Roundup: Middle East, mission, social justice, Christianity in crisis

Orthodox primates stress need for peace and stability in Middle East

A Synaxis of the Primates of Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Middle East met in Cyprus on 27 March to discuss the situation of Christians in the region and to agree on common approaches to solidarity, strengthening and support of Christian communities struggling to maintain their presence in their historic homes.

Mission event in Manila concludes with renewed commitment

The pre-assembly event of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) concluded in Manila on March 27with spiritual reflections, prayer and a profound commitment to the churches’ work on mission and evangelism.

Social justice is at the core of our mission, say churches

Participants in a pre-assembly event of the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission on Evangelism spent half a day with a community living at a garbage dumpsite on the outskirts of Manila in the Philippines.

Media (mis)representations of ‘religion’ in the Middle East

We need a media that not only has the courage to address issues appropriately but that also understands the damage that is done to media reporting when distinctions are made that reinforce or reify category distinctions, rather than diminish or subvert them.