Evangelicals comment on financial crisis

At its root, the current worldwide financial turmoil is "evidence of what happens when too many are captivated by greed and put their faith in, and entrust their security and future aspirations to, a system animated by the maximization of wealth," said the World Evangelical Alliance at its general assembly in Thailand last month. "Many legitimately feel betrayed." The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is a WEA member.

Tyndale ranked highly by students

The faculty of Tyndale University College in Toronto scored high among their students when compared to other tertiary institutions across Canada. According to the 2008 Undergraduate Student Survey, 90 percent of Tyndale students believe their professors take a personal interest in their academic progress. This is 16 points above the survey average of 74 percent. Furthermore, almost all Tyndale students surveyed say that professors treat them as individuals and not numbers. The survey sampled approximately 12,000 students from 31 universities.

Christian Blind Mission gifts

The Christian Blind Mission Canada (CBM) has released its 'Christmas gift catalogue 2008' with some 30 original Christmas gifts. They include: CBM's miracle workshops enabling kids to walk, hear and roll off to school; gifts of sight through cataract surgeries for adults and children; animals (chickens, pigs and goats) that protect a family's health, prevent disability and generate income; gifts that grow gardens full of nutritious food to providing bread-baking business opportunities; and gifts of health and healing, such as mosquito nets, family survival kits, wells, generators and training for an ophthalmologist.

Union Gospel Christmas

Working in the poorest postal code in Canada, Vancouver's Union Gospel Mission (UGM) is one of many charities bracing itself in the wake of a brewing economic crisis. Like most charities it receives over half of its annual funding during the holiday season. UGM has expressed an ongoing commitment to providing a full continuum of care by applying a three-pronged approach to meeting the growing needs of this community. First, they are launching a Christmas Catalogue of giving, supplying hearty Christmas hampers to families in need and serving UGM's annual traditional Christmas dinner to over 3,000 people. "As the global economy takes a downward turn, and expenses rise and jobs are lost, it's the working poor who get hurt the hardest," says Union Gospel Mission President Bill Mollard. "When you're forced to live paycheque to paycheque, you don't have a financial safety net."

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China's organ harvesters

The United Nations Committee against Torture stated November 21 that China "should immediately conduct or commission an independent investigation of the claims that some Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to torture and used for organ transplants and take measures, as appropriate, to ensure that those responsible for such abuses are prosecuted and punished." The statement was made in the Committee's concluding observations on the report made by China on compliance with the Convention against Torture. "The Government of China should do what the Committee recommends. Failure to conduct or commission an independent investigation on organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners would put China in violation of its international obligations under the Convention against Torture, which the Government of China freely signed and ratified", said David Matas, co-author with outspoken Christian David Kilgour on a report of organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners. Kilgour added: "It is rare for the UN system to call the Government of China to account for its human rights violations. The Committee against Torture must be commended for its willingness to confront directly the very real human rights problems the Government of China has posed to the world."

Rosebud Theatre artist in residence

Deborah Buck will the be the first Artist in Residence at Rosebud Theatre in Rosebud, Alberta. "Deborah Buck is a wonderful addition to us," said artistic director Morris Ertman. "She's a performer, musical director and more, who brings a fresh new presence to our stage and to our community of artists. This new Artist in Residence program gives us an opportunity to bring inspiring artists from other parts of the country and incorporate them into the story expression that thrives here, thereby expanding our voice -- and Deborah Buck is an expansive voice!"

United Church concerns

The National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations (NACC), a group within the United Church of Canada (UCC), has taken the unusual step of appealing directly to commissioners of the General Council, and to the church at large, with an open letter expressing their concerns over the direction the UCC has taken. They cited the ongoing drop in church membership -- including a loss of 48% between 1965 and 2007 -- and said the UCC's decline is largely due to its gradual but deliberate departure from the orthodox faith, which itself is due in part, they said, to the role that has been played by senior church authorities.

November 27/2008