Member Church News: Evictions, Agreements, Welcomes, Appeals

Last week police moved in to forcibly evict members of El Tamarindo, a community on the outskirts of Barranquilla, Colombia, that has served as a home for internally displaced people for more than a decade. WCRC members visited the community during an Accra Confession consultation in 2014. A solidarity campaign has been launched to provide support for those who now find themselves again displaced.

Many congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America have been welcoming refugees and assisting in their settlement.

The Church of Scotland has welcomed the new international agreement to tackle climate change. A commentary from the Protestant Church in the Netherlands expressed hope for the new deal. And ecumenical leaders have hailed the Paris climate agreement.

Presbyterian Church (USA) seminary presidents unite in appeal to end climate of fear, distrust.

The latest newsletter from the Church of Pakistan‘s Peshawar Diocese includes a story about a special retreat for special children.

An international ecumenical conference about peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula was held recently in Germany (and attended by our own Paul Oppenheim as well as many other WCRC members).

The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe has awarded the title of European City of the Reformation to seven new cities, including the first in the United Kingdom and Czech Republic.

As rector of the only ecumenical theological institution in Cuba, Rev. Dr Carlos Emilio Ham is at the forefront of exploring how local churches can engage in empowering diakonia.