PASTOR ARREST CONDEMNED

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit condemned the apparent arrest of Pastor George Chibubi, who was picked up by the police in Ndola for organising a meeting with fellow pastors to discuss Zambia’s economic crisis.

Tveit joined other Zambian and international advocates urging President Edgar Lungu to release Chibubi, as well as others who may be detained.

“We condemn the arrest, detainment and harassment of pastors and other people attempting to meet as part of a civil society discussing, in a democratic fashion, ways to improve the lives of people in Zambia,” said Tveit. “The WCC stands in solidarity with the church leaders in Zambia as they attempt to communicate with the government and the people.”

Alleged evidence of police brutality in Zambia has alarmed the world, Tveit added: “Oppression and brutality have no place in creating a nation of peace that is sustainable for all.”

Chibubi and other pastors had gathered to discuss the debt crisis when police were allegedly directed to arrest them. The meeting, convened by the Centre for Trade Policy and Development, drew more than 50 faith leaders. Leaders from that organisation have been summoned by the police as well. (WCC)

LISBON CONFERENCE

Delegates from CEPPLE (Conférence des Eglises Protestantes des Pays Latins d’Europe) convened for their four-yearly General Assembly in Portugal, hosted by the country’s Protestant Churches, from October 4 to 6.

The members’ assembly started with a two-day theological seminar, during which delegates heard informative, thoughtprovoking talks on the subjects of “fresh expressions” and “digitalisation”. There was intensive discussion of the theological challenges that these developments present to the Protestant Churches.

In addition, the member churches gave short presentations outlining the current situation in their churches and parishes and addressed the key challenges for the years ahead.

CEPPLE encompasses Protestant Churches in Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the francophone part of Switzerland. It is a regional group of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE). (CPCE)

CHRISTIANS BEATEN BEFORE RELEASE

A group of Darfuri Christians arrested in October have now been released but only after they faced severe pressure for their faith and were beaten while in detention, a local source has told World Watch Monitor.

The group of 13 Christians were taken by security officials from a home they shared in the city of Nyala, southwest Darfur, on October 13. It is not clear on what charges they were arrested, though three of them were released shortly after and the rest released by Sunday, October 21.

It is also unclear if any of them will face further prosecution, according to World Watch Monitor’s source.

Sudan is fourth on the 2018 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian.

A report, published in December, said Sudan was guilty of “discreet and systematic acts of persecution” against Christians and other minority groups.

Several church leaders have been arrested, fined and taken to court on a variety of charges. In the case of two major church denominations – the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and Sudanese Church of Christ – charges have often related to an ongoing property dispute between the churches and a government-appointed committee. (World Watch Monitor)

BRAZILIAN LUTHERANS ELECT FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT

The Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) has elected a woman president for the first time.

The Rev Silvia Beatrice Genz will take office in January.

The Rev Genz was born in the municipality of Linha Nova, in south Brazil. Her work in the parishes was geared toward building communities through leadership training, community action and conflict resolution through reconciliation. As a theologian, she is an advocate of Evangelical-Lutheran confessional theology with an ecumenical stance.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Rev Genz acted as second vice president pastor and since January 2015, as first vice president pastor, which allowed her to closely accompany the church council, meetings with pastors and synodical pastors and with sister churches, both in Brazil and abroad.

From her work as a community pastor and participant in synod assemblies, she brings the conviction that the leadership of the church must become closer to that of the communities, through the presence of synodical pastors.

For the Rev Genz, the sustainability of the church lies in the communities. “It is important to strengthen the reflection on faith, gratitude and commitment; where the community should encourage the participation of as many people as possible in the planning of existing actions, as well as new missionary fronts.” (Lutheran World Federation)