February 15, 2007 Primates' meeting begins with all at the table

Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has lamented that while he and other primates currently meeting in Tanzania have seen stark images of poverty in the capital Dar Es Salaam their discussions will not focus on improving the lives of the poor but on divisions over human sexuality. “I am going to a meeting with a gospel of hope and a preferential option for the poor and we are debating who is in and whom we are going to keep out,” said Archbishop Hutchison in a blog, or Internet diary entry, to young Canadian Anglicans at www.generation.anglican.ca

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February 1, 2007 Mother’s Union elects 30-year member as president

The Mother’s Union (MU), the largest Christian women’s voluntary organization in the world, has elected as its worldwide president Rosemary Kempsell from the Southwark diocese in Great Britain. Ms. Kempsell was to have assumed her post last month.

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February 1, 2007 Cartoon outrage top story

Muslim outrage at the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad was voted the top religion story of the year by the U.S.-based Religion Newswriters Association. The indignation and the violence it triggered, resulting in the deaths of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, was voted ahead of Pope Benedict XVI angering Muslims by including in a speech a centuries-old quote linking Islam and violence. The story about the Pope, along with his apology and a later trip to Turkey that improved Christian-Muslim relations, was voted the second-most important religion story of the year.

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January 1, 2007 Week of Prayer theme: 'Be Opened'

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated Jan. 21 to 28 in Canada with the theme Be Opened. The theme’s Scripture passage is Mark 7: 31-37, in which Jesus cures a deaf and mute man with the words “be opened,” enabling him to speak and hear.

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January 1, 2007 Canterbury, pope pray for unity

Pope Benedict XVI and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, prayed together and remained committed to strengthening Roman Catholic-Anglican ties but they acknowledged division over key issues, including the ordination of women priests and the role of homosexual clergy.

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January 1, 2007 World AIDS day

Facing AIDS Student Aline Hubin stands in front of red balloons during a Dec. 1 demonstration at Edinburgh University on World AIDS Day in Edinburgh, Scotland. Anglicans across Canada commemorated World AIDS day with church...

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December 20, 2006 The story of Christmas around the world

From North, South, East and West, there are more beliefs and traditions that unite rather than divide people, especially around the meaning of Christmas. The Anglican Journal gives a sampling of Christmas traditions around the world, which demonstrates that while countries have their own unique celebrations, a common theme still emerges: No matter the frenzy and materialism in some parts of the world, there is an inescapable moment when peoples’ hearts recognize the special grace that comes with this season – the certainty that love, peace, hope, family, faith, charity and community are possible.

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December 1, 2006 Churches ‘unable to understand’ fundamentals of journalism

Geneva Many church leaders do not understand what journalism is all about, while secular media are often suspicious of religion, says Portuguese journalist Antonio Marujo, the 2006 winner of the John Templeton Prize for European...

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December 1, 2006 Pioneer of microcredit movement takes home 2006 Nobel Peace Prize

Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus, who created Grameen Bank, which pioneered small loans to enable the poor to set up businesses, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize in October. The World Council of Churches hailed the news...

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November 1, 2006 Video game takes aim at hunger

The United Nations World Food Program has developed a video game called Food Force, designed to help children learn about the fight against world hunger. The French version of the game was scheduled to be released on World Food...

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