n attempt to prevent graduates of a Christian university from teaching in public schools amounts to religious intolerance, attorney Gerald Chipeur told Canada's Supreme Court on November 9.

Chipeur, representing the Adventist Church in Canada, made his argument in support of Trinity Western University, a Christian institution, in a case Chipeur says "could not be more important to Christians in Canada."

At the center of the dispute is Trinity Western's code of conduct, in which students and faculty pledge to refrain from engaging in extramarital sex, including homosexual activity. The British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) argues that this code of conduct creates the risk that teachers who have graduated from Trinity Western will discriminate against homosexuals in the classroom. For this reason, the BCCT is refusing to grant automatic professional certification to graduates of Trinity Western's education degree program, requiring them instead to complete one year of their degree course at a public university.

Attorneys for Trinity Western counter that the BCCT's actions amount to religious intolerance; that the BCCT's ruling discriminates against individuals who hold Christian beliefs. They also point out that BCCT has brought forward no evidence that teachers who have graduated from Trinity Western have discriminated, or are likely to discriminate against homosexuals.

"The BCCT is arguing that a teacher who believes in Christianity, including its ban on homosexual behavior, cannot and should not participate in the public sphere," says Chipeur.

The Adventist Church in Canada, along with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, are "interveners" in the case, filing briefs and presenting argument in support of Trinity Western. "This case is especially significant for Adventists," says Chipeur.

He points out that the Alberta-based Canadian University College, owned and operated by the Adventist Church, also has a code of conduct prohibiting extramarital and homosexual activity among its staff and students. A win for the BCCT in the Trinity Western case could foreshadow similar attacks on the professional certification of CUC's education degree program, says Chipeur.

According to Chipeur, an adverse outcome in this case may have an even broader impact on Christians in Canada. If the court rules against Trinity Western, says Chipeur, then individuals from all professions--nurses, pharmacists, accountants, lawyers--may be forced to abandon their Christian beliefs about sexual conduct or be deprived of their professional accreditation.

Since the mid-1800s, the Adventist Church has promoted religious freedom and tolerance for all people of faith. An official position statement released by the church in 1995 affirms "freedom of conscience and religion as a fundamental human right."

Canada's Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Trinity Western case within the next 12 months. –- Adventist News Network


Unprecedented Church Growth in Sudan
More than 1,000 people have been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Sudan during the first nine months of 2000, reports Beat Odermatt, president of the South Sudan Field, based in Arua, Uganda.

"This is an increase in membership of about 33 percent," reports Odermatt. "Another 15 evangelistic efforts are in operation or scheduled for the rest of the year. Many lay people are involved in this unprecedented evangelistic thrust throughout this new field that was organized in February 1999."

Gospel evangelists in the South Sudan, which number more than 70, have been outfitted with some tools of the gospel trade. The Global Mission offices of the General Conference, the Trans-European Division, and the Middle East Union, provided funding so that a bicycle, Bibles, and Bible study guides could be provided for each gospel evangelist.

These materials were provided in a specially made bag that is durable for rough use. Each gospel evangelists also received an imprinted T-shirt that they can wear while traveling which identifies them as gospel workers and minimizes the chance for army recruitment. "These young men and women will go into remote and difficult areas to win souls for Jesus Christ," says Odermatt.

Sudan Field, with headquarters in Khartoum, has recorded more than 500 baptisms this year, says Pastor Sven Jensen, president of the Adventist Church in the Middle East. The youth are conducting their own campaigns and many women are taking an active role in evangelism. Valerie Fidelia, Women's Ministries director for the Adventist Church in the Middle East Union, has just returned from Sudan.

"The theme this year was Women and Evangelism - in line with the union priorities," reports Fidelia from her meeting in the Khartoum area.

"While all three major evangelistic approaches were taught-–personal, small group, and public evangelism--the focus was on the first two, as this is where the strength lies as far as the women are concerned. Plans were made by most of the churches in the greater Khartoum area for programs of various kinds during the year 2001; and a pledge of 100 baptisms during 2001 as a direct result of Women's Ministries was made," Fidelia concludes. –-Adventist News Review


AWR to Sponsor Irish Broadcast
On January 6, 2001, a weekly 30-minute Adventist broadcast will air for the first time on radio in Red Castle, County Donegal, the Republic of Ireland. The potential listening audience is nearly 450,000.

"Gospel 846AM reaches a significant number of major cities and towns in the northern part of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with a strong signal," says Bert Smit, Adventist World Radio's regional director for Europe, who has been working with Alan Hodges, Irish Mission president, on the negotiations. "The first program to air will be Network 7 News, an actuality program produced by AWR in England," said Smit. Network 7 News will be sent to Gospel 846AM via the Internet.

AWR will fund 75 percent of the broadcast cost during the first year. "Our dream is to have a half hour daily," said Hodges, "so we hope additional funding for that will become available. We want to express appreciation to AWR for getting us started."

The Irish Mission comprises the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and has a membership of 334.


AU and CUC Partner to Prepare
Professionals for Metro Ministries
Andrews University and Columbia Union College have agreed to form a partnership around a social work degree, share curriculum in a new metro ministry program, share faculty research on urban issues, and expand opportunities for students to gain experience in urban settings.

Working from CUC, both graduate and undergraduate students will practice new approaches for addressing the acute social/spiritual needs of the hard-to-reach masses in the North American Division's northeastern urban corridor. For more information on these initiatives contact Zdravko Plantak at zplantak@cuc.edu or Sharon Pittman at spittman@andrews.edu.