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Member Church News
Panel members clockwise from left: Ms. Karen Campbell, URC; Rev. Rev. Dr Janet Wootton, a retired minister of the Congregational Federation (CF); Mrs. Linnette Vassell, a civil society activist and member of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI); Rev. Ellen Mulenga, a minister of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ); Dr. Elizabeth December-Singh, member of the Guyana Presbyterian Church (GPC), and Miss Vanessa Blissett, President of the UCJCI’s United Church Young People’s Fellowship
Over 139 participants attended “Women Breaking Chains, Nurturing Communities, Planting Seeds of Hope”, a virtual event held by the Gender Justice Working Group of the Council for World Mission (CWM) Caribbean and Europe regions on International Women’s Day.
After words of welcome and greetings from CWM regional staff, the lively event commenced with the pulsating beat of drums by the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago (PCTT) worship team, a reminder of the Caribbean’s history of using drumming for prayer, worship and communication.
Following worship, Rev. Patricia Sheerattan Bisnauth, Chair of the Gender Justice Working Group gave an overview of the group’s objectives, which included analysing and identifying ways to address contextual realities that hinder women’s ministry and leadership, and creating a women empowerment resource to add to CWM’s ongoing work in resisting life-denying forces.
Next up was the event’s highlight, an energising table talk facilitated by Ms. Karen Campbell from the United Reformed Church (URC), where the panellists and participants named women across CWM member churches and their hard-earned achievements in church and society, and identified “patriarchy, misogynism, violence, abuse and inherited theology, bible interpretation, church practices and structures” as factors preventing women from fully participating in the life of churches. While younger contributors spoke about a generational gap around gender justice matters, and the internalising of oppression, all conceded the need for renewed solidarity among women and a concerted effort by both men and women to make gender justice a priority of the church. The event was interspersed with poetry, including a poetic interlude by Dr Anna Perkins that served as a grim reminder of the cascading reality of gender-based and intimate partner violence.
In closing, the Moderator of CWM, Rev. Lydia Neshangwe highlighted the need to be aware of activism that insists that one’s way is the only way, and proposed a helpful approach to “let a thousand flowers bloom”, where each person takes her place and does her part in her way and in her place.
She explained, “This means we do not discourage those whose place, stage, and methodology are different”. For example, some speak publicly on the issue as they have access to public spaces, or are academics whereas others advocate for the rights of the girl child in their homes. Rev. Neshangwe encouraged women to “engage in whatever level you are, whether you are in leadership, or in the home or community” since every level of contribution is valuable, after which she offered the closing prayer.
CCCW Summer Institute 2022
Cambridge Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide (CCCW) is organising its first residential Summer Institute on “World Christianity and Global Challenges”. Held between 18-22 July 2022 in Cambridge, England, CWM General Secretary, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum will be delivering the keynote address on this year’s theme “Grief, Resilience, and Hope amid the Pandemic”.
Organised in collaboration with Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (TEAC) and Rose Castle Foundation (RCF), it welcomes theological students, educators, researchers and Christians interested in learning about Christianity in other parts of God’s world to take this special opportunity to listen to, and have conversations with a range of speakers, mentors and supporters as they focus on the pandemic’s impact on churches, local and global communities, and consider how to respond and work together to create better societies built on care, compassion and justice.
Successful applicants will participate in workshops where they can listen to one another’s stories of grief, resilience, hope and faith, and biblical and theological insights, and learn about “Action at Home” projects. Besides worshipping and eating together daily, they can look forward to special events, seeing the Centre’s renowned library and archives, and discovering the joys of Cambridge.
For more info, please download this flyer and visit https://www.cccw.cam.ac.uk/summer-institute/summer-institute-2022/
AFRICA United Church of Zambia (UCZ) launches pilot programme for child abuse prevention
Image by UCZ Synod Communications
UCZ has piloted a three-year programme against child abuse in schools and communities where UCZ has a presence to enhance the safety of young learners and strengthen UCZ’s Child Safeguarding policy.
Image by UCZ Synod Communications
Mulemba Kamfwa, a pupil at Kafue Boys Secondary School, said that the programme will help the pupils open up about the social ills they face and mitigate destructive consequences such as suicide and substance abuse, while the Nambala Secondary School Head Teacher said that this scheme augments the government efforts in child protection.
Newly formed UCZ health committees to support its healthcare facilities
Part of UCZ’s holistic mission has been its mission hospitals and clinics, which have been instrumental in providing healthcare to diverse communities since the era of early missionaries. Some healthcare facilities continue to be run by UCZ today, and others were established more recently in response to growing healthcare needs in communities. UCZ Health Committees have been formed to assist facilities that recently experienced challenges requiring moral, material and spiritual support. They visit clinics in their local areas where UCZ has a presence to provide support for staff and patients, as well as actively seek out income-generating projects to help these health facilities become self-sustainable.
Zambian economist addresses UCZ leaders on economic issues
UCZ leaders received a presentation on economic issues by Zambian economist Dr Grieve Chelwa during the UCZ Senior Management Meeting in Lusaka on 29 March, organised under the theme “All One in Christ” (John 17:21). Dr Chelwa spoke about the urgent need for policymakers to formulate
Image by UCZ Synod Communications
Image by UCZ Synod Communications
plans to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict on the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. He also expressed his views on how best the economy can be organised in an inclusive manner that benefits all citizens, such as giving priority to Zambian ownership of some mines and other strategic resources.
EAST ASIA Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)’s statement on the war in Ukraine
The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) has released an open letter addressing the war in Ukraine on the 75th anniversary of the February 28 massacre, which was an anti-government uprising met with violent suppression in Taiwan.
“Knowing full well from experience that authoritarian governments and dictators do not
represent the hearts of its people”, PCT prayed for those in Russia who bravely protested on the streets, and denounced the attack as a “total contradiction and violation of international law, the UN Charter and basic human rights”.
Image by PCT
In the statement, it also expressed its deep concern and prayers for Ukrainian residents, adding its voice to Christians around the world urging governments to “pursue diplomatic channels to ensure a credible and sustainable peace process comes to fruition”.
PCT’s prayer event for Ukraine. Image by PCT
Inter-denominational service of prayer and solidarity for Ukraine
The National Council of Churches of Taiwan (NCCT) which includes Presbyterian, Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches organised a prayer service for Ukraine at Che-Lam Presbyterian Church on 20 March. It was a time of silent prayer, meditation, and
and candle-lighting, attended by several politicians including former Vice President of Taiwan Mr Chen Chien-Jen.
Image by NCCT
Over 150 Christians from various denominations heard Miss Zheng Shasha, a young Ukrainian in Taiwan share from the hearts of the Ukrainian people, and Legislator Fan Yun and the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chen, spoke about the solidarity efforts of the people of Taiwan and the government in swiftly sending a humanitarian shipment of medical supplies to Ukraine.
Sharing by Ms. Zheng Shasha, a young Ukrainian in Taiwan. Image by NCCT
Image by NCCT
SOUTH ASIA Certificate Course in Eco-theology by Church of South India (CSI) Synod and United Theological College, Bengaluru (UTC)
In association with the Church of South India (CSI) Synod, the Certificate Course in Eco-theology offered by United Theological College, Bengaluru (UTC) has been opened to students recommended by CSI’s mission partners and sister churches in communion with CSI’s Synod. Initially reserved for CSI members, the course generated interest among those outside of India, and the second batch of students who begin this online, six-month course in June 2022 will hail from other countries as well. The syllabus is based on the five volumes of “the Earth Bible” edited by Norman C Habel, and includes eco-justice principles, eco-hermeneutics, eco-homiletics, climate justice and green movements, eco-feminism and more.
