In my work in the South Tucson community here, I have many conversations and occasional debates about the plight of migrants who cross our southern borders. In southern Arizona issues related to immigration are anything but hypothetical. They are up close and personal.

I decided to let my feet do the talking. I joined 47 persons ranging in age from 18 to 72 to walk the “migrant trail” ― a week-long journey of about 75 miles from Sasabe, Mexico, to Tucson.

We walked the distance many migrants travel to reach the United States. Many do not make it. According to estimates, more than 5,000 persons have died in the southern Arizona desert since the mid-1990s.

Young Christians aged 18-30 years are invited to apply for a program addressing the links between environmental and socio-economic justice which is jointly organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in the context of United Nations climate negotiations in the latter part of 2011.

Representatives of Australia’s major churches, along with environmental groups and civil society organizations, are urging the federal government to support an international campaign for a so-called “Robin Hood” tax on financial institutions.

A new report asserts that anti-Muslim prejudice has worsened in recent years, but argues the trend could be reversed with greater community outreach.

The Rev. Brian Heron is embarking on a pilgrimage. And though his congregation will stay home while he’s out on the 10-week cycling trip, they’ll be going on a journey of their own.

Church leaders in South Sudan expressed their readiness to help secure peace, stability, growth and development in their new nation, which was proclaimed an independent state on July 9.

Middle school is no picnic for a lot of students, but for Alec McGuire, it was intolerable.

More than 75 Presbyterians in town for the denomination’s Big Tent event demonstrated their support of immigrants at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday afternoon (July 2).

Holding signs like “Jesus loves everyone, including the undocumented,” those gathered were reminded that Big Tent almost switched locations because of Indiana’s proposed immigration legislation, HB 1402.

“Presbyterians were able stop the most egregious part of the bill,” said the Rev. Tony Aja, coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministries for the Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky.  Holding up a copy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s policy statement on immigration, Aja reminded the gathering that “Presbyterians stand with immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants.”

Carrying its tradition of mobilizing individuals and churches for mission into a second century, the 106th New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) will be held at Westminster College here July 23-29.  All events are free and open to the public.

Christian leaders from around the world have pledged support for Southern Sudan, while hailing the region set to become an independent state on July 9.

“We affirm our continued humanitarian support through various community-based initiatives in Southern Sudan, and look forward to stronger cooperation with your government in this area,” said the Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, in a July 6 letter to the country’s new president, General Salva Kiir Mayardit.