WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Church Reaffirms Commitment
to Peace and Justice at
Commission on Human Rights
epresentatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church reaffirmed commitment to the principles of peace and justice during the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights meeting at the
United Nations in Geneva.
In a prepared statement read to the Commission on April 3, Gianfranco Rossi, Geneva UN representative for the Church, affirmed that it was "madness to use religion as an instrument of terror and death," and that "the true spirit of religion supports justice, brotherhood, peace and life." Quoting twice from the Bible, the statement reminded the Commission of the concept of peacemaking: "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," and "the work of justice shall be peace." (Is. 2:4; Is. 32:17)
"Noting the many areas of conflict round the world with the consequent violations of human rights, many nations deplored the huge loss of life in both violent conflicts and in state-sponsored persecution," said Jonathan Gallagher, UN Liaison director for the Adventist Church, who also attended the Commission. "One lamentable fact emerged from the discussion: worldwide, more people die at the hands of their own governments than from any other cause of violent death. Additionally, inter-religious conflict was cited by many speakers as a primary cause of many human rights violations."
The statement, based on an official declaration of the Adventist Church on the subject of peace, recommended that the Commission on Human Rights "not underestimate the importance of religion in education for human rights and for peace. It should encourage and support inter-religious dialogue to combat religious extremism, which is one of the major causes of the conflicts that currently afflict humanity."
Update on Iraq
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in Spain has received a grant of US$538,442 from Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for humanitarian relief operations in northern Iraq. The funded project will enable ADRA to organize and operate camps for 2,700 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) in the districts of Atrush 1 and Sarsink.
In addition to operating the camps, ADRA Spain, in partnership with a local non-government organization (NGO), will provide IDP's in this region with food aid, water, blankets, clothing, kitchen utensils, kerosene lamps, tools, and medicine. ADRA is also organizing a team of doctors and health workers to provide medical care.
News Notes
The Dominican Union Mission in the Dominican Republic completed a year-long evangelistic effort on March 29 with a two-week live satellite broadcast. The evangelistic series resulted in 20,740 baptisms.
"This satellite campaign was an extraordinary experience for us," says Cesario Acevedo, president of the Dominican Republic Union. "It allowed us to penetrate homes that we otherwise would not have been able to enter. Our responsibility is to evangelize not only in our own territory but to all the world."
Seventh-day Adventist leaders in Moldova have received the written court decision in the case of four Adventist workers who were fired for not working on Sabbath. According to Moldova's top appeals court, their employer had a right to fire the workers under Moldovan law. The decision was described as "irrevocable."
"The church in Moldova is considering what to do next," says Valery Ivanov, communication director for the Euro-Asia Division. "Based on advice from world church leaders, they must carefully consult with lawyers and other experts before deciding whether to make an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. The outcome of such a case could affect Adventists and other religious believers all over Europe."
Mary Jane Moncur, the oldest Seventh-day Adventist living in the Bahamas, turned 104 on April 9. Born in 1899, she became an Adventist in 1940. Now a great-great-grandmother, she is still alert, able to read, and to converse with friends. She claims her faith in Jesus is what keeps her going.
More Religious News
Adventist News Network
Religion News Service
Religion Today
