WCC News: National Christian Council of Sri Lanka releases statement opposing proposed Anti-Terrorism Act

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka, in a statement, expressed its strong opposition to a proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) which aims to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Rev. Joseph Gnanapra and Gnanatheepom Rasakanthan walk through a neighborhood in Veenamkaman, Sri Lanka, where the Church of the American Ceylon Mission is starting their outreach program. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 02 May 2023 “Successive governments promised the people of Sri Lanka and the international community that the PTA would be repealed and replaced by new legislation that would not violate the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations,” reads the statement. “The proposed ATA, however, fails to fulfil this promise and in fact contains provisions that make it as bad, if not worse, than the PTA.” The statement calls for accountability to the public. “The ATA contains vague definitions that could make dissent, including protests and trade union action, acts of terrorism,” reads the statement. “The definition could also make dissenters ‘terrorists.’ ”  The ATA, among other issues, empowers the executive to decide on and enforce punishments without judicial sanction.  “We note that many of the provisions in the ATA are similar or even worse than the PTA and that it could only lead to further rights violations,” reads the statement. “Proposing a law like the ATA to further strengthen the executive is particularly alarming at a time when there have been widespread calls and support throughout the country to abolish the executive presidency and strengthen the judiciary.” World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, who visited Sri Lanka in April, expressed his ongoing support for the efforts of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka.  “Churches must exercise their prophetic ministry in the context of rights and responsibilities of people, especially when it comes to demanding accountability from leaders,” he said. “As people struggle to realize their right to live within a just legal system, the World Council of Churches stands with you in solidarity, support and prayer.”  National Christian Council (NCC) of Sri Lanka statement on proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

GreenFaith - Meet the speakers! The Summit is not to be missed!

I can’t wait for next week’s No Faith in Fossil Fuels: A Climate Finance Summit!

Where we put our money matters. Together we can take power from the fossil fuel industry and the banks and asset managers that support it and invest in a more just and compassionate future for all.

Register for the summit here!

This summit is an exceptional opportunity for us to learn and act together as a community that believes the earth and all of its creatures are sacred and to be protected. We know that the climate crisis is a crisis of greed.

Starting Monday, May 8, we have six events (including not one but two bonus sessions) taking a deep dive into the real impact that people of faith can have on the fossil fuel industry through just climate finance.

We will hear from powerful leaders from all corners of the interfaith climate finance movement, including:

• Dr. Atul Shah, a London-based professor rooted in Jainism and ethical finance

• Baraka Lenga, Christian GreenFaith grassroots leader living on the frontlines of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline

• Eileen Flanagan, US-based Quaker leader in faith-rooted direct action targeting Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager

• Harita Iswara, Director of Outreach & Communications at Hindus for Human Rights, a progressive US-based organization that has engaged in powerful witness to collective actions at BlackRock

• Joseph D'halluin, divestment organizer for Laudato Si’ Movement, a global Catholic climate movement

• Michael Richardson, leader of GreenFaith Rivers & Mountains Circle

• Anna Lewis, a Quaker leader from London-based Insure Our Future

• Rabbi Arthur Waskow, a visionary Jewish Leader organizing Jews to stand up to the fossil fuel industry as modern-day Pharaohs

• Joe Blumberg, Dayenu Jewish Communal Fossil Fuel Campaign Fellow and student at the Jewish Theological Seminary

We will take action together for bold and just climate finance.

Click here to see a full description of events and sign up. All sessions will be recorded and sent to anyone who signs up.

See you next week!
Chelsea

Rev. Chelsea MacMillan
GreenFaith Climate Finance Campaign Organizer

P.S. In case you missed it, GreenFaith took part in some fantastic finance actions last week! Join us for a community call today at 12pm PT/1pm MT/ 2pm CT/3pm ET to celebrate and hear stories from the actions in San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, and Charlotte!

Change.org Petition: Save Gorilla Bua Noi (Little Lotus) the world’s loneliest gorilla!

Save Gorilla Bua Noi (Little Lotus) the world’s loneliest gorilla! 125,188 have signed Jodie Broad’s petition. Let’s get to 150,000!

Sign now with a click

For over 30 years, Bua Noi (Little Lotus) has lived a hellish life of solitude inside a ‘horror zoo’ at Pata shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. The only way to rescue Bua Noi, and all the other animals living behind bars on concrete floors is to appeal to the Thai government to intervene and close Pata down for good. Here is the latest update on Bua Noi’s plight. Please sign our petition - Bua Noi needs you… https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailands-only-surviving-gorilla-doomed-28885708

Sign now with a click

Visit petition page

At Change.org, we believe in the voice of everyday people. Is there something that you want to change? Start a petition today

Attend the American Baptist Churches USA 2023 Biennial Mission Summit Online!

Today, we are excited to announce that we will be offering some sessions at the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit ONLINE! Many of you have let us know that you are unable to travel to the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico - and we are happy to offer an online option for a registration fee of $49! We will have a number of events happening that you may access online as a virtual attendee: Friday, June 23 Welcome Session, 3:00PM ET/12:00PM PT Spotlight on Puerto Rico, 4:00PM ET/1:00PM PT Worshipful Work - International Ministries Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT Saturday, June 24 Worshipful Work - American Baptist Home Mission Societies Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT Sunday, June 25 Sunday Morning Worship, 9:00AM ET/6:00AM PT Business Session, 2:30PM ET/11:30AM PT Worshipful Work - American Baptist Churches USA, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT Learn more: With the theme “For Such a Time as This,” the biennial event is the premier opportunity for American Baptists to gather and connect with one another, hear directly from American Baptist partners and friends, worship together as one family of God, and learn the latest happenings across the American Baptist denomination. Learn more about our Keynote Speakers. www.americanbaptists2023.com REGISTER NOW   Please note that online registration is available for participants only - we are unable to offer online registration for Delegates. We hope that we will see you in Puerto Rico in June!

Sincerely, The Biennial Mission Summit Planning Team   If you no longer want to receive event emails from American Baptist Churches USA via Cvent, please  Opt-Out.

Join the Faith and Justice Fellowship!

What does it mean to seek faith and justice amid a world in tumult? What does it look like to do this work together? If these are questions you’re asking, consider joining the Faith and Justice Fellowship! A nine-month journey (September 2023 through May 2024) embedded in an online learning community of people pursuing a more expansive and liberating vision of Christian faith in the world. LEARN MORE Each month, the fellowship curriculum works through a specific theme with curated readings, seminars/webinars, short video lessons, online conversations, and an intentional cohort committed to building trust and friendships. FALL | Spiritual Theology: The Way of Jesus September: Starting Points for the Journey October: The Long Journey November: The Inward Journey December: The Outward Journey   SPRING | Public Theology: The Work of Justice February: Gender and Justice March: Art and Justice April: Justice in a Multi-Faith World May: Biography, Storytelling and Justice Cohorts (Fully Online and Hybrid): Some cohorts meet online, and others follow a hybrid format with regular in-person meetings. All cohorts meet twice a month to facilitate in-depth learning and community building. Some cohorts are open to all. Others convene around special tracks (e.g., the academic cohort for those interested in vocational ministry or formal theological education) or particular identities (e.g., cohorts for women of color, Asian Americans, etc.). In-Person Gatherings (optional): Throughout the year, participants will also have the opportunity to gather as a larger community – a Fall Retreat (Sept 15-17, 2023), a Winter Conference (Jan 26-27, 2024), and a Spring Gathering (May 17-18, 2024). These events occur in different parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and draw people from across North America and the world. Application Dates and Scholarships Early Deadline (save $150): June 15 Regular Deadline: July 15 Scholarships are available for applications submitted by June 15 Want to learn more? Join us at one of our upcoming 30-minute info sessions: Wednesday, May 17, 12-12:30pm PT // 3-3:30pm ET: RSVP > Monday, June 12, 5-5:30pm PT // 8-8:30pm ET: RSVP > Apply by June 15 for an early bird discount and to request a scholarship. Join us as we seek faith and learn justice together! APPLY TODAY The Center for Faith and Justice believes God’s beloved community includes everyone regardless of race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and any other category of human difference.

GreenFaith to Fossil Banks: Closed due to moral bankruptcy

CLOSED DUE TO MORAL BANKRUPTCY LAND, AIR, WATER BANK OF AMERICA: DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN FUTURE BANKING ON COMPASSION These are some of the slogans on signs that GreenFaith members created and used this past Monday, when we helped lead public actions around the US at banks that are investing trillions of dollars into new fossil fuel projects. Please - we need 25 donations to meet our Earth Month fundraising goal. Can you chip in right now? These actions represent who we are together as GreenFaith. We wear our faiths on our sleeves. We're not afraid to call for what is right.   Here are some good words from Jim Gordon, a member of our team. I think you will identify with what he says: “The largest banks in the world invest hundreds of billions in new fossil fuel projects. I’m not generally a person that likes to go out in the street to protest, but I have grandkids and I’m terrified for their future.” We hear you, Jim. That’s why we’re committed to opposing new fossil fuel projects and fighting for more renewable energy and green jobs that can help lift people out of poverty. Everywhere. There’s another thing that’s true: we cannot do this work alone. Your support matters enormously. So please, as Earth Month winds down, please support the GreenFaith community as generously as you can. We need 25 more people to contribute so that we can meet our goal. Can we count on you to help? In solidarity, Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director P.S. Give now and be one of the 25 people to help us meet our goal! Our grassroots leaders send their gratitude!