Use church networks to fight malaria, says archbishop

THE Archbishop of Central Africa, the Most Revd Albert Chama, and four other Anglican bishops from Southern Africa have visited the United Nations in New York to urge adequate funding to eliminate the disease, and to advocate the use of religious leaders’ networks. He said: “It is essential that we build on the established relationships that faith leaders have in rural and remote communities; for we are the readily accepted messengers, and in this role, we can not only help save lives, but advance a shared global goal to eliminate this disease from our region.”

Anglicans attend nationalism conference

ANGLICANS have been urged to heed the message of the three-day World Conference on Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of Global Migration, organised last month by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and hosted by the Vatican, ACNS reports. The moderator of the WCC’s central committee, Dr Agnes Aboum, from the Anglican Church in Kenya, said: “The problem of populist nationalism inciting negative and violent responses to refugees and migrants appears in some way, everywhere; it threatens communities both in countries of reception and countries of origin.” The Communion needed to focus on bringing Anglicans together to counter the problem from all sides, she said.

‘Paramilitaries’ murder Colombian pastor

AN EVANGELICAL pastor, Elfren Martínez Pérez, was murdered in Antioquia, Colombia, by members of an illegal paramilitary group after a series of confrontations between them, Christian Solidarity Worldwide has reported. The charity’s chief executive, Mervyn Thomas, said that a full investigation should be instigated.

WCC’s support for Roma people praised

THE International Romani Union’s president, Zoran Dimov, has spoken of the World Council of Churches (WCC) as “instrumental” in giving a stronger voice to the Roma people. In an interview on the WCC website, he said: “We are witnesses of the unselfish material and financial support of the WCC in the realisation of the historic First World Congress of the Roma in Great Britain in 1971, and later for the logistical and material support for the Second Roma Congress in Geneva.” A tenth World Romani Congress is being organised for next year. Mr Dimov said that he hoped to see joint delegations of solidarity with the WCC to “regions where Roma populations are victims of atrocities”, to draw international attention to them.