiscation of water and land, the closure of previously bustling streets and businesses, separate pavements and a system whereby the colour of Palestinian vehicles’ number plates restrict them to certain roads” they said. The church leaders consider that Palestinians live in open-air prisons but they were impressed by the dignity and the commitment of the Palestinian people for a just peace based on human dignity for themselves and the Israelis.

This trip was supported by the WMC.

SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland and Kairos Southern Africa

National Day of Mourning in Lebanon over the death of Patriarch Ignatius

Patriarch Ignatius, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East passed away in Lebanon on December 5th. The Lebanese president Michel Sleiman and prime minister Najib Mikati were present at the funeral service. The Lebanese president praised the late Patriarch Ignatius for his moderation and wisdom, and awarded him the National Order of the Cedar. Many officials who offered their condolences to the Antiochian Orthodox community also described the patriarch as a man of moderation. The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Reverend Doctor Olav Tveit paid a befitting tribute to the patriarch, calling him “a beloved church leader” recognizing 33 years of his immense contributions to the ecumenical movement and Christian Muslim dialogue. “We have honoured a beloved church leader for the Orthodox family, a significant ecumenist, a great religious leader in the Middle East. I was received as a friend when we met last year, and I kept this memory as a costly treasure. May God bless the seeds of his legacy,” said Tveit.

Events and Opportunities

Young Communication professionals

The World Council of Churches seeks young communication professionals from its member churches and ecumenical partners to work for the upcoming 10th Assembly, from 23 October to 10 November 2013 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This will be an opportunity for skilled young communicators to work with a diverse team of communication professionals from around the world. By inviting young professionals, the WCC hopes to include their unique perspective in sharing stories from the assembly with audiences across the globe. In addition to gaining valuable communication experience, these positions also offer an opportunity for ecumenical formation. The young professionals should have 3 to 5 years’ experience in the field of media and communications, either with the church or general media. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 30 years old. They will also need to demonstrate strong involvement in church, youth or ecumenical activities in their community. Fluency in speaking and writing English is essential. Fluency in Korean, French, German or Spanish will be an asset for some positions. Applicants should submit a letter of intention and curriculum vitae by email to Linda Hanna at the WCC Communication Department no later than 31 January 2013. For more information please follow this link.

David Livingstone Centre, Blantyre

£20,638 rising to £21,724 after one years’ successful service

Fixed-term to end of May 2014

2013 marks the bicentenary of David Livingstone and as the leading partner within a national initiative to mark this event, the Trust wants to place the David Livingstone Centre (DLC) at the heart of the celebrations. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Learning Officer to deliver and, as required, develop high quality Learning Programmes to make the David Livingstone Centre and its collection accessible to a wide range of diverse users. The post-holder will be supporting the Property Manager in planning, developing, delivering and managing a wide range of relevant learning opportunities, activities and access initiatives. To be successful, you will be experienced in delivering high quality engagement, have a creative and flexible approach to learning, knowledge of the Scottish school curriculum, and experience of developing and delivering learning programmes. For full job details and information about how to apply, go to http://www.nts.org.uk/ and click on the “Vacancies” tab. Closing date is Friday, 4 January 2013. Interviews are likely to take place at the David Livingstone Centre during the w/c 14 January 2013. Visit the National Trust at http://www.nts.org.uk/.

Donations for Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi

Nkhoma is a Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 240 bed hospital,

45 kilometres south east of the capital Lilongwe, serving a population of over

75,000 people in rural Malawi with over 17,000 inpatient visits, 46,000 outpatient

visits and 3,000 deliveries per year. There are also special programs in Primary

Health Care, Eye care, and HIV/AIDS care. As part of Nkhoma hospital's goal of achieving financial stability, an online donations catalogue specifying the hospital’s needs has been developed. Please have a look at the catalogue by following this link. If you decide to make a donation towards one or more of the items in the catalogue please use the online order form by following this link. The Church of Scotland is the designated recipient of funds for those in UK. More information on the hospital and a full donations pack is available by following this link. For more information please contact Jennie Chinembiri by following this link.


UPDATE newsletter
	December 19th 2012 Christmas break for UPDATE This is the last edition of UPDATE for 2012. The newsletter will re-start the second week of 2013. We wish all our readers a very good Christmas and God’s blessings for the New Year. Events and Opportunities Prayer Focus Subscription & Contact Information AFRICA • The Presbyterian Church of Ghana calls for calm in light of election results • High School students reflect on Eco-justice visions in South Africa • Report describing inter-tribal violence in South Sudan has been launched ASIA • Defence of God’s creation is interpreted as defiance of Governmental Policy in the Republic of Korea EUROPE • Church of Scotland’s HIV Programme launches informational resources for Souper Sunday 2013 • Protection of uprooted people is integral to religions, says WCC General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit • WCC offers sympathy in the wake of Connecticut school shooting MIDDLE EAST • A South African church delegation witnesses to human rights violations in occupied Palestine Events and Opportunities Prayer Focus Subscription & Contact Information AFRICA GHANA The Presbyterian Church of Ghana calls for calm in light of election results Ghanaians went to the polls on 7 December 2012 to elect a new president and parliament. The elections were to take place over one day, however due to problems with the biometric voting in 200 polling stations voting in some polling stations continued deep into the night and in some cases voting continued the following day. When the results were finally declared and naming the incumbent President Mahama winner, Nana Akuffo Addo, the main challenger rejected the verdict. He sighted instances to claim that the figured were doctored at the collation centres. He has served notice of his party's intention to contest the results at the Supreme Court. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is calling for calm as they seek to have their grievances addressed lawfully. SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland SOUTH AFRICA High School students reflect on Eco-justice visions in South Africa What will the world look like if we continue careering down a slide of eco-injustice? Ninth graders in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa have been forecasting the future of our planet and writing about it. In a campaign organised by Suwi Siwila, from the United Church of Zambia, the students pretend they are living in the future and write a description to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A student named Est writes: “Dear Great-Grandson, A tree is an object with green leaves, and some trees provide fruit. I doubt you can even go outside because of global warming. I hope that is not the case.” His friend Seb writes: “Dear Grandson, You may not experience the feeling of snow. Snow is cold and has a cotton-like feeling. When you touch it for too long, your hands go very cold. If you scoop a bit of snow in your hand and press it together to make it into a ball, you can throw it at people and play with it. Have you ever gone fishing? I am sure now that people might have fished everything out of the sea for food. I wish you could see what I see!” Siwila, introduced the “Future Letters” campaign to schools in the Pietermaritzburg area of South Africa after he participated in Youth for Eco-Justice (Y4EJ) training in 2011, jointly organised by the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. The letters are a creative way to envision what's at stake generations from now, said Siwila. “This format does not limit the participants in terms of creativity and imagination but it makes them aware of some of the things we take for granted in our environment which future generations may not enjoy.” he said. SOURCE: WCC SOUTH SUDAN Report describing inter-tribal violence in South Sudan has been launched The Small Arms Survey’s Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) for Sudan and South Sudan has released the issue brief, entitled My Neighbour, My Enemy: Inter-tribal Violence in Jonglei. The brief describes the inter-tribal violence involving the Lou Nuer, Murle, and the Dinka. This violence escalated in 2009. Underlying causes include persistent lack of services, increased competition over natural resources, the erosion of traditional leadership structures and the unspoken rules of cattle raiding. In 2010 the influx of weapons to insurgent groups in Jonglei, South Sudan, exacerbated the existing tensions. Local and national-level politicians have manipulated the conflict for personal and political gain, while Jonglei-based militia groups have provided weapons to tribal fighters to further their own agendas. The full report is available by following this link. SOURCE: World Mission Council. The Church of Scotland ASIA SOUTH KOREA Defence of God’s creation is interpreted as defiance of Governmental Policy in the Republic of Korea The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea request for prayer and support from world partner churches to secure the release of Reverend Jung Yeon-Kil, a Methodist minister, who was imprisoned on September 6, 2012 as a result of a protest against the construction of a naval base at the southern coast of the island of Jeju. Concerned that the naval base construction on Jeju may foster an arms race in Northeast Asia and trigger a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula, the citizens of Gangjeong village and several environmental organisations formed a movement to obstruct the naval base construction. During the protest actions, the government, navy and the police acted with unrestrained violence and many villagers, peace activists and members of religious groups have been wounded and arrested. Jeju Island has been selected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, a world natural heritage and world geology park due to its outstanding natural treasures. Unfortunately, the defence of God’s creation has been taken as defiance to government policy. The Presbyterian Church of Korea considers that the behaviour of the Korean government lacks understanding and consideration of the concerns of religious groups and faith organisations, and is obviously suppressing religious groups. SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland and The Presbyterian Church of Korea. EUROPE SCOTLAND Church of Scotland’s HIV Programme launches informational resources for Souper Sunday 2013. The Church of Scotland’s HIV programme has launched its information resources for Souper Sunday 2013. These includes everything that a congregation needs to do to hold a service and soup lunch to raise awareness and funds for the Church of Scotland HIV Programme. In 2012, £55,000 was raised from Souper Sundays around Scotland and beyond. The challenge remains to exceed that sum for 2013. For more information on the resources please follow this link. or contact hiv@cofscotland.org.uk. SOURCE: World Mission Council. Church of Scotland SWITZERLAND Protection of uprooted people is integral to religions, says WCC General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit The World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary welcomed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Dialogue on Protection Challenges with the theme of "Faith and Protection" which was held on 12-13 December 2012 at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was part of the UNHCR’s efforts to bring faith-based organisations (FBOs) together to highlight the role of local and international religious communities in protecting uprooted people such as refugees, stateless people and internally displaced people (IDPs)."Churches can inspire states so that they see the potential of sharing responses with FBOs and pursue these dialogues at a national level, Hospitality and protection is central to the Christian values,” he said. “Jesus has taught us not to define limits to the definition of who is my neighbour, but to ask how we prove ourselves to be a neighbour of those who need us, and to protect the rights of human beings, both men and women, as they are created in the image of God”, said Tveit . SOURCE: WCC WCC offers sympathy in the wake of Connecticut school shooting The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) offered condolences and assured the people of Sandy Hook and Newtown, Connecticut in the United States of America, that the thoughts and prayers of people around the globe are focused on them and their communities. “May you be aware of God’s presence among you; however circumstances may numb your senses and bring even love into doubt. May you find friends and companions on this difficult journey, and again discover the road that leads to life” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. He praised the efforts of local churches, synagogues, mosques and other centres of prayer and service in Connecticut: “We commend all who stand in vigil with those in pain. With mourners everywhere, we cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, how long?’ And we support and pray for community and national leaders who are asking hard questions, hoping to prevent future tragedies.” The World Mission Council joins with the WCC in praying for all involved in this terrible incident. SOURCE: WCC MIDDLE EAST ISRAEL/PALESTINE A South African church delegation witnesses to human rights violations in occupied Palestine A group of twelve South African Christian leaders and members visited the occupied state of Palestine from 2 – 9 December. The delegation included Southern Africa heads of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, the Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa, a senior member of the Dutch Reformed Church and a representative of South African youth. The church leaders stated that they did not expect the extent to which Israel violates international laws to oppress the Palestinian people. “Our exposure to East Jerusalem and the West Bank was overwhelming, one which traumatised us. Being South African, it felt like walking into another apartheid ambush. We witnessed violations of the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law on so many levels – the multiple house demolitions, the discriminatory legal system, the daily intimidation, the Apartheid Wall and its associated regime of restrictions on movement and access, the damage to olive groves, the imprisonment of a large percentage of Palestinians including children, the confiscation of water and land, the closure of previously bustling streets and businesses, separate pavements and a system whereby the colour of Palestinian vehicles’ number plates restrict them to certain roads” they said. The church leaders consider that Palestinians live in open-air prisons but they were impressed by the dignity and the commitment of the Palestinian people for a just peace based on human dignity for themselves and the Israelis. This trip was supported by the WMC. SOURCE: World Mission Council, The Church of Scotland and Kairos Southern Africa LEBANON National Day of Mourning in Lebanon over the death of Patriarch Ignatius Patriarch Ignatius, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East passed away in Lebanon on December 5th. The Lebanese president Michel Sleiman and prime minister Najib Mikati were present at the funeral service. The Lebanese president praised the late Patriarch Ignatius for his moderation and wisdom, and awarded him the National Order of the Cedar. Many officials who offered their condolences to the Antiochian Orthodox community also described the patriarch as a man of moderation. The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Reverend Doctor Olav Tveit paid a befitting tribute to the patriarch, calling him “a beloved church leader” recognizing 33 years of his immense contributions to the ecumenical movement and Christian Muslim dialogue. “We have honoured a beloved church leader for the Orthodox family, a significant ecumenist, a great religious leader in the Middle East. I was received as a friend when we met last year, and I kept this memory as a costly treasure. May God bless the seeds of his legacy,” said Tveit. SOURCE: WCC Events and Opportunities Young Communication professionals The World Council of Churches seeks young communication professionals from its member churches and ecumenical partners to work for the upcoming 10th Assembly, from 23 October to 10 November 2013 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This will be an opportunity for skilled young communicators to work with a diverse team of communication professionals from around the world. By inviting young professionals, the WCC hopes to include their unique perspective in sharing stories from the assembly with audiences across the globe. In addition to gaining valuable communication experience, these positions also offer an opportunity for ecumenical formation. The young professionals should have 3 to 5 years’ experience in the field of media and communications, either with the church or general media. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 30 years old. They will also need to demonstrate strong involvement in church, youth or ecumenical activities in their community. Fluency in speaking and writing English is essential. Fluency in Korean, French, German or Spanish will be an asset for some positions. Applicants should submit a letter of intention and curriculum vitae by email to Linda Hanna at the WCC Communication Department no later than 31 January 2013. For more information please follow this link. SOURCE: WCC Learning Officer David Livingstone Centre, Blantyre £20,638 rising to £21,724 after one years’ successful service Fixed-term to end of May 2014 2013 marks the bicentenary of David Livingstone and as the leading partner within a national initiative to mark this event, the Trust wants to place the David Livingstone Centre (DLC) at the heart of the celebrations. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Learning Officer to deliver and, as required, develop high quality Learning Programmes to make the David Livingstone Centre and its collection accessible to a wide range of diverse users. The post-holder will be supporting the Property Manager in planning, developing, delivering and managing a wide range of relevant learning opportunities, activities and access initiatives. To be successful, you will be experienced in delivering high quality engagement, have a creative and flexible approach to learning, knowledge of the Scottish school curriculum, and experience of developing and delivering learning programmes. For full job details and information about how to apply, go to http://www.nts.org.uk/ and click on the “Vacancies” tab. Closing date is Friday, 4 January 2013. Interviews are likely to take place at the David Livingstone Centre during the w/c 14 January 2013. Visit the National Trust at http://www.nts.org.uk/. Donations for Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi Nkhoma is a Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 240 bed hospital, 45 kilometres south east of the capital Lilongwe, serving a population of over 75,000 people in rural Malawi with over 17,000 inpatient visits, 46,000 outpatient visits and 3,000 deliveries per year. There are also special programs in Primary Health Care, Eye care, and HIV/AIDS care. As part of Nkhoma hospital's goal of achieving financial stability, an online donations catalogue specifying the hospital’s needs has been developed. Please have a look at the catalogue by following this link. If you decide to make a donation towards one or more of the items in the catalogue please use the online order form by following this link. The Church of Scotland is the designated recipient of funds for those in UK. More information on the hospital and a full donations pack is available by following this link. For more information please contact Jennie Chinembiri by following this link. PRAYER FOCUS The God of Sarah and Hagar The God of Mary who bore the Christ and of Simon who carried his cross The God in whom there is neither Jew nor Gentile, Bless us in this Advent season with an extravagance of patience, insight, hope and love As we await the birth of our Saviour, in whom all things are held together And in whom all shall be made new Amen SOURCE: Christian Aid