It has been six months since Jeff and I left Cameroon for what is called an “interpretation assignment,” wrapping up our current three-year mandate with a prolonged itineration to visit churches in the U.S. followed by some months of study leave in preparation for our next term.
New figures from the 2011 Census show that the number of people who identify as Christians in England and Wales has fallen by 4 million over the last 10 years.
For the 15th year in a row, Santa Claus got a little help this Christmas season from some people known for both their colorful belts and their generous bent: Louisa County martial arts students.
Humanitarian agency Church World Service joined with American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Environmental Justice Initiative for Haiti, The Episcopal Church, Gender Action, Global Justice Clinic, Grassroots International, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, Other Worlds, Oxfam America, TransAfrica and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, in releasing the following statement in response to the launch of the United Nations’ “Initiative for the Elimination of Cholera in Haiti”:
From the nuns to the “nones,” religion dominated the headlines throughout 2012. Faith was a persistent theme in the presidential race, and moral and ethical questions surrounded budget debates, mass killings and an unexpected focus on “religious freedom.”
The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People has hired three Technical Assistance Providers to work in Baltimore, Los Angeles and New Orleans. The National SDOP Committee identified these areas for focused outreach for the next three years. The outreach is meant to identify and partner with economically poor communities and to promote and interpret the SDOP ministry in Presbyterian congregations. This is an eight month internship. By providing technical assistance to potential SDOP partners SDOP hopes to assist a larger number of communities in their struggles for social and economic justice. SDOP is a ministry of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. With increased promotion and interpretation congregations will have the opportunity to observe how their giving is impacting their local communities. Although SDOP is doing focused outreach in these areas it is equally committed to continuing to partner with communities across the US.