Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

African faith leaders and environmentalists push for fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty

Nairobi, Kenya RNS Faith leaders and climate activists in Africa announced their support on Friday for an international treaty to halt the production and use of fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change, analogous to non-proliferation treaties governing the production of nuclear weapons.  “As people of faith, we have a moral duty to protect […]

Rwanda government shuts more than 5,000 churches, claiming code violations

Nairobi, Kenya RNS In a crackdown, Rwanda has shut down more than 5,600 places of worship over failure to meet the conditions required for operation. Churches, mosques, caves and tents affected by the shutdown were found to have fallen short of the standard requirements set by 2018 laws, according to officials conducting the two-week process […]

Episcopal Church protests closure of its Gaza hospital by Israeli evacuation orders

Cairo, Egypt Reuters The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East protested the closure of Al-Ahli Arab Anglican Hospital in Gaza City as a result of the evacuation of several residential districts ordered by the Israeli military. A statement issued in the name of the Diocese of Jerusalem said the hospital has been “compelled […]

“Coherency of faith” key to retaining the young in church, Australian study finds

Geelong, Australia A “coherency of faith” that involves life within both the home and the church is key to the successful retention of young people in churches as they enter adult life, new research has found. The research, which combined select findings about church attendance from NCLS Research as well as results gleaned from Anglican […]

Church of England faces threat of split over stance on gay couples

London, UK Reuters An alliance of church leaders threatened to split from the Church of England over plans to let gay couples hold standalone services in churches, saying it would be a departure from the institution’s teaching on marriage. In a letter to the two senior-most bishops of the church, the dissenting group said the […]

Church leaders in Kenya give qualified support for plan to close orphanages

Nairobi, Kenya RNS Amid a growing push among child welfare organisations to reunite families rather than keep children in institutional homes, Kenyan authorities are set to adopt a new national program that will phase out traditional orphanages over the next decade. Church leaders in the country, whose denominations run hundreds of orphanages, have expressed support […]