| Journey to Jerusalem |
This Lent join Christian Aid on a virtual pilgrimage through the Holy Land. From Bethlehem to Nazareth to Jerusalem, go beyond hearing about the people of the region and hear from them instead. From 25th Feb
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| 2009 Ecumenical World Development Consultation |
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 Partnership for development Working together with agencies, business, campaigning groups, governments and producers. High Leigh Conference Centre, 18-20 March 2009
Click here for more |
| Books from the Ekklesia bookshop |
Faith and Politics After Christendom by Jonathan Bartley here
Threatened with Resurrection
by Simon Barrow here
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| Our Partners
Ekklesia is an independent member of the Root and Branch Network which includes the following organisations |
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| Events |
Convention on Modern Liberty
28th February
'Faiths and Freedoms' seminar
Mohammed Aziz (Muslim commentator, Faithwise), Vaughan Jones (Praxis CEO, URC minister), Savi Hensman (equalities adviser, Christian commentator) and Keith Kahn-Harris (New Jewish Thought). Chair: Simon Barrow (Ekklesia). Institute of Education, London
'Body & Soul'
28 Feb -1 Mar (Bristol)
7-8 Mar (Birmingham)
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our patner Workshop Living by values explores Christian ethics and lifestyle from the perspective of spiritual freedom and responsibility, taking on the hard questions about sex, gender, orientation, marriage and relationships as practical case studies.
'Peace & Power'
14 -15 March (Leeds)
21-22 March (London)
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our partner Workshop this weekend looks at spirituality and activism: a biblical understanding of peace (shalom) and the challenge of political and social power engaging in the areas of ecology, church and state, peace and war, crime and justice.
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| Ekklesia Events |
Convention on Modern Liberty
28th February
'Faiths and Freedoms' seminar (London)
Mohammed Aziz (Muslim commentator, Faithwise), Vaughan Jones (Praxis CEO, URC minister), Savi Hensman (equalities adviser, Christian commentator) and Keith Kahn-Harris (New Jewish Thought). Chair: Simon Barrow (Ekklesia). Institute of Education, London
'Body & Soul'
28 Feb -1 Mar (Bristol)
7-8 Mar (Birmingham)
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our patner Workshop Living by values explores Christian ethics and lifestyle from the perspective of spiritual freedom and responsibility, taking on the hard questions about sex, gender, orientation, marriage and relationships as practical case studies.
'Peace & Power'
14 -15 March (Leeds)
21-22 March (London)
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our partner Workshop this weekend looks at spirituality and activism: a biblical understanding of peace (shalom) and the challenge of political and social power engaging in the areas of ecology, church and state, peace and war, crime and justice.
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| More Ekklesia Bulletins |
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Find out which bulletins you are subscribed to, and change the ones you receive by using the "Update Profile/Email address" link at the bottom of this email
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| Issue: # 33 |
27 February 2009 |
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Many of the most intractable conflicts in the world today need not just a reformation of politics or a new approach to law, but a major change of heart and mind. This week's bulletin takes that as its theme - whether it is talking to all sides in the Middle East conflict, rethinking evangelical attitudes towards gay people, or (as our quotations illustrate) moving from "adopting the victim pose" - as Christians in the UK are being asked to do by some zealous campaigners right now - to embracing social and personal hope.
In terms of research, we highlight the patient and thoughtful work being done by Ekklesia associate Savitri Hensman (originally from Sri Lanka, but living and working in Britain) as she looks at how Christians can cooperate positively with others in addressing a world of human wrongs - and do so drawing on the strengths of their own biblical tradition, in critical but friendly dialogue with other approaches.
The action and reflection focus is in two areas: Fairtrade Fortnight, which invites Lenten consideration of our 'economic footprint' in straitened times, and Christian Aid's 'virtual pilgrimage' to Jerusalem, which puts people and places behind the attempt to forge new policies and fresh relationships in Israel-Palestine.
Meanwhile, our highlighted title from partners Metanoia Book Service is 'Changing Communities', one of a series about re-visioning the church in the world that was commissioned by Simon Barrow when he worked for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
It shows that a post-Christendom faith that is outward looking rather than self-preserving is not only possible, but also fleshed out by many small initiatives across the globe.
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| Ekklesia works on a not-for-profit basis, and deliberately maintains its independence from large institutions and their funding. If you value this bulletin please consider making a donation to keep it going and support Ekklesia's work. You can do it through PayPal here |
| Middle East envoy must talk to everyone |
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By Cecilie Surasky
Talking with some and not to others while sealing off Gaza has been tried for a number of years, says the coordinator of Jewish Voice for Peace. This has brought immeasurable suffering to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza and great trauma to the citizens of Sderot in Israel. Change is needed, and President Obama's Middle East envoy can show the way, as he did in Northern Ireland. Read the full article here |
| An evangelical change of heart on sexuality |
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By Simon Barrow
Evangelical Christians have been deeply immersed in the anti-gay culture, says Ekklesia's co-director. But as they re-read the biblical message in the light of its living centre, Jesus Christ, they can be part of a historic change. The Gospel message points to a change of heart on this question, as it did when slavery was justified by a limited reading of the Bible in the past.
Read the full article here |
| Quota |
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Sayings from the week and wisdom from the tradition
"Rather than litigating against the nation's confusion, and adopting the victim pose that demeans our faith ...we should use our strength trying to model real Christianity."
- Jenny Taylor
"Hope is belief in the plausibility of the possible, not only the necessity of the probable."
- Moses Maimonides, Jewish philosopher (1135-1204) |
| The week that was |
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 Your sixty second roundup
The beginning of Lent has been a busy time. It began with attendance figures for the Church of England indicating that the total number of adults, children and young people regularly attending its churches had dropped one per cent since 2002. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York launched a Lent appeal - but for Zimbabwe. Christians in Britain and beyond joined in a day of prayer and fasting for the troubled country. Christian Aid launched a virtual Journey to Jerusalem, and Tearfund a Lent Carbon Fast.
In central London Christian peace campaigners, some of whom had just returned from a visit to Israel-Palestine, called on the Government to 'repent' and reject nuclear weapons when they gathered at the Ministry of Defence for their annual Ash Wednesday liturgy of repentance.
Elsewhere, senior church leaders in Yorkshire came together to issue a Lent challenge to loan sharks. Some though did focus on the church's own interests. In a lecture at Westminster Cathedral on the Catholic Church's future, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor claimed that UK anti-discrimination legislation was being used to limit freedom of religion "in unacceptable ways". It came as a new BBC backed poll suggested a majority of people in Britain believe religion should be respected and valued in public life.
Abroad, a Republican senator who intended to show the controversial film Fitna in Washington DC was urged to invite Muslims to the screening. Meanwhile Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu urged new US President Barack Obama to signal a real change of heart on Middle East policy by apologizing for the Iraq war. And the contribution and role of churches in reconciliation processes around the world was highlighted by an international panel of experts at a public hearing held in Geneva, Switzerland. For more on all these and other stories our News Briefing ( http://ekklesia.co.uk/content/news/news.shtml) contains the full archive of daily UK and international news, including all those above, plus features and columns. The page also tells you how you can get Ekklesia's running news on your web site in seconds.
If you value this service please support Ekklesia's news production through PayPal here |
| The week ahead |
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Next week's agenda
Convention on Modern Liberty
Sunday
First Sunday in Lent
Wales - Saint David's Day
Monday
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)
Fairtrade Fortnight:Great Trade Debate, Birmingham
Tuesday
House of Commons: International Development Select Comittee looks at Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate.
Environmental Audit Select Committe looks at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.
Home Affairs Select Committee: Managing Migration
House of Lords: Concerns about prison safety (Baroness Stern)
Wednesday
House of Commons: International Development Select Committee looks at Aid Under Pressure: Support For Development Assistance in a Global Economic Downturn
Fairtrade Fortnight: Great Trade Debate, Edinburgh
Thursday
St Piran's Day - Cornwall's patron saint
House of Lords: Twinning schools in the UK with schools in Israel and Palestine (Lord Roberts of Llandudno)
Fairtrade Fortnight: Great Trade Debate, Leeds
Women's World Day of Prayer
Liberal Democrat Conference in Harrogate opens
Want a more detailed news agenda for the next four weeks? You can get one here |
| Ekklesia has launched a new subscription service giving a detailed, inside track on the news agenda for the coming 4 weeks. Suitable for church leaders, campaign groups, local government and anyone working in or with the media, it is already taken by the Times newspaper and the BBC. Find out more here |
| Research Focus |
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Christianity and human rights
Savitri Hensman, an Ekklesia associate who is also an equalities adviser and theological commentator, has written a series of articles on the relationship between Christian commitment, biblical faith, church practice and the struggle for human rights and dignity. It is hoped that this material and more will be consolidated in book form in the near future. Savi is speaking on 'Faiths and Freedoms' at the Convention on Modern Liberty this weekend. The key articles are as follows: Being on the side of the crucified http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/6910
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 Sign up to Amnesty International's Stop Torture campaign here |
| Media and web debate |
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 Ekklesia in the news this week
Ekklesia's joint statement with four Evangelical groups on moving away from discrimination against gay people has been picked up widely through Reuters, in Pink News and on the Guardian website. Meanwhile, Religious Intelligence (an affiliate of the Church of England Newspaper) reported our call for faith communities to embrace civic action and civil liberties, and the TimePlan teacher's recruitment service sourced us on a Lent schools fundraising initiative for asylum seekers. Ekklesia associates were quoted in the Christian Science Monitor (USA) on religious freedom and in Latin American news agency Prensa Latina's report on aid to farmers in poor countries. Not everyone is happy though. An Anglican bishop had what religion correspondent Andrew Brown called " a hissy fit" over our work - though he doesn't seem well informed about it. Keep up-to-date with Ekklesia's Comments on Twitter
Ekklesia works on a not-for-profit basis. Please support Ekklesia's work with the press and other media by donating through PayPal here |
| Event: Fairtrade Fortnight |
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Fairtrade Fortnight runs throughout Britain and Ireland from 23 February to 8 March 2009. At a time when the global economic crisis is hitting the poorest (and the planet) hardest of all, this is a good opportunity to help redress the imbalance of business and to highlight social justice and ecological concerns while spending responsibly. Re-assessing our economic footprint is also a positive, creative discipline. Ekklesia has affiliate deals and resources that relate to the fortnight here
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| Thinking in Action |
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A Virtual Pilgrimage for Lent
NGOs, development agencies and churches are much involved in 'the Middle east debate', not least through the work for justice and peace promoted by the often-neglected historic churches there and other people of goodwill. But all this has a human side, too.
During Lent, Christians and others and being invited to take part in a virtual Israel-Palestine pilgrimage that transports travellers from their email inbox to the lands made familiar through both the Bible and contemporary - sometimes tragic - headlines. Ekklesia is pleased to be supporting this venture from Christian Aid.
Or click on the red 'Lent Resource' icon to the right of any of our news stories and articles. |
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Reading Allowed |
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Changing Communities: Creating church from the grassroots by Jeanne Hinton and Peter Price
 How can the churches in Britain and Ireland flourish in the face of rapid change, cultural variety, non-traditional spirituality, social division and secular assumptions? Many say the answer is a "new way of being church". But what does this mean in practical terms?
In 'Changing Communities', a bishop and a Christian activist combine their experience and knowledge to provides examples of vitality and growth from small Christian communities across the world. With a foreword by Ekklesia's Simon Barrow, who commissioned the CTBI series of which this is part.
ISBN: 9780851692845 (CTBI, 2003) 89pp
For more information and to purchase through Ekklesia click here
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