UPDATE Welcome to World Mission’s June Update Issue 27-06-08, our summary of the latest news, issues and events affecting our partners around the world. Feel free to share any of the following stories in your newsletters, bulletins and prayer diaries. (Please cite the original source as well as World Mission.) CONTENTS: UPDATE: SUMMER BREAK 2008 AFRICA Zimbabwe: Moderator calls for African leaders to act Zimbabwe: Church groups urge international action Zimbabwe: Urgent aid needed  SOUTH ASIA Pakistan: Christians 'living in terror' after kidnapping Pakistan: Christian activist calls for abolition of blasphemy law Nepal: Prime Minister resigns Nepal: Prayer requested as fuel strike shuts down capital Burma: ‘The Real Disaster,’ a new campaign film featuring Ricky Gervais India: Church leader reflects on new patterns of partnership India: New website for Christian youth ASIA-PACIFIC China: Special needs teacher leaves for Nanjing North Korea: Church welcomes declaration of nuclear weapons programme EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES Malawi Celebration 5 July Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 3-25 August Christian Aid Transformation Event 6 September (book now) PRAYER FOCUS Do not be afraid, for God is with you SUBSRCIPTION & CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATE: SUMMER BREAK 2008 Update will be taking its summer break from next week until the week beginning 18 August. We may issue brief bulletins during the break as appropriate. If you have any items of news, or if there are events in the late summer or autumn that you think we should know about, please send an email to: wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk. In the meantime, we wish you a restful and restorative time over the summer. AFRICA Zimbabwe: Moderator calls for African leaders to act The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt. Rev David Lunan, has written to African leaders urging them to act to bring an end to ‘tyranny’ in Zimbabwe. Mr Lunan also sent an open letter about Zimbabwe to the press this week (published in The Herald, The Scotsman and The Guardian newspapers). In his letter, Mr Lunan says, “It is now clear to all that Friday’s vote will not bring relief to the suffering people of Zimbabwe. Their hope for change - expressed with such dignity in the polls of March 29th - has given way to fear. The Church of Scotland has heard many first hand accounts of the privation and suffering being inflicted on the people of Zimbabwe. We have also heard the warning of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches: ‘if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hotspots in Africa…’ “We believe that a solution to the crisis must come from within the region. It is with that in mind that the General Assembly urged the Government to use its influence with the Southern African Development Community, (SADC) and that we joined with other Church leaders from around Britain, including the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Rochester, Southwark and Portsmouth, and leaders of the Methodist, and Baptist Churches and others in writing to President Mwanawasa of Zambia, the president of SADC, asking him to intensify his efforts to find a political solution. “This week, as the situation deteriorates, I have written to the Presidents of Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, all members of SADC and all countries in which the Kirk has longstanding partnerships, asking them to act to bring an end to tyranny, mis-rule and oppression in Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe must be free to choose their own government. They need the support of their neighbours, and the prayers of us all.” Zimbabwe: Church groups urge international action Leaders of international Christian organisations have urged the international community to increase its efforts to address the ‘rapidly deteriorating situation’ in Zimbabwe. In a joint letter to the United Nations, the South African Development Community and the African Union, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) said, "It is essential that the international community reaffirm the integrity of democratic elections as the means by which Zimbabwean citizens choose their leaders," The 24 June appeal by WCC general secretary the Rev. Samuel Kobia, and the Rev. Michael Wallace, general secretary of the WSCF, follows a statement by the United Nations Security Council saying that violence and restrictions on the activities of the opposition in Zimbabwe had, "made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place". [Source: Ecumenical News International: www.eni.ch ] Zimbabwe: urgent aid needed  The leader of the Zimbabwe’s Student Christian Movement, who was in Switzerland this week to request support from the churches to address the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Prosper Munatsi, the General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe, had hoped to visit Geneva the previous week to offer his testimony about the unfolding political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe at the UN Human Rights Council. Instead he was jailed before his departure after the Harare Ecumenical Centre, where several Christian groups have their offices, was raided by police and security forces on 9 June.   Munatsi provided a grim picture of life in Zimbabwe. "The violence is really out of hand", he said, and had now spread all over the country. He described food shortages as ‘really critical’, with half the population, including close to 2 million children facing starvation.   Having been imprisoned twice in the last two months, Munatsi is travelling back home to occupy his place as leader of an ecumenical organisation of young Christians that cannot keep a register of its members for fear of political repression. Waiting for him in Harare are offices where the furniture has disappeared, materials have been confiscated and computers stolen, leaving the organisation's staff with neither place nor means to work.   But Munatsi is not afraid of going back. "Mugabe cannot kill the whole of Zimbabweans", he says. "We need to be brave enough and work for the people" so they can live free and "enjoy their Godly given rights". [Source: World Council of Churches. You can read the full story at: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/zimbabwe-needs-urgent-rel.html and listen to an audio interview with Prosper Munatsi.] SOUTH ASIA Pakistan: Christians 'living in terror' after kidnapping The small Christian community in Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province is living in terror, according to a Pakistan church leader, despite the safe release of 16 Christians who had been kidnapped by a suspected Islamic militia group. "Christians are being victimised and harassed in the struggle here," said Humphrey Peters, secretary of the synod of the Church of Pakistan. He was speaking from Peshawar, the province's capital, as he confirmed the release of the detainees, who had been kidnapped on 21 June. Peters said militants from ‘The Army of Islam’ had taken the Christians at gunpoint from a prayer meeting at the residence of a fellow Christian near Peshawar, and released them next day. "Thank God, it was over in one night," said Peters. He added, however, that Pakistani Christians living in the border area with Afghanistan are, "now living in terror and do now know what will happen next". Tension has been mounting in the border areas after US-led forces in Afghanistan carried out attacks on Taliban targets in the region, and recently killed Pakistani soldiers as well as civilians. Peters said the kidnapping meant that the Taliban's supporters had shown they could do, "anything they wanted to draw international attention". [Source: Ecumenical News International. www.eni.ch ] Pakistan: Christian activist calls for abolition of blasphemy law A Christian rights activist in Pakistan says that only the abolition of the country's law on blasphemy can stop its abuse, after three cases in recent weeks of Christians being charged under the provisions of the law. "This draconian law has been a very handy tool for fundamentalists to harass minorities and others," said Joseph Francis, founding director of the country's Christian-based Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement. Blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad is punishable by death in Pakistan, although nobody has been executed for the crime. Courts have acquitted those accused of blasphemy in more than 100 cases after overruling lower tribunals. However, Mr Francis noted that 10 people, including four Christians, whom his organisation had defended, had been killed while awaiting trial. "The registration of a blasphemy case puts the life of the accused in danger," said Francis, adding that, "I and my staff are now facing threats regularly for defending those accused of blasphemy." Critics of the blasphemy law say it is often misused to settle property and personal disputes, and that it affects Christians disproportionately. [Source: Ecumenical News International. www.eni.ch ] Nepal: Prime Minister resigns Nepal's interim Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, has announced his resignation. The move paves the way for the former rebel leader, Prachanda, who heads the Maoist party, to succeed Mr Koirala. The Maoists emerged as the biggest party in elections in April to a new assembly. However, political infighting has meant that the interim government has proved ‘toothless’, according to a BBC reporter, in the face of a new wave of strikes over rising fuel prices and a growing tendency towards social anarchy. Mr Koirala was appointed prime minister in April 2006 when King Gyanendra was forced to abandon absolute rule in the face of street protests. Later that year the Maoists, who had been fighting for a communist republic, declared an end to their insurgency. They joined the interim government in 2007. The monarchy was finally abolished last month. [Source: BBC NEWS. Full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7475112.stm ] Nepal: Prayer requested as fuel strike shuts down capital A general strike in protest at an increase in fuel prices shut down the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, on Thursday this week. Schools, businesses and markets closed and streets were empty of vehicles and government workers had to walk to their offices. Nepal imports all its oil products from neighbouring India. Nepal Oil Corporation, a state-owned company with a monopoly on importing and distributing oil, has been struggling to pay its Indian supplier, and fuel imports have dropped off as a result. Our partner organisation, the United Mission to Nepal, has sent the following prayer request: “[Please pray for] the country as it is currently struggling with many problems.  Pray that our elected political leaders will quickly come to a common understanding of the way ahead and that the talks between transportation association, students and government regarding fuel price is settled soon.” [Sources: Associated Press. Full story at: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmLMxvg9GBz2cnHe9vqO-EdrlDxAD91HKVEO0 ; United Mission to Nepal: http://www.umn.org.np/ ] Burma: ‘The Real Disaster,’ a new campaign film featuring Ricky Gervais In the wake of the devastating cyclone that hit Burma on 2 May, the Burma Campaign UK this week launched a new video and poster campaign to highlight what they call the ongoing disaster in Burma – the military dictatorship. The new animated film ‘The Real Disaster’ is narrated by comedian Ricky Gervais and tells the story of a little girl called Khin Mar, who survived Cyclone Nargis but whose village is destroyed by the military dictatorship. The message is ‘The real disaster in Burma is the government’. The poster and video can be viewed here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/therealdisaster.htm [Source: Burma Campaign UK. Full text at: www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P375 ] India: Church leader reflects on new patterns of partnership The General Secretary of the Church of North India has spoken warmly of his recent visit to Scotland for the Partnership consultation organised and hosted by World Mission Council (reported in previous editions of Update). Writing in this month’s North India Church Review magazine, the Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan said that he felt ‘privileged’ to have attended this year’s consultation and had been “inspired by our worship together and encouraged by the depth of our fellowship in Christ. We have heard and received the call to forge a new pattern of partnership for our time.” He added that “In this journey … the Church of Scotland and the overseas Partner Churches have together reaffirmed the local involvement in global mission as an overarching theme in partnership.” [Source: North India Church Review, p.26] India: New website for Christian youth The website of the South Asia Christian Youth Network (SACYN) has relaunched. SACYN is just that – a network young people from a range of churches of South Asia who “seek to link together to build relationships as a basis for addressing a wide variety of common concerns and to advocate and act together to fulfil the mission of Jesus Christ”.  The new-look website contains background information, their newsletter (and the opportunity to subscribe to this) and photo galleries. Visit the website at: http://www.southasiayouth.org/default.html ASIA-PACIFIC China: Special needs teacher leaves for Nanjing Supported by the Scottish Churches’ China Group, George Steven leaves for Nanjing on 4 July to help with staff development at both the Amity Home of Blessings and The Amity Children’s Development Centre. Mr Steven is a very experienced special needs teacher and will be working with staff, parents and pupils during his 3-week visit. You can bring yourself up-to-date with the work of the Scottish Churches’ China Group (SCCG) by visiting their website at www.sccg.org.uk/. China is also a feature of our July-August edition of WM magazine, the magazine of the World Mission Council. If you would like a copy, or would like to join our mailing list, please contact Nikki Skinner on 0131 225 5722, or email wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk. North Korea: Church welcomes declaration of nuclear weapons programme The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PROK) today issued a statement through its Peace and Reunification Committee welcoming yesterday’s declaration from the North Korea of its nuclear programme. North Korea has now demolished the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in a symbolic display of its intention to disarm. While recognising that these steps do “not mean the perfect accomplishment of the denuclearization and peace of the Korean peninsula,” PROK believes that these actions “can be a significant first step toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula… and can revitalize efforts for normalization of [North Korea]-US relations and for peace on the Korean peninsula. … We will closely watch the course of developments and continue to pray for the realization of God’s peace on the Korean peninsula and around the world.” [Sources: PROK E-News June 2008; BBC News. Full story from the BBC at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7476755.stm ] + The Presbyterian Church of Korea is a partner church of the Church of Scotland EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES Malawi Celebration 5 July A reminder that the Committee of Malawians in Scotland and Scotland Malawi Partnership are holding the 44th Malawi Independence Celebration, featuring Malawi High Commissioner, Dr Francis Moto; The Bhundu Boys; Traditional and contemporary Malawian music; Food and drink (please bring Malawian dishes). Saturday July 5th, 1-4pm, Glasgow City Chambers. Free admission If you’d like further details, contact Batson Kadzuwa on 07950 367 023 or Yonah Matemba on 07515 750 488. Email info@scotland-malawipartnership.org.uk Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 3-25 August The Edinburgh Festival Fringe starts on 3 August and the International Festival begins on 8 August. The Fringe website is at: http://www.edfringe.com/ and the official Festival website is at: http://www.eif.co.uk . There are church and partner-organisation related exhibitions, shows and concerts – please see the relevant programmes for details. Christian Aid Transformation Event 6 September Saturday 6 September, Dewars Centre, Perth (within walking distance of Perth bus and rail stations), 10am to 4pm (lunch will be provided). Are you passionate about building a world free from poverty? Christian Aid’s one-day event will inspire and equip you, your family and friends to make change happen. You will spend a day finding out about the issues that keep people poor and discovering what you can do to bring about change. Practical sessions will polish up your campaigning skills and you’ll hear directly from other campaigners around the world over the web (no air miles involved!). There will be updates on how you can get involved in all aspects of Christian Aid’s work and opportunities to pray, worship and take action for change together. Bring the whole family – there will be activities for all ages and an on-site crèche. We welcome donations from adults (over the age of 16) attending the event (suggested donation £5 – 10). To book please visit www.christianaidscotland.org PRAYER FOCUS “Do not be afraid, for God is with you.” Reading: Acts 18. 5-11 God, thank you for your promise and assurance. Help us to be attentive and alert that we are aware of your constant and continued presence with us that we may do your will. Amen. From the Council for World Mission Daily Devotions for June 27 2008 And, a prayer for Africa as we remember Zimbabwe today: God Bless Africa; Guard her children; Guide her leaders And give her peace, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. SUBSCRIPTION & CONTACT INFORMATION To unsubscribe: If you no longer wish to receive this update or if you have received this email in error, please email wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk with 'Update: Unsubscribe' as the message subject. If you would like to find out more about the issues raised here, please contact us at the address below or visit our website: www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worldmission. We’d be delighted to hear from you. Want in-depth articles about our partners overseas? Subscribe to our free monthly magazine by sending your details to wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk. Update 27-06-08 Editorial team: Gillian McKinnon & Carol Finlay World Mission, Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 4YN T: + 44 (0) 131 225 5722 F: + 44 (0) 131 226 6121 Copyright © World Mission Council, Church of Scotland. All rights reserved. Views expressed in Update and websites linked from it do not necessarily represent the views of WMC. The WMC is the channel through which the Church of Scotland responds to the command of Jesus “Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15).The Council works in many countries worldwide, usually on the basis of partnership with national churches and institutions and always with a view to involving church members in Scotland in the development of the work. Our mission is to empower everyone to discover, experience and share the challenges and opportunities gained by connecting with the World Church.