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Member Church News
AFRICA UPCSA opens for public worship, identi es critical areas of focus
Several congregations of The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) have re-opened their doors for public worship, with many considering or postponing the decision – a move welcomed by UPCSA General Secretary Rev Lungile Mpetsheni. In Rev Mpetsheni’s letter in mid-September, he a rmed that careful environmental analyses of each congregation should form the basis of the decision, and reiterated that the respective government protocols and regulations should be adhered to.
The UPCSA General Secretary also commended the ministers and leadership who overcame di culties to provide pastoral care and counselling for their church members through digital media, ministering to those facing the loss of loved ones, health, jobs or income, or gender-based violence arising from victimisation in society.
During their virtual consultation held on 5 September, the UPCSA and Clerks of Presbyteries identi ed key areas for churches to prioritise as they re-opened for worship, which spans three broad areas – psycho-social and spiritual support; administrative support; and promotion of gender justice. Psycho-social and spiritual support should be provided to ministers and leaders, the wounded healers of UPCSA.
Activities to remedy the trauma and loss su ered include conducting memorial services to honour the lives of the departed since people could not attend burial services; and providing and focused ministry to children and youth. Some families are headed by children and newly-orphaned youths who are also anxious about the academic year. Avoiding the second wave of COVID-19 infections requires planning a hybrid of physical and virtual church services.
In the area of administrative support, systems were rendered obsolete by safety protocols to curb COVID-19, and a lack of technological know-how, infrastructure, or/and access to devices hampered ministry and administrative needs. Loss of income and business closures of church members a ected cash ow in congregations, and church ministers and workers were unable to receive stipends and salaries.
Several recommendations were made, such as training and upskilling of ministers and leaders to use technological devices. They were encouraged to channel funds set aside for travelling to meetings to provide data for people to access virtual meetings. It is also imperative to improve communication systems for maximum reach, and formulate other ways of ensuring nancial sustainability.
The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) observes 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), among other activities
Many women have shared harrowing stories of violence and abuse using the hashtag #aminext on social media, and gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa has been described as the “second pandemic”. The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) has added its voice to those calling for an end to GBV in all three countries the UPCSA is active in, and has gone further this year to draw attention to the plight of vulnerable communities, so that they can live in safety and with dignity, according to UPCSA Moderator Rt Rev Dr Peter Langerman.
In the Moderator’s November letter to the congregations, he outlined the UPCSA’s plans in observing the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV starting from 25 November to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). A theological statement against GBV and a pre-recorded service was slated for release on multiple platforms on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, followed by a daily devotional for all 16 days.
The Health and Wellness Committee presented a webinar for World Aids Day on 1 December, and the Church in Society Committee hosted a webinar for PWDs and the “Count Me In Campaign – Fight against GBV” for the International Day of People Living with Disabilities on 3 December. The Gender Desk then hosted “Men Confronting Patriarchy”, a follow-up webinar on 5 December. Finally, the Youth Desk hosted a webinar to discuss the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
These events, the UPCSA leadership hope, will be catalysts for the churches to desire to serve the vulnerable in their communities, said Rt Rev Dr Langerman. Even though these upcoming events relate to numerous issues, he encouraged them to not be overwhelmed by the size and scope of the challenge, and all the needs to be met. Whether it is gender justice, or HIV/AIDS, or disability awareness or youth development, one can make a di erence in this time of activism by focusing on the one thing that can be done for one person in need, he added.
EAST ASIA Hong Kong CCCC General Secretary encourages “an extraordinary 2020 Christmas” this Advent
HKCCCC General Secretary Rev Dr Eric So has encouraged the church that a meaningful Christmas season is still possible even though there will likely be no Christmas services, celebratory events, and parties due to the pandemic. In his Advent Message, the General Secretary wrote about how Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men’s spirituality shows that this year’s Christmas can be celebrated di erently.
“When we can carry out submissive and obedient attitudes in exercising the Christian discipline, living out a praising and peaceful life at home and in workplaces, sharing the good news of Emmanuel with others and dedicating ourselves for God’s mission, people will see our witness and acknowledge that Christ is in the midst of Hong Kong,” said Rev Dr So.
Concern for church members’ spiritual wellbeing among top concerns for Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS) pastors, according to survey
A survey conducted among 54 PCS pastors about challenges they faced in their ministry work surfaced challenges in reaching out to their congregations at a time when physical gatherings are still discouraged, and their concerns on going digital. In terms of support, 60 percent of the pastors would welcome receiving aid in producing online AV material including sermons, followed by digital assistance for the elderly (57.4%), and having spiritual resources to share with their members (50%).
Ranked high on their list of concerns in the “Pastoral Care in the New Normal” survey was the worry that the spiritual lives of their church members would be adversely a ected by the lack of in-person interaction and fellowship. Next on their list of dangers posed by the pandemic was the dilution of or wrong understanding of doctrine, with freedom and variety of online resources carrying wide-ranging doctrinal teachings.
Even though pastors have to adapt to reaching out to their ock and the community in di erent ways now, nearly two-thirds (57.4%) of them were con dent about doing so. One of the greater concerns many pastors and church ministers may have would be that even when services fully resume, a good 44% would still prefer to decide whether to return to physical church services according to the situation. This also means churches may have to consider providing both physical and online worship services, even after the pandemic ends.
In conclusion, church ministers recognise the importance of going digital even though there are drawbacks, and recognise this season as a change to strengthen relationships, re-think what the church is doing, and to draw closer in their walk with God.
SOUTH ASIA Church of Bangadesh (COB) Bishop conducts liturgical training workshop and pastoral visits, expresses gratitude for humanitarian aid
Earlier this year, the Church of Bangladesh (COB)’s Bishop of Barishal Diocese Rt. Rev. Shourabh Pholia led a liturgical training workshop for the diocese’s catechists and some
lay leaders, made possible by the support of CWM’s Mission Support Programme (MSP) 4.
Photo by COB. Training at Barishal Diocese.
Photo by COB. Training at Kushtia Diocese.
Participants were led to practise in mock sessions on issues including marriage counselling, creation care, child marriage, child labour, human tra cking, and gender-based violence and were con dent about implementing the work at the parish and community levels. As and when required, they are free to develop liturgy based on social issues for lay people, bearing in mind peace and justice in the family, church and society. This training workshop was also conducted in Kushtia Diocese, under the leadership of Rt. Rev. Hemen Halder, facilitated by MSP 4 programme head Paul Malakar.
CNI’s response to Cyclone Amphan
CNI Bishop Paritosh Canning has been at the helm of relief work since Cyclone Amphan swept across West Bengal earlier this year. Shortly after the natural disaster, Bishop Canning visited a ected sites and received reports of the damage to church property in the Diocese of Barrackpore, CNI. He assured them that he would do all he could to reach out to contacts to raise funds for the necessary repairs and restoration.
Photo by CNI. Barrackpore Diocese responds to Cyclone Amphan
Since then, he has made regular visits to Barrackpore Diocese’s churches and institutions, and distributing dry rations. He also encouraged the pastorates in the Diocese to do likewise where possible, and to organise outreach programmes in collaboration with local authorities while observing social distancing.
Photo by CNI. Barrackpore Diocese responds to Cyclone Amphan
Church of South India (CSI) extends care through COVID-19 relief kits to missionaries, holds youth conference
Church of South India (CSI) launched the “Always Remember Missionaries (ARM)-AMEN Movement 2020”, a speci c missional call to all congregations to support and encourage the missionaries and evangelists unceasingly. The movement serves as a new mission-praxis model to address missional challenges, and an invitation to congregations to mobilise resources for others’ wellbeing without discrimination.
Mission and evangelism are key priorities of the Church, and CSI has many of its dedicated missionaries and evangelists serving the under-privileged in their respective CSI dioceses. Even though COVID-19 has presently a ected the dioceses’ abilities to meet its basic requirements, CSI recognises the critical role of missionaries in embodying the gospel and being an agent of transformation at the grassroots level.
Through the ARM-AMEN Movement, CSI Department of Mission and Evangelism is extending care through COVID relief food kits to its missionaries and evangelists. These food kits which contain grocery items have been distributed to the Missionaries of Global Mission Society in Thoothukudi-Nazareth Diocese in late October.
CSI Tiruchirapalli – Thajavur Diocesan Annual Youth Conference themed “Hope for Good” (1 Timothy 6:11-12) was held at Bishop Heber College, Trichy in late October as well. The challenges posed by the pandemic were met by following safety protocols strictly, limiting the number of participants from each pastorate, and arranging for private transport and protective face coverings for all participants. Guest speakers shared thought-provoking and contextual messages, aiming to nurture young minds into developing into responsible
people and actively work towards the development of the church. The conference’s highlights included a debate on being supportive of youths’ faith journey, competitions on Bible quiz, worship and other activities.
EUROPE
Union of Welsh Independents (UWI) welcome rejection of Internal Market Bill
Union of Welsh Independents (UWI) Churches, which represents Christians meeting in 400 chapels, has welcomed the rejection of the controversial UK Internal Market Bill by the House of Lords. Prior to the vote, the UWI had sent a letter to Welsh members of the House of Lords as they feared that implementing the Bill would have a detrimental e ect on food standards, animal welfare, the economy, and the environment in Wales.
Photo by UWI. House of the Lords.
The Bill which had already been passed by the House of Commons, transfers spending power on infrastructure, economic development, culture, sport, and support for educational and training opportunities to UK government ministers. In addition, it has been described as a “power grab” from devolved bodies, and enables UK ministers to break international law by over-riding parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The United Reformed Church (URC) National Synod of Scotland representative to the Scottish Church Leaders’ Forum had also joined other Scottish church leaders in writing to Scottish MPs and peers in criticism of the Bill.
UWI provides aid in Madagascar
Photo by UWI.
Several projects in Madagascar have been undertaken and continued to progress through the generosity of churches and individuals in UWI, which had partnered Money for Madagascar, a charity experienced in humanitarian projects islandwide. UWI’s successful fundraising campaign has bene tted four projects over three years – the Topaza children’s centre overseen by another CWM member Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), the Akany Avoko Faravohitra institute for young women, and the partnership with Ivato Theological College.
The Topaza children’s centre provides 100 orphaned street children with a home, education, and a family. Without government funding during this di cult time, UWI’s contribution has gone towards a farming project to improve the children’s nutrition and skills. It has also been used to improve facilities in the Akany Avoko Faravohitra institute for orphaned young women, and to purchase sewing materials, books and training resources to help them to become independent. The Ivato project has also begun, in partnership with another organisation to teach food-growing skills in schools. The fourth project involved providing the SAF pharmacy in Antanarivo, which has expertise in eye disease, with the means to procure equipment to treat cataracts and other diseases for many locals.
URC publishes updated COVID-19 advice for England’s lockdown in November
As the governments of Wales, Scotland and England navigate di erent paths in dealing with the coronavirus, the United Reformed Church (URC) Synod Moderators have encouraged churches to comply with guidelines to keep themselves and others safe from Covid-19, as opposed to pushing boundaries and nding loopholes to get around the rules. Regulations on using places of worship and community halls during the November lockdown, as well as limits on attending weddings, funerals and other acts of worship have been published on URC’s dedicated page for coronavirus updates. Visit here: https://urc.org.uk/coronavirus.html
Research has shown that when the U.K was in crisis, faith
groups often stepped up to serve urgent needs in the community. To this end, United Reformed Church has created “Crisis Communications Plan for Local Churches”, a guide to inform and empower church leadership and sta with best practice tips when tragedy strikes.
Photo by URC.
As local churches provide a visible and exible presence in their communities, it becomes necessary to formulate and implement a crisis communications plan during times of local or national catastrophes. The booklet includes guidelines on handling local media, identifying key contacts, implementing a strategy on media statements and using social media during a crisis.
URC launches legacies of slavery webpage in Black History Month
Photo by URC.
United Reformed Church (URC) has launched a dedicated webpage exploring the legacies of slavery during Black History Month, which is in October. This was partly in response to the Legacies of Slavery Project that Council for World Mission (CWM) had embarked on with its partner denominations about the ongoing impact of transatlantic slavery on Black communities around the world.
Issues of racial justice have come to the fore and stirred a heightened conviction in Black Lives Matter amongst people of all ethnicities and ages following the killing of George Floyd in the U.S. The lockdown seems to have created space to hear the many diverse voices challenging the status quo and calling for change.
Photo by URC.
Produced by URC’s Global and Intercultural Ministries (GIM) team and Legacies of Slavery (LoS) Task Group, this webpage provides a wide range of resources for continued re ection and conversation. It includes recommended lms and books, YouTube clips, poetry and articles, and even a pre-recorded service which can be used for Black History Month in local churches, the text for a further service, topical hymns, Bible Studies and articles suitable for church magazines.
URC Buildings Forum website for resources for mission-based focus on buildings
Individuals and Church families are often shaped by their inherited theology, location and local distribution, and the responsibility to carry the baton to continue their forefathers’ work, and holding it in trust for future generations.
Having identi ed online networking as one important way of bringing churches into contact with one another, the United Reformed Church (URC) Buildings Forum website focuses on developing and linking to resources to help churches with a mission-based focus on buildings. The site contains information sources for local churches, covering several aspects of managing and developing buildings.
Photo by URC.
The Forum currently consists of representatives from URC synods, Mission Committee, and agencies including the Church Related Community Work programme, Mission Enablers and Children and Youth Work networks. They welcome feedback and ideas to develop the resource, and to expand the informal membership by invitation to those interested in its work or relevant experience.
Visit the website at: https://www.urcbuildingsforum .co.uk/
PACIFIC Paci c Conference of Churches (PCC) calls for 40 days of prayer and fasting for West Papua
Photo by PCC.
Paci c Conference of Churches (PCC) Freedom Sunday is on 6 December, and PCC is inviting their leaders and congregations from member churches to join in a time of prayer and fasting for West Papua, Kanaky and Maohi Nui as well as their region’s challenges. Human rights abuses in West Papua have been escalating, with recent shootings of a pastor and catechist, leading to a fatality. The West Papuan Council of Churches, in an open letter, has called on Indonesia to enter dialogue towards a peaceful resolution of the situation and an end to militarisation.
Over the 40 days of “hunger for justice and peace” until Freedom Sunday, member churches are encouraged to fast for one meal each day, and to fast from sunrise to sunset on designated days in prayer and re ection.
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) participates in White Ribbon Campaign
Some years ago, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) introduced introduced the White Ribbon Campaign to New Zealand, which is believed to have the highest rate of reported gender-based violence (GBV) in developed countries. Themed #Challenging the Outdated this year, White Ribbon Day (25 November) celebrates men who lead and are committed to promoting safe, healthy relationships within families.
In an interview with White Ribbon NZ Ambassador the Very Rev Ray Coster,
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
(PCANZ) Moderator Right Rev Fakaofo Kaio, Rev David Sang-Joon Kim, Rev Martin Stewart and Rev Ryhan Prasad spoke about unhealthy messages of masculinity they received growing up, and how they’ve changed.
CARIBBEAN
The UCJCI has urged its congregations to be compliant with COVID-19 safety protocols following the community spread across the island. Jamaica has recently seen increasing deaths, a daily increase in infections, and a fall in recovery rate for COVID-19 cases.
This was the advisory issued on 30 September to UCJCI ministers, lay pastors and congregational boards by the UCJCI COVID-19 Response Team, which meets every two weeks. The Committee also re ected on several issues caused by the pandemic that were common throughout the four regions: lack of fellowship for people unable to attend worship services or be in physical contact with others; vulnerable groups that are being left behind; weariness of workers in some sectors; concern about children’s education owing to lack of internet access, devices, and uncertainty about pedagogy; and spiritual dryness for all.
The good news in Cayman is that it now appears COVID-19-free, and most United Churches in Cayman have resumed physical church services.
Respond faithfully to God’s Call to Continue, says The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) General Secretary
Pressing on despite challenging times is probably one of the most di cult tasks in life. However, choosing to continue is an act of hopefulness and requires our faithful response, wrote The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) General Secretary Rev Norbert Stephens in a recent UCJCI update.
In his message based on 1 Peter, he shared three ways to heed this call to continue: to do one’s duty in acts of Christian service; to be de ant in keeping the faith in the face of evil; and to be distinctive in worship and witness in persevering as persons of integrity.
Human Tra cking Forum – A UCJCI advocacy response
Large numbers of young Jamaicans are believed to be tra cked across the island and beyond its shores as part of the clandestine sex and labour racket. In light of this exploitative, illegal activity the north-eastern region of The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) collaborated with the Ministry of National Security and the O ce of the Children and Family Agency to host a Human Tra cking forum for children and teachers in Primary, Preparatory and Secondary Schools in that geographical region.
The forum was held on February 18, 2020 at the Kingsgate United Church hall. Over 70 students and their teachers attended from the following schools: St Andrew High for Girls, St Andrew Preparatory, Camperdown High, Iona High, Meadowbrook High, Meadowbrook Preparatory, North Street Congregational Primary and Oberlin High. The facilitators were Ms Cheree Russell – Manager, Tra cking in Persons Secretariat and Mrs. Audrey Bulai – Director of Children and Family Programme. In an interactive presentation, critical information pertaining to the meaning, rationale, operation, implications and consequences of Human Tra cking was shared with the audience. The students were encouraged to respond to the presentation by asking questions. They were also encouraged to share the information with their peers and to make informed decisions about the issues. The facilitators distributed brochures with valuable information. They commended the region of UCJCI on the work done and stated that they would inform the National Task Force on Human Tra cking Task of the initiative.
Contributed by Rev Dr Henroy Samuels, Regional Deputy General Secretary, UCJCI
