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A small group of Mennonite church leaders met Jan. 9-10 in Akron, Penn. to discuss how to deal with homosexuality in Mennonite churches. The discussion didn't focus on theological or ethical issues, but dealt with what type of leadership is needed to help the church deal with the issue. Leaders from both the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church attended. Six recommendations were written that will be passed along to the appropriate church bodies. One recommendation asks that people holding a variety of views on homosexuality be appointed to write process guidelines for the conferences. --MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Cuba's National Registry Association ordered many house churches in Havana to be closed Jan. 20, just hours prior to Pope John Paul II's visit. No reasons were given for the closures. House church operators risked imprisonment for not obeying the order. The number of house churches grew dramatically in the early 1990s when the Cuban economy began to decline, forcing church goers to conserve fuel by meeting in their homes. It is believed that thousands of house churches continue to meet throughout Cuba despite government pressure.
--COMPASS DIRECT
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has begun an education exchange with Iran. Roy and Maren Tyedmers Hange will study language and Islamic science at the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute and a related women's institute in Qom, Iran. Two Iranian students will attend the University of Toronto and relate to Mennonite communities in Ontario. The Hanges will be MCC's first long-term volunteers in Iran. For the past nine years MCC has provided occasional refugee and earthquake relief in Iran, including sending some six-month volunteers in 1991. The Hanges have previously served in Egypt and in Syria with MCC.
--MCC
Mennonite Central Committee executive director Ron Mathies and 139 other leaders of US religious and humanitarian organizations signed a statement Jan. 21, asking the US government to lift its trade embargo on Cuba. The US group also includes American Friends Service Committee, Friends United Meeting, American Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and various Catholic and Jewish organizations.
--MCC
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have denied any knowledge of three missionaires allegedly taken by the rebels five years ago. Mark Rich, David Mankins and Richard Tenenoff, working with New Tribes Mission, were taken hostage from a Kuna Indian village in Panama near the Colombian border Jan. 31, 1993. Earlier reports said the hostages were in good condition, but on Dec. 28, 1997, the rebels denied any knowledge of the men. During the first year of the missionaries' disappearance, mission officials had regular contact with the kidnappers. The kidnappers initially demanded a $5 million US ransom, but communications stopped in January, 1994. FARC told Costa Rican government officials in February, 1997, that the three missionaries were alive and in their power.
--COMPASS DIRECT
The Iowa chapter of Mennonite Economic Development Associates has opened a Mediation Referral Service. The new service's mission statement is: "to promote the application of Christian principles to solve business conflicts by the use of the mediation process". Other kinds of conflict can also be handled. Research shows that litigated judgements are implemented about 35% of the time, while mediated settlements are implemented about 90% of the time.
--MEDA
The General Council of Mennonite World Conference voted Jan. 12, 1997 to support the development of a Global Anabaptist Peace and Justice Network. The network will facilitate the exchange of information, prayer requests and support Anabaptist congregations committed to peace and justice. The network is the brainchild of Ricardo Esquivia, director of the Mennonite Centre for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action (Justapaz) in Bogota, Colombia. The Network will use the internet and the MWC newsletter courier/correo, to circulate information. Congregations and organizations that are linked with MWC can send in prayer concerns. The network can be accessed by contacting Judy Zimmerman Herr Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500; E-mail: JZH@mcc.org
--COURIER
The Roman Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity accepted an invitation to send a representative to the Mennonite World Council Assembly in Calcutta, India in January, 1997. This was the first time the Catholic Church was officially represented at a Mennonite assembly. The question was raised of an official meeting between the Catholic Church and Mennonites to discuss beliefs, attitudes and relations, with the possibility of the Catholic Church apologizing for its persecution of Anabaptists in the past. In Calcutta, the Pontifical Council representative said the Catholic Church would like conversation with Mennonites on peace.
--COURIER
In a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has asked that Canada's spending on foreign aid increase to 0.7% from the current 0.31% of Gross National Product. Canadian governments have repeatedly established 0.7% as a goal but have never achieved it. A recent report from an international foreign aid watchdog entitled The Reality of Aid says that Canada's development aid budget has plunged below the average of the world's top 21 aid donor countries. In 1996, Canada dropped from fifth to 11th place among donor countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
--CANADA WATCH
The Colombian government has signed an agreement recognizing 16 evangelical Protestant denominations, granting privileges previously reserved for the Roman Catholic Church. The accord recognizes marriages performed in non-Catholic churches and permits evangelicals to minister in prisons, hospitals, high schools and military installations. Colombia rewrote its constitution two years ago, removing the recognition of the Catholic Church as the state church.
--COMPASS DIRECT
25-30 million Christians live in India. Two-thirds are Roman Catholics. Most believers can be found in the southern peninsula, where the Apostle Thomas was the first Christian missionary. About 700 million people, mostly Hindu, live in the northern fertile plain containing three "sacred" rivers (Indus, Gandes and Brahmaptura). Christianity came later to this region, and this is where most of the persecution occurs. India is officially 85% Hindu, with 45% belonging to the lower Dalit caste. In practice, many are really animists. Less than 30% are actually Hindus, about 2% of them being religious. Hindu leaders fear that the Dalits, who do all the menial tasks in society, will reject the caste system if Christian evangelism continues. The caste system is a ranking of Indian society into groups, which are allotted certain fixed tasks and roles from birth. The high caste Brahmins run society. Many Indians accept their fate in the caste because of the doctrine of reincarnation. Christianity rejects this teaching. Indian Christians are likely to be persecuted if they evangelize openly, work to empower the lower caste or are baptized. India's population is expected to reach 1 billion this year.
--COMPASS DIRECT
72 cases relating to the clergy residence income tax deduction are expected to be heard in the Tax Court of Canada between May and October. Under the Income Tax Act, pastors, church leaders and administrators of religious orders are entitled to a deduction equivalent to the rental value of their homes. Guidelines are set out by a Revenue Canada bulletin, but there is confusion about who qualifies for the deduction. In the mid-80s, William McRae, then president of Ontario Bible College/Ontario Theological Seminary, was denied the deduction. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld a decision after 10 years of litigation. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) is arguing the 72 cases, which are grouped into five categories: foreign missions, youth ministries, Bible colleges, domestic social services agencies, and other domestic ministries. The CCCC also made a major submission in August, 1997 to assist Revenue Canada in drafting clearer guidelines.
--CHRISTIAN WEEK
Canada's most important problem is unemployment/economy, according to 34% of 1,400 Canadians polled by the Strategic Counsel of Toronto in November. 18% said it was government/government spending/deficit; 15% said it was social services/health/education; and 11% said it was national unity/the constitution. 26% said that they were a little more optimistic about the future while 24% said that they were a little more pessimistic.
--MACLEAN'S
A delegation from various religious groups met recently with Ontario Premier Mike Harris to express concerns about how social policy is affecting the spiritual and moral state in Ontario. The meeting was a follow-up to a letter sent to the premier in October to express concern with government cutbacks to social programs. The group believes that these cuts were influenced by changing values within the government on how it views the less fortunate and that, as a result, the less fortunate will place a greater burden on religious organizations for social assistance.
--THE CATALYST
A singles conference will be held May 8-9 at Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C., on the theme "Celebration", with speaker Luci Swindoll and musician Steve Bell.
--WILLINGDON CHURCH
MCC Bike Oregon, an annual fundraising event, organized by Mennonite Central Committee, is slated Aug. 7-8. For more information e-mail howellk@ucs.orst.edu; mail 2713 NW Arnold Way, Corvallis, Ore. 97330 or phone 541-754-6336
--MCC
To fight AIDS, the Botswana government is asking churches to teach biblical and traditional values to the public. Recently, Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission International helped organize a conference in Botswana, at which young people were encouraged to commit themselves to sexual abstinence before marriage. In Botswana, 31% of the population between 15 and 49 is HIV positive; among university students it is as high as 50%. Estimates anticipate 60,000 AIDS orphans by the year 2000.
--AIMM NEWS SERVICE
A group of Calgary business leaders, headed by Jim Gray, chairman and CEO of Canadian Hunter Explorations Ltd., is trying to persuade Calgary city council to hold a plebiscite regarding banning Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs). Edmonton is expected to hold a plebiscite only if public pressure warrants one. Four communities in Alberta have already voted to ban VLTs: Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Lacombe and Fort McMurray. Initially, some church leaders had criticized the government for ignoring social problems caused by VLT gambling. However, Premier Ralph Klein called critics of VLTs hypocrites if they accept government money generated by VLT profits and challenged a church in his riding to return $85,000 it received; the church did so. Economic Development Minister Pat Black says her government will honour any decisions individual communities make on the issue. In 1996-97, Alberta grossed $2.7 billion in gambling receipts, 58% of that coming from VLTs. Of the $1.56 billion gross VLT intake, 70% was paid out in prizes, 25% ($400 million) was taken by the province and $70 million went to VLT operators.
--WESTERN REPORT, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
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