A 29-page letter (pdf document) drafted by 138 prominent Muslim leaders to leaders of the world’s Christian churches has been met with enthusiasm and encouragement. (Steve G. recommends this report: CS Monitor) The historic Muslim document, entitled, “A Common Word Between Us and You,” received a warm embrace from leaders of the Yale Divinity School in the form of a response that has been cosigned by the Harvard and Princeton seminaries…
The lengthy response released yesterday by the Yale scholars, entitled Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word between Us and You says, “We receive A Common Word as a Muslim hand of conviviality and cooperation extended to Christians worldwide. In this response we extend our own Christian hand in return, so that together with all other human beings we may live in peace and justice as we seek to love God and our neighbors.â€
Bishops in London and Liverpool are championing a new kind of 40-day fast calling on Britons to cut back on carbon, rather than chocolate or alcohol, for the Christian period of Lent this year.
“Everyday technology has social ramifications,†says Ian Packer, the new Director of Public Theology at Australian Evangelical Alliance, as he explains the importance of face-to-face relationships in communicating how the Gospel transforms the lives of those who are spreading it.
Packer proposes that we give more attention to ‘everyday-technology’, those human-made devices–such as television, mobile phones, computers and the internet–used in our daily life, that often have ‘trade-offs’ of which we are unaware.
“I don’t think most people, including Christians, understand the trade-off that tends to happen when we are involved with a particular technology. Although some Christians might be critical of the amount of television some people watch or the content of certain programs, they tend to see television itself as a neutral medium. They tend not see the inherent problems that come with the introduction of television into our homes along with the benefits.â€
“Ratatouille,” “Bella” and “Amazing Grace” were among the top movies of 2007 named at a recent ceremony honoring films that increase people’s understanding and love of God.
The best 10 movies in the families and mature audiences categories were announced Tuesday at the 16th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Winners were selected by Christian Film & Television Commission, which awards movies based on Biblical principles and positive family values. The event was introduced by the organization in 1992 and has since been likened to the “Christian Oscars.”
What will the Christian church look like in the next 1,000 years?
If a devout Christian from the year 1000 A.D. were to be dropped into a mid-morning service at a 21st century progressive church, the medieval Christian wouuld not recognize the Christian faith, says Kevin Kelly in the latest issue of Willow magazine – a publication of the influential Willow Creek Community Church.
So it’s “reasonable and responsible to expect tremendous change in the Christian church” in the next millennium, he writes.
Besides the end of the world happening in this lifetime, Kelly offers five other scenarios – or plausible stories – for what the church may look like in the year 3,000 A.D.
And he cautions, “If Christians don’t seize the future, then unbelievers will.”
Scenario One
The center of Christianity will continue to shift west. Since the time of Christ, the center of gravity for the global Christian church has steadily moved west from its epicenter in Jerusalem. It has shifted to Armenia, Greece, Rome, then into Europe, and further west into North and South America.
Many reports indicate that the center of Christianity is now in Asia and Africa where the Christian population is booming.
But Kelly says it won’t stop there.
The following is text that appeared recently in the religion column of the ‘Advocate’ newspaper, a periodical from Tasmania. It is re-printed here with permission.
I have been reading a book called “The Spirituality Revolution†by David Tacey, one of Australia’s leading thinkers on spirituality. David calls on the church to recognise that “if God is alive and active in the world, then God will be creative in the world, beckoning us to new transformationsâ€.
A Virginian Baptist minister, Steve Reynolds, appauled at the addiction of many of his flock to fatty takeaway foods decided it was time to make a difference.
A year ago he set his entire congregation on a diet, and developed a Bod4God program.
There has been a remarkable difference in outlook as between them there are 952 less kilograms …
In a recent gathering of the Society of Christian Ethics in Atlanta, Georgia, Father Frank Brennan reflected on politics in Australia, and how it came to be that former Prime Minsiter, John Howard, ended up with his religious allies speaking out against his policy.
The paper explores the idea that while individuals make decisions based on a personal morality, there remains principals by which the churches take their stance on issues such as industrial relations and the war in Iraq.
The edited article appeared in The Australian newspaper.
Telling Lived Experience is a short course that teaches ways to tell your own experiences of faith and life.
It begins with a retreat style day to consider and reflect on significant moments. How we notice instances of grace, recognition and insight will also be looked at and how these can be framed into stories. Class size is kept to a maximum of eight.
Cost $160. Classes run 9, 11, and 18 February 2008. Facilitator: Julie Perrin.
For more information contact the Centre for Theology and Ministry, 9340 8815 or email info@ctm.uca.edu.au.
The Dalton McCaughey Library in collaboration with the Children and Family Ministry team is opening a new collection of children’s picture books on Friday 29 February.
The collection aims to provide an imaginative and narrative base to some of the big life issues for children and families. There are quality children’s books including biblical story re-tellings.
A practical workshop on using children’s picture books in ministry will be conducted by Sharon Hollis and Julie Perrin on the afternoon of the launch, from 2.30 to 4.00pm.
For more information contact Centre for Theology and Ministry, 9340 8815, info@ctm.uca.edu.au.