Syria violence spreads into Christian areas; First woman bishop in Virginia; National gathering to explore ways to start and strengthen Latino, Hispanic ministry; Sectarian violence in Nigeria “goes beyond just religious tensions”
Syria violence spreads into Christian areas
The rebel uprising against Syrias President Bashar alAssads regime has spilled into two Christianpopulated areas in the capital of Damascus with the countrys leader describing the conflict as a crucial and heroic battle
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/syria.violence.spreads.into.christian.areas/30395.htm
First woman bishop in Virginia
ENS – Susan Ellyn Goff was ordained and consecrated July 28 as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. More than 700 people gathered to celebrate the consecration of Virginia’s first female bishop.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/8/1/Susan-Ellyn-Goff-ordained-bishop-suffragan-for-Virginia
National gathering to explore ways to start and strengthen Latino, Hispanic ministry
Episcopalians from across the country will gather Aug. 27-30 at Kanuga Conferences Inc. for Nuevo Amanecer, a national gathering on strengthening and starting Latino/Hispanic congregations.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/8/1/National-gathering-to-explore-ways-to-start-and-strengthen-LatinoHispanic-ministry
Sectarian violence in Nigeria “goes beyond just religious tensions”
A report has revealed that the violence in Nigeria, responsible for hundreds of deaths since January, is due to more than religious tensions alone.
According to a report by a high level Christian-Muslim taskforce comprising the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Royal Jordanian Aal Al Bayt Institute (RABIIT), while the violence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria is the worst between members of the two faiths since the Bosnian war of 1992-1995, the sectarian conflict is driven by poverty, inequality and injustice.
The religious aspect of the violence, the report says, is reinforced by radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram which, the taskforce believes, exploits the secular issues, and the revenge killings by Christians and Muslims.
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/8/1/ACNS5163