Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 36, No. 22 Home Page
Mother Teresa was condemned by Hindu extremists two days before her state funeral. They described her as a clever schemer who exploited the poor's fears in order to increase India's 2% Christian minority. The World Hindu Council and India's largest political party (BJP) opposed giving her a state funeral, an honour usually reserved for state leaders. BJP opposes all non-Hindu religions and supports a bill restricting religious conversions.--
EVANGELICAL PRESS NEWS SERVICE
Louisiana couples can opt for a "covenant marriage" which has legal bonds similar to pre-1950s marriages. These marriages require proof of physical abuse, abandonment, adultery or other wrongdoing in order for the couple to qualify for divorce. Although covenant marriages were off to a slow start in August, the first month they were available, state representative Tony Perkins, who wrote the law, said they may take a year to catch on. Regular no-fault divorce marriages are still available.--
EPNS
St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy was damaged in several strong earthquakes in late September and early October. Portions of the cathedral's ceiling caved in, destroying frescoes attributed to Limabue and Giollo. Restoration work will take years and cost $62 million.--
EPNS
London (Ont.) Mayor Dianne Haskett has been called before a Human Rights tribunal after refusing to issue a Pride Proclamation requested by the Homophile Association of London, Ontario (HALO). Haskett testified that she could not sign the proclamation because homosexual practice conflicts with her evangelical Christian convictions. Under questioning, Haskett"expressed love and compassion" for homosexuals, and indicated that she could not separate her spiritual life from her public mayoral duties. HALO complained that failure to issue the Pride Proclamation was discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and therefore in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Several London city councillors now favour ending all city proclamations.--
CHRISTIANWEEK
Approximately 30 conservative Episcopalian clergy have drafted"The First Promise", an open letter to Episcopalian clergy that calls them to repent and return to their biblical roots. The document is in part a response to the Episcopalian Church's recent General Convention resolution requiring all bishops and clergy to accept the ordination of women."First Promise" supporters say the Episcopal Church is guilty of a"theological mushiness" that fails to compel clergy to affirm central doctrines such as the resurrection. The document has been presented in Dallas, Tex. to 60 bishops from around the globe. The document also supports an earlier statement by Episcopalian bishops supporting traditional teaching on human sexuality.--
EPNS
The eighth annual See You At the Pole international student prayer day was held Sept. 17. An estimated 3 million youth in 50 US states, 20 countries and 5 continents gathered to pray at their schools' flagpoles. SYATP began in Texas in 1990.--
EPNS
John G. Bennett Jr., 60, was sentenced to 12 years in a US federal prison on 82 counts of fraud and money-laundering for establishing and operating the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy. New Era was the largest charity con game in US history, defrauding 500 clients out of $354 million. Bennett's organization promised it would double deposits made by non-profit organizations by pairing them with anonymous wealthy donors. Bennett lived lavishly while his clients lost an estimated $100 million in the pyramid scheme. Many early clients of New Era returned their profits to later victims in order to soften the financial blow. Bennett claims he was delusional, but government psychologists maintain that a high degree of mental sharpness was needed to keep the sophisticated fraud alive.--
EPNS
Promise Keepers'"Stand in the Gap" rally drew between 700,000 and 1 million men to Washington D.C. Oct. 4. Participants pledged to fulfil their responsibilities to wives, children, churches, employers and communities. Opposition to the six-hour"sacred assembly", one of the largest religious gatherings in US history, focussed on the alleged political agenda of the event.--
CHRISTIANWEEK
US President Bill Clinton has vetoed a bill banning late-term partial birth abortions for the second year in a row. The American Medical Association backs the ban and has declared that the procedure is never medically necessary. Clinton insists that in"rare and tragic circumstances" it could be the best available option. In partial birth abortions, the unborn child is drawn through the birth canal feet first; then its skull is punctured and its brain suctioned out. The House of Representatives had a two-thirds majority vote in support of the bill, which would allow it to override a presidential veto, but the Senate fell three votes short of the number needed to override.--
EPNS
Mennonite Central Committee's thrift store movement celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1997. The movement began in 1972 in Manitoba when four stores opened--in Altona, Steinbach and Winnipeg (which had two). The movement has grown to include 16 stores in Manitoba, 46 in Canada and 42 in the US. This year, Manitoba MCC stores contributed $1.2 million to provincial MCC revenue. The movement began as a result of high international clothing shipping costs along with local clothing donations that were unsuitable for international relief work. MCC then decided to sell the surplus clothes and use the proceeds to support MCC work. Recent thrift-store innovations include establishing furniture stores, recycling donations into clothing and toys, and hiring paid store managers in addition to volunteers.--
MCC
France's Roman Catholic Church sought forgiveness from God and from Jewish people Sept. 30 for its failure to speak out when 76,000 Jews were deported from France to Nazi death camps during World War II. Bishops said that their silence was wrong.--
EPNS
Ten Ontario parents are appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada after the Ontario Court of Appeal rejected their bid for religious instruction in public schools. The parents, backed by the Ontario Multi-faith Coalition for Equity in Education, argue that their constitutional religious freedom has been violated by a 1990 court ruling. As a result of the ruling, the Ontario government stopped public schools from giving mandatory courses on the Christian faith, shut down noon-hour religious groups and ordered two public schools to stop operating as Christian alternate schools. The parents argue that survival of their cultures and religions are in jeopardy when religion is not taught in public schools because many parents who wish to have religion taught to their children cannot afford to send them to private schools.--
CHRISTIANWEEK
Promise Keepers rallies in Canada this year have not drawn the numbers organizers expected. Promise Keepers of Canada, independent of its US parent, planned six arena-sized rallies for men in urban centres from Moncton, N.B. to Vancouver. PK Canada expected up to 80,000 at the rallies, but midway through the schedule in August, fewer than 15,000 had shown up. Organizers attribute slower Canadian growth to cultural differences such as Canadians' retreat-for-the-summer habit.--
CHRISTIANWEEK
The second Sacred Assembly, held Aug. 18-24 in Sagkeeng, Man., was to be a time of healing and forgiveness for Canada's native peoples but instead was characterized by bitterness, anger and conflict. The event, organized by MP Elijah Harper and hosted by the Sagkeeng First Nation 140 km north of Winnipeg, divided into various factions including native and non-native, Christian and non-Christian, young and old. Harper insists that, in spite of the divisions, a part of the healing process is to air grievances. Tension was obvious throughout the week as"traditional" native spiritualists spoke of bitterness toward the Christian church for its role in destroying native culture and language, breaking up families and forcing a "foreign" way of thinking upon them. Christians quoted from the Bible and performed drama. Young natives, who were not included in official functions, staged their own meetings. Harper states he will continue to carry a vision for a spiritual reconciliation process, in spite of the anger, frustration, blame and insults, as well as the political intentions of some participants.--
CHRISTIANWEEK
The Mennonite Church in Bukavu, Congo (formerly Zaire) baptized 10 new members on Aug. 24. The new Mennonite congregation includes members from various ethnic backgrounds including local Congolese and Rwandan and Burundian refugees, as well as local street children--all have been drawn to Anabaptist peace teachings. The multi-ethnic church in this war-torn region is a rarity. The new church lost several members during recent fighting.--
MCC
Mennonites in Washington D.C. and Akron, Pa. gathered to show concern over US gun violence on Sept. 19. Over 200 people gathered in Washington, across from police headquarters and the mayor's office, to dedicate Esther and Michael Augsburger's"Guns into Plowshares", a 16-foot-high sculpture of a plough built from 3000 handguns. The guns, the result of a buy-back program, were donated by police. In Akron, the MCC US Executive Committee adopted a statement decrying gun violence. Committee members encouraged MCC supporters to consider giving up any handguns they own, and to support gun control legislation.--
MCC
Mennonite Disaster Service work in Detroit, Mich. has been hampered by a lack of volunteers. The Detroit area was hit by a tornado and severe storm on July 2. The tornado hit many economically impoverished neighbourhoods, and many have been unable to complete chimney, roof and house repairs before the winter season. Some of the damaged houses were purchased under a program that allows residents to buy abandoned properties for $1 in order to refurbish them. MDS needs 40 volunteers experienced in roofing, masonry and general construction. Long-term volunteers, who add program stability, are currently needed in Michigan, California and Arkansas.--
MDS
Nigeria-based churches have planted hundreds and perhaps thousands of daughter churches in the US. Many specialize in international integration, attracting Christians from many countries and ethnic backgrounds.--
EVANGELICAL MISSIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
South Korea has 7 of the world's 11 largest churches by average weekly attendance. Yoido Full Gospel Church (Seoul) has an average Sunday attendance of 190,000. The Church of Grace and Truth (70,000), Kum Ran Methodist (40,000), Sung Rak Baptist (37,000) and Young Nak Presbyterian (25,000) are also in Seoul. Elsewhere in South Korea are Ju-an Presbyterian (38,000) in Na Kyum and Soong Eui Methodist (37,000) in Ichon. The Miracles of Jesus Church in Santa Fe, Argentina and the Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Lagos, Nigeria each average 70,000. The Elim Church in San Salvador, El Salvador averages 50,000, and the Bethel Church of God in Surabaya, Indonesia has 25,000.--
EMIS
Tire Recycling Atlantic Canada Corporation
began production at two plants in early October, providing jobs for 40 people. TRACC plants in Minto, N.B. and Cornwallis, N.S. received support from MCC Canada in the form of administrative support and start-up capital. Doug Vicars, former MCC Maritimes job creation director and now company president, played a key role in the project. The plants grind up tires, and the "rubber crumb" raw material is used to create rubber mats, vehicle parts and other recycled items. TRACC is not yet manufacturing any value-added product itself. TRACC beat out 53 other proposals to start the project, which carries with it ongoing provincial government support from a $3 environmental levy charged on every new tire sold in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. MCC continues as a minority shareholder in TRACC.--
MCC
India's largest political party has called for a ban on Christian missionaries and Muslim fundamentalist groups in northeast India. Hindu fundamentalist activists in the area have been unable to influence the region; Christians compose 90% of the region's 1.5 million people. In November, Nagaland Baptist Church Council celebrated the 125th anniversary of the arrival of Baptist missionaries in the area. For nearly two decades, Naga separatists have demanded a homeland separate from India on the grounds of discrimination. An American Baptist group has brokered a ceasefire to allow peace talks between separatists and Indian government troops.--
COMPASS DIRECT
About 85% of all Christians come to Christ by the time they are 18.
Current Thoughts and Trends
Watch for "10 days of Prayer for Our World" in our next MB Herald, Dec.12
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