The Christian Recorder - Responses to the Shooting Incident in Jacksonville, Florida, from Bishop Frank Reid, St. Paul, Jacksonville and Edward Waters University

Click here to watch the interview with Bishop Reid and Al Sharpton on MSNBC

Press Conference from Edward Waters University (Event Begins at 29:18) Communitywide Prayer Service at St. Paul AME Church, Jacksonville, Florida; Rev. Dr. Willie Barnes, Jr.- Pastor Marion Lee Johnson: “A Hidden Figure” By Rev. W. Golden Carmon, 1st Episcopal District Marion Lee Johnson, a “Hidden Figure,” graduated from Tompkins High School in Savannah, Georgia, receiving the honor of Valedictorian of her class. She attended Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, majoring in mathematics. After graduating from Talladega College, she began her career as an Associate Engineer at Boeing Company in Huntsville, Alabama in 1967. Read more here Not on our list? Join Here The News Digest contains selected articles from the newspaper.  Click below to get full access! Buy Here

Share Tweet Forward The Christian Recorder is the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the oldest continuously produced publication by persons of African descent.   Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., Chair of the General Board Commission on Publications Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union Dr. John Thomas III, Editor of The Christian Recorder Copyright © 2023 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.

WCC News: Pacific churches call for Japan to halt wastewater dump

The Pacific Conference of Churches joined other nongovernmental and civic groups on the streets of Suva, Fiji, to peacefully demonstrate against Japan’s dumping of Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the ocean. One of the participants of the peaceful demonstration in Suva, Fiji, 24 August 2023. Photo: Petero Lalagavivi/Pacific Conference of Churches 29 August 2023 Japan first announced plans to dump the wastewater in 2013. Despite strong dissent from churches, other nations, and civil society organizations, Japan confirmed plans to begin discharging the wastewater on 24 August.  General secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Rev. James Bhagwan, referenced a statement made by Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka to a recent report of the International Atomic Energy Agency which has been disputed by an panel of independent global experts appointed by the Pacific Islands Forum.  “The experts were appointed while Fiji was chair of the Pacific Islands Forum,” said Bhagwan. “For the last decade, the Pacific Conference of Churches has raised its concern on the issue since it was revealed by the Japanese government, in 2013, that radioactive waste from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has been leaking into the Pacific Ocean for two years.” During the march, Rev. Bhagwan further raised his concern that the plan to discharge the wastewater into the Pacific Ocean was actually the cheapest, not the best, solution by Japan.  The Pacific Conference of Churches as long expressed deep concern with the lack of progress made by Pacific states to reverse the decision of the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company to release more than 1.3 million tonnes of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. In a joint statement released in June, the Pacific Conference of Churches and dozens of other organizations called for a reversal of the decision to dump the wastewater.  “We acknowledge the vast legacy of nuclear testing within the region along with the ongoing climate crisis, both of which will be exacerbated by attitudes which continue to treat rivers and oceans as nuclear dumping sites,” the statement read. “We are aware that the promotion of nuclear power as a climate change solution and the characterization of tritium as a harmless substance continues to prop up a nuclear order which generates billions of dollars at the expense of developing countries and Indigenous communities.” Pacific Conference of Churches' "Call to Pacific Leaders on Fukushima Waste Dumping" 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 - Help us meet this moment

Three weeks ago, I sent a letter to our print shop asking for your support.

Today, I’m emailing you directly.

My letter described climate disasters earlier this summer. There had just been Canadian wildfire smoke obscuring the sun across the US and 100 plus degree ocean temperatures in south Florida decimating coral reefs.

Boy, did that letter get out of date fast.

In the past month alone, the world has witnessed an avalanche of climate disasters.

Hundreds of people lost their lives in the devastating Maui wildfires. Thousands of acres of forest burned in western Canada. The first hurricane hit California in 80 years.

Every week, another climate disaster takes place. It is frightening, overwhelming, and wrong.  

It’s clear what is driving this crisis: fossil fuels. The key to the solution is equally clear.  

Governments and financial institutions must stop new coal, oil and gas projects and phase out existing production. Historic polluters must compensate poor countries for the irreversible damage they are suffering.

GreenFaith is the only faith-based organization that consistently names this reality and organizes people of diverse religions to take action.

That's why your support is so important. We’ve received a $25,000 challenge grant. You can help us meet this moment!

This September, we are leading a multi-faith contingent as part of a large climate march in New York and organizing African faith leaders at a pan-African summit in Nairobi. Later this year, we’re holding a global, online summit featuring the voices of grassroots people of faith affected by climate change.

Please, meet this moment by supporting GreenFaith community members around the world who are putting their beliefs into action. I hope you will give generously.

In solidarity,
Rev. Fletcher and the GreenFaith team

P.S. Give today and your gift will be doubled, thanks to our challenge grant!

Presbyterian Justice & Peace - Enacting a more peaceable and just world — together

I recently heard a speaker who was lamenting the times we live in and suggesting that we rediscover places of civility, mutuality and community — places that exist for the common good like, for instance, our churches. I let an “Amen” loose when I heard it because the suggestion seemed so sensible and right. This year marks the 40th year of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Commitment to Peacemaking, a commitment made by so many of our congregations and worshiping communities to be just these types of places. In word and action, through worship, study and prayer, within our households and in the public square, Presbyterians don’t only envision a world that is more peaceable and just, we enact it together.

Please check out the information, opportunities and ideas included here, and be sure to join in supporting the Peace and Global Witness Offering, which helps to sustain communities of peace at home and around the world.   Carl Horton, Coordinator Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

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The Season of Peace begins Sept. 3

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Path of Peace Reflections spark thoughts and conversation

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Companion guide helps congregations commit to peacemaking

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International Peacemakers to make in-person visits soon

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Mosaic of Peace Conference returns in 2024

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'A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast’ explores issues of faith, social justice and church life

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Spreading the Vision of Matthew 25 across the Church

The PC(USA) believes that we are called to serve Jesus by contributing to the well-being of the most vulnerable in all societies – rural and urban, small and large, young and not-so-young. From affordable housing to community gardens to equitable educational and employment opportunities to healing from addiction and mental illness to enacting policy change – there is not just one way to be a part of the Matthew 25 movement.

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