Member Church News: Campaigns, Commitments, Com-Union

As a small East African state landlocked in the Great Lakes region, Rwanda is one of the continent’s best performers in terms of economic growth. The Protestant Church in Rwanda plays a central social and educational role.

West Michigan (USA)—with its concentration of Reformed Churches and solid Republican base—is seeing an election campaign featuring a Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives from the Christian Reformed Church.

How can Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) as a church body demonstrate Christian commitment to the community? HKCCCC General Secretary Eric So addressed this question in a recent pastoral letter, urging churches to persevere as competent watchmen of Hong Kong in the current situation by seeking strength and confidence from God.

Mark Pettis has been called to serve as the new ecumenical and interfaith relations manager of the United Church of Christ. A lifelong UCC member focused on ecumenical and interfaith ministry, he’ll be stepping into a role vacated by Karen Georgia Thompson, associate general minister, and joining her team.

Union of Welsh Independents will be observing the ninth “Recovery Sunday” on 25 October, a day set aside to encourage churches to think about those suffering from various addictions.

The United Church of Canada offers worship resources to celebrate Reformation Sunday, as does Reformed Worship’s website.

Celebrating the holidays while sheltering-at-home: Finding sacred space beyond the sanctuary. Several congregations in the Presbyterian Church (USA) share their stories.

The latest issue of Com-Uníon features essays on 50 years of the Latin American Faculty of Reformed Theology.

The Reformed Church in Hungary mourns the passing of its chief elder, Gusztáv Adorjáni, lay president of the Transtibiscan Church District (Debrecen) and general director of the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County Hospitals and University Teaching Hospital.

A webinar held 22 October gave space for persons with disabilities to share their reflections. Entitled “From Lamentation to Transformation,” the event, first in a series of webinars on COVID-19 perspectives, highlighted hope through stories, practical support, and social change as experienced by persons with disabilities.

In a mood of hope, solidarity and compassion, the World Council of Churches olive harvest initiative continued with a live-streamed public webinar, addressing cultural, socio-economic and spiritual aspects of the olive harvest season in the Holy Land, as well as highlighting the impact of the continuing military occupation of the Palestinian territories.