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Christian Conference of Asia
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Olympics
and Religion - the sixth circle?
Has the Olympics fever brought on a spiritual
angle also?
So it may seem from two news items reported by
Ecumenical News International (ENI) over last week. Read on….
Living together in the spirit of
the Olympic Games
As the Olympic fever
catches on Anglican Canon Duncan Green in a BBC radio broadcast, called on
people everywhere in the world to live together in peace and harmony, in the
spirit of the Olympic Games. "I was very moved last week when the
Christian chaplains on the team helped their Muslim colleagues prepare a large
hall for the Friday prayers of Ramadan. A young Muslim man hugged me for
providing such a facility. This week, I've witnessed young men and women from
all over the world living side by side, greeting one another, making new
friends, laughing, and sharing their love of sport. I pray that the world will
watch and learn to live in harmony," he said.
A Bible for the Athletes
A novel initiative of
the Bible Society linking sports with religion has resulted in the publishing of
special editions of Bibles titled “Sports Good News Bible” and the “Sports Good
News Gospel of Luke.” ENI reports that these special editions offered to
Athletes competing at the Olympic Games, are illustrated with line drawings by
Swiss artist Annie Vallatton. These Bibles use the Good News English
translation and include an additional 40 pages connecting sport with faith
through stories and reflections from a range of Christian ministries. Subjects
include "What does sport have to do with the Bible?" and "Where
does it talk about teamwork, training, setting goals and breaking records?
 posted by communications on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Upcoming Events In August 2012
"Towards Sustainable Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Myanmar; Church's participation"
Yangon, Myanmar
A JID Consultation on the topic "Towards Sustainable Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Myanmar: Church's participation" will be held from
2-6 August 2012 at Yangon, Myanmar. This will be conducted jointly by the CCA, WCC and the Myanmar Council of Churches.
Asian Church Leaders Theological Consultation; General Committee meetings and Thanksgiving Service
Taipei, Taiwan
CCA General Committee Meeting and other related meetings will be held In Taipei, Taiwan from the 18-22 August 2012.
The 55th Anniversary of the CCA will be marked by a 'Thanksgiving Service' in fellowship with the Churches in Taiwan on 22 August 2012 AN.
This will be followed by an "Asian Church Leaders Theological Consultation" addressing 'Emerging Issues in Asia Today' from 23-26 August 2012.
The meetings will be hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.
posted by communications on Friday, July 27, 2012
Embracing and Embodying God’s Hospitality Today
A Message from the Seventh Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS VII)
Asian Theologians who met at Seoul, Korea for the Seventh Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS VII), called for a serious commitment to recognizing God’s hospitality and embodying it in churches, between churches, among religions and in the midst of creation.
Affirming the belief that God is the ultimate host of the whole creation, and that as “recipients and agents our hospitality is simply an overflowing of God’s abundant hospitality and our joyful and thankful response to it”, the participants spoke of a hospitality in a theological and moral sense, which is, spiritual, just, warm and welcoming, beyond mere physical comforts and financial considerations. Regretting that Christians have not necessarily been the ideal and just hosts in the past and present, they urged the churches to embrace God’s hospitality and become effective witnesses in a discordant world.
The message from the participants of CATS VII comprising 26 women and 46 men, challenged churches to take up a prophetic role in the advocacy for :- justice and human dignity of all individuals, especially the marginalized, the indigenous and migrant workers; shedding assumptions of superiority and embodying God’s gracious hospitality to the richness and spiritual treasures of other religions; pursuing the role as peace builders through active theological and spiritual engagement, dialogues and conflict resolutions; a serious commitment to ecological justice and environmental theology; and confronting gender discrimination, and all kinds of violence against women and children in society and churches;
The message mentions a special remembrance of the re-unification efforts in Korea. It also expresses the hope that the recommendations would be translated into action in order to witness to God’s hospitality.
CATS VII recorded deep gratitude and appreciation of the local Korean churches and congregations, as well as the faculty, staff and students of the Methodist Theological University, for their wonderful hospitality. “Theirs”, they wrote, “was the setting and nourishment for our reflections and conversations.”
The message compared the hospitality which we are to embrace and embody to that of the Triune God, which is the supreme expression of self-emptying and self-giving, as manifest in the incarnation, ministry, cross, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And finally, the message concluded on a note of humility and hope:
“Our message of hospitality, which we declare here and carry with us as we journey back to our many nations and churches, is one of courageous vulnerability and faithful gift of ourselves to our neighbors and to one another”.
Full text of the CATS VII Message is available on the FMU page posted by communications on Friday, July 06, 2012
posted by communications on Monday, July 02, 2012 |
