WCRC: Pastoral Visit to Lebanon

Thanks Given for the Witnesses of Churches in Lebanon and Syria


“It is not enough to meet the immediate needs of the refugees,” said Najla Kassab Abou Sawan, a Lebanese member of the WCRC’s executive committee. “We must make every effort to break the cycle of violence and suffering.”

WCRC. On a three-day pastoral visit to Lebanon, Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), learned first-hand of the challenges currently facing Christians in both Lebanon and Syria - and how they are responding.

“I give thanks to God for the witness of the churches in Lebanon and Syria,” said Nyomi. “It is very clear that in the midst of the challenges that face our churches in these two countries, our member churches are sacrificially making a difference.“
 
The conflict in Syria has accelerated Christian emigration, decreasing the number of Christians in the lands of its origin. Thousands of these Christians are refugees from Syria. The churches in Lebanon provide them care, even as some of them seek to continue their emigration westward.
 
“It is not enough to meet the immediate needs of the refugees,” said Najla Kassab Abou Sawan, a Lebanese member of the WCRC’s executive committee. “We must make every effort to break the cycle of violence and suffering.”
 
In his sermon at the Rabieh Evangelical Church in Beirut, Nyomi agreed, calling for Christians to trust the transformative power of God. “God continues to heal in our world today,” he said. “The powers of the day may scoff at us. Nevertheless, we are called to go and show ourselves to them. This is an expression of participating in God’s healing and transformative work.”
 
In addition to caring for refugees, the Lebanese churches are involved in providing food and medical aid to communities in Syria whenever conditions allow. They do this both from their own resources and from resources provided by ecumenical partners abroad.
 
“I was very much touched by the faithfulness and courage of many Christians,” said Nyomi. “For example, I was told of pastors who had opportunities to leave Syria but chose to stay and suffer with their people.”
 
Nyomi met with leaders of the WCRC’s member churches and also participated in a meeting of pastors and spouses called by the Supreme Council of member churches. He also visited a refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley.
 
“It is remarkable that as the churches in Lebanon engage in addressing the needs arising from the situation in Syria, they are at the same time effectively engaged in ministry in congregations and in many other actions which they have carried for many years,” said Nyomi.
 
“As we thank God for what the churches are doing in effectively witnessing under such challenging circumstances, we need to strengthen our journey with them,” said Nyomi. “It is important for all in the communion to be praying for our sisters and brothers in this region and to engage with them in practical actions that will make a difference.”
 
WCRC member churches in Lebanon and Syria are the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and the National Evangelical Union of Lebanon.


Quelle: Pressemeldung der WGRK, 26. Februar 2014; Foto: B. Schenck, 2014 in Hannover
Setri Nyomi: Wir danken Gott für das Zeugnis der Kirchen in Syrien und im Libanon

Ende Februar hat Dr. Setri Nyomi, Generalssekretär der Weltgemeinschaft reformierter Kirchen (WGRK) die Mitgliedskirchen im Libanon besucht und aus erster Hand erfahren, wie die Christen mit der schwierigen Situation in Syrien und im Libanon umgehen.

die reformierten.upd@te 09.1

Das reformierte Quartalsmagazin / März 2009
Jetzt auch online als PDF: Das Magazin des Reformierten Bundes. Die Themen: Friedensarbeit, Calvinismus-Ausstellung in Berlin, reformierte Ekklesiologie, Texte aus dem Reformierten Weltbund, eine Predigt zu Johannes 19, 16-30 von Jochen Denker

die reformierten.upd@te 09.1.pdf >>>
Jörg Schmidt, Generalsekretär des Reformierten Bundes
Eine neue Internetseite informiert über die Aktivitäten der im Entstehen begriffenen World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), dem Zusammenschluss von Reformiertem Weltbund (WARC) und Reformiertem Ökumenischen Rat (REC).

Barbara Schenck

Größeres Risiko von Gewalt gegen Frauen in der ökonomischen Krise

Der Reformierte Weltbund zum Internationalen Frauentag am 8. März
Geneva (ENI). Women are at higher risk of violence during the current economic crisis, yet the world is paying less attention to their needs, says the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. In a statement to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Reformed churches alliance expresses concern that violent crimes against women, particularly rape and domestic violence, are on the rise at the same time that support for programmes to protect women is under threat. "The world seems to have become almost immunised to the stench of violence against women," said Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC's spokesperson on gender issues, in the 5 March statement.

Barbara Schenck

Churches told to confront ''moral crisis'' in the world economy

''Where are the prophetic voices of the churches?''
The multiple crises confronting the world are fundamentally a moral crisis says the president of the United Nations General Assembly. In remarks recorded for a public hearing on reconciliation in Geneva, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann asks, ''But where are the prophetic voices of the churches today?''

Setri Nyomi zum Internationalen Jahr der Versöhnung 2009

Generalsekretär des Reformierten Weltbundes warnt vor dem Ausschluss von Immigranten und Minderheiten
Geneva (ENI). Immigrants and minorities in affluent countries are becoming targets of exclusion at a time when the global economic system is facing strains, a global Protestant leader has warned at a gathering in the Swiss city of Geneva. "There has been a resurgence of hate crimes against minorities in a number of nations," said the Rev. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, at a 19 February meeting to mark the International Year of Reconciliation proclaimed by the United Nations for 2009.

Barbara Schenck

WARC welcomes statements made at the World Social Forum in Brazil

Reformierter Weltbund begrüßt die Stellungnahmen des Weltsozialforums
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has issued a statement of support in response to a declaration by a representative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that the global economic crisis offers an opportunity to create a more just financial system.

Quelle: Reformierter Weltbund, 2. Februar 2009

RWB Kommunikation: neue Chefin

Kristine Greenaway: moderne Kommunikationstechniken verbinden
Der Reformierte Weltbund (RWB) hat den leitenden Posten in der Abteilung Kommunikation neu besetzt: Frau Kristine Greenaway von der Vereinigten Kirche von Kanada hat am 5. Januar die Arbeit in der Genfer Zentrale aufgenommen. Sie ersetzt somit John Asling, der die Stelle bis Ende Dezember 2008 innehatte.

Quelle: Internetseite Reformierter Weltbund (RWB)

End the Violence in Gaza

''The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned ... We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defense Forces leading to senseless deaths ...'' (Reformierter Weltbund)

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (WARC), 7. Januar 2009

Die Schweiz und die Einigung Europas

SEK für Ausdehnung der Personenfreizügigkeit
Der Schweizerische Evangelische Kirchenbund (SEK) spricht sich für die Weiterführung und die Ausdehnung des Freizügigkeitsabkommens zwischen der Schweiz und der Europäischen Gemeinschaft auf Rumänien und Bulgarien aus.

Medienmitteilung der SEK, Simon Weber, 8. Januar 2009

Gemeinsame Grundsätze zur Pfarrerausbildung

Die theologischen Fortbildung von Pfarrerinnen und Pfarrern soll auch intensiviert werden
Mit einer Konsultation vom 20.-23. November 2008 in Berlin hat die Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa (GEKE) einen Prozess zur Verständigung über gemeinsame Grundsätze zur Pfarrerausbildung begonnen.

24.11.2008 Thomas Flügge, GEKE
<< < 301 - 302 (302)