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Even after Presbyterian Church win, gay clergy likely to remain limited

Amy Kosari, of Ellswroth, Wis. a representative of a Presbyterian church belonging to the Synod of the Lakes and Prairies in the Twin Cities area, speaks against an amendment to eliminate the celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy at the Peace Presbyterian Church in St. Louis Park, Minn. --AP Photo

Gay and lesbian advocates celebrated a landmark victory on May 10 when the Presbyterian Church (USA) entered the expanding ranks of Christian denominations that allow openly gay, partnered clergy. The winds of change, they said, are at their backs.

Changes occurred in biblical text over hundreds of years

Bill Warren from Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, leading the study.

Working in a cluster of offices above a LifeWay Christian Bookstore, Bible scholars are buried in a 20-year project to codify the thousands of changes, verse by verse, word by word -- even letter by letter -- that crept into the early New Testament during hundreds of years of laborious hand-copying.

Crossing borders marks anniversary of full communion relationship

Katharine Jefferts Schori: "the reign of God lies in the direction of more porous borders."

In a world where crossing borders is becoming a literal fact of life in economics, work and culture, U.S. and Canadian Lutheran and Episcopal/Anglican church leaders crossed the borders of their countries on 1 May to mark a decade of their denominations' "full communion" relationships.

Conrad Grebel to build $6.3 million addition to academic building

Addition completed in time for Conrad Grebel's 50th anniversary in August, 2013.

Construction will begin in March, 2012 at Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont. on a $6.3 million addition to the academic building, particularly the library and archives.  It will be completed by August, 2013, “just in time for the beginning of the College’s 50th anniversary,” notes outgoing president Henry Paetkau. 

Canadian farmers donate 19,523 tonnes of grain worth $4.8 million

Residents of Aura in the Afar showed North American farmers on a food study tour to Ethiopia reserves of sorghum in their homes thanks to agricultural support and irrigation.

Hungry people around the world are once again benefitting from the generosity of people across Canada. 

Altogether, a total of $9.1 million was donated to Canadian Foodgrains Bank in 2010, including 19,523 tonnes of food grains worth $4.8 million.

'MennoMedia' new name of merged organizations

Steve Shenk, succeeding John Longhurst as director of marketing/sales for MPN, has been the executive director for Valley Brethren/Mennonite Heritage Center, Harrisonburg, for the past 7 years. He has also worked in public relations for Bluffton College and EMU, as well as managing editor for Gospel Herald, now The Mennonite.

"MennoMedia" is the name emerging for the new agency that has been working its way through the approval process of Mennonite governing boards in recent months.  The new name applies when Mennonite Publishing Network and Third Way Media merge on July 1,

EMU gets top award for sustainability

EMU Charlotte Wenger and mascot HERM, featured in the award-winning video, challenge all college students to "Chill Out." Photo by Lindsey Kolb

Eastern Mennonite University has been honored as a winner of the National Wildlife Federation’s annual competition “Chill Out: Climate Action on Campus.” This award program recognizes U.S. schools that are designing and implementing creative approaches to advance sustainability on campuses. EMU is one of six winning schools that were chosen from a national pool of entries.

On Being a Conscientious Objector during an Election Campaign

The promotional supplement in the March 21 issue advances  important matters of conscience.  The proposed involvement, though, reflects an acceptance that we are out of step with what the majority of Canadians want from their government.  Electing members of parliament who are open to pursuing peace would create some space for these issues of conscience.

New Book Interprets Church Apologies

‘With grace, courage, and a discerning spirit, Jeremy Bergen offers an account of ecclesial repentance worthy of a pilgrim people, a church at once reconciled and always on the journey toward full reconciliation." --Margaret Pfeil of the University of Notre Dame

In recent years, churches have repented for historical wrongs.  In his new book, “Ecclesial Repentance: The Churches Confront Their Sinful Pasts,” Jeremy M. Bergen tells the story of these apologies and analyzes the theological issues they raise about the nature and mission of the church.

Thiessen named editor of GAMEO

Richard Thiessen

Richard Thiessen of Abbotsford, B.C., has been named managing editor of the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO), succeeding Sam Steiner of Kitchener, Ont., whose terms ends this year.  Thiessen, library director at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, has been associate managing editor since November, 2006.  He begins his role in January, 2012.

A prayer for the election

 

 

Leader:  Lord God, Ruler of the Universe, King of kings and Lord of lords, in this Federal Election in the spring of 2011 we come and bow before you, our first and last allegiance.  You have created powers and principalities, governments and institutions, to regulate human life. We acknowledge them as your servants for our good.

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