Today in the Mission Yearbook - New president pledges a season of renewal at Presbyterian Pan American School

Dr. W. Joseph ‘Joey’ King brings a spirit of innovation and inquiry to historic PC(USA)-related secondary school in South Texas

From left to right are Wilson Kennedy, Ministry Engagement and
Support; Joey King, Presbyterian Pan American School; Bill Rutherford,
PPAS; and Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo, MES. (Photo by Emily Enders Odom)

As a rush of fresh-faced students filed into the Presbyterian Pan American School’s Harte Student Center, Dr. W. Joseph “Joey” King beamed with pride.

And rightfully so.

The new president of the small, PC(USA)-related college-preparatory school located in the Texas Coastal Bend some 90 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, has exciting plans to flourish PPAS’s most valuable resource, its students.

But they’re not his plans alone.

“This is not my vision, but our vision — the board and all of us — to have a period of renewal be our focus for the next three to five years,” said King, who assumed leadership of the 113-year school on Aug. 1. “We’ll be renovating our buildings, our residences. It has to happen, and we’re working on a plan for that.”

King, who previously served as the president of the PC(USA)-related Lyon College, where he was instrumental in fostering academic excellence and strategic growth, has a similar agenda for PPAS, namely growing the school’s enrollment and revenue.

Toward that end, he acknowledged that the school’s relationships with the entities and constituents of the PC(USA) is vital, including Mission Presbytery, within whose bounds the school is located, and the Synod of the Sun, with whom PPAS is a covenant partner.

Dr. Juan Plascencia, principal of the Presbyterian Pan American School,
and student ambassadors welcome visitors. (Photo by Emily Enders Odom)

“In rebuilding our enrollment, which is not where we want it to be, the church can really help us,” said King. “We want to reclaim that tradition. We really need the PC(USA)’s help in making connections in the places where we’re focusing our recruitment efforts.”

On hand to provide King and PPAS Board Chair Bill Rutherford with assurance of just that kind of help were national church colleagues, the Rev. Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo, a ministry engagement advisor with the PC(USA)’s Ministry Engagement and Support, and the Rev. Wilson Kennedy, the PC(USA)’s associate director for Special Offerings and Appeals.

“It is the job of the General Assembly to care for our Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color, which was mandated at the time of Presbyterian reunion [in 1983],” said Kennedy. “It’s our job to be your advocates, to help you get your work done. We believe in the ministry and transformative power of this place. There’s a lot of hope here.”

In addition to advocating for PPAS, the PC(USA) also makes a significant contribution to the school’s livelihood, in part through the church’s Christmas Joy Offering.

The annual Christmas Joy Offering — a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s —distributes gifts equally to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color and to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions.

Open house attendees from left to right: Ruling Elder Bill Lucks,
Covenant, San Antonio; the Rev. Dan Milford, Covenant; the Rev. Dr. Jim
Currie, PPAS Board; Jo Ann Currie, PPAS Board; and Rita Odom, retired
Certified Associate Christian Educator. (Photo by Emily Enders Odom)

Because many of the school’s intentionally international students — representing such countries as Mexico, China, South Korea, Rwanda, Taiwan and Colombia — are either Presbyterian or come from a Presbyterian tradition, King also wants to ensure that as PPAS builds a new focus on transitioning its students into higher education they know about Presbyterian-related colleges and universities.

“Because there are plenty of boarding schools to serve American students, I don’t think we want to run headlong down that path,” he said. “We do something unusual and special. We take in students from around the world who are generally barely functional in English when they arrive and graduate them four years later college ready in English. Our entirely international focus is extremely unusual. [This is] an American school like in Cairo or Tokyo, but I’m running it in south Texas.”

King added that because there are so many students the school could serve, not only Presbyterian but worldwide, they will “lean more into it” than they ever have.

PPAS’s season of renewal was already well in evidence as it opened its doors — and campus — to visitors and friends of Mission Presbytery for an open house and generous lunch as they traveled from throughout the region to the presbytery’s stated meeting at First Presbyterian Church, Brownsville.

“The spirit of renewal is exactly what today is all about,” said Bill Rutherford, a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church of Luling, Texas, who chairs the PPAS Board of Trustees.”

Emily Enders Odom, Associate Director of Mission Communications, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Let us join in prayer for:

• Analise Brown, Administrative Assistant, Theology, Formation & Evangelism, Presbyterian Mission Agency 
• Joey Brown, Ministry Engagement Associate, Direct Mail, Ministry Engagement & Support, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray:

God, today we follow the example set by Jesus as we say,

     Let the children come.

With their singing, dancing and acting, we say,

     Let the children come,

With their gifts, talents and all that God has created them to be, we say,

     Let the children come.

Amen.

Advent Unwrapped: Love ❤️

Love

This video "All My Love" hit me in the feels, perhaps because I tried to copy Dick Van Dyke's joy and energy in my dance routines when I was younger. Perhaps it's because Dick reminds me of my paternal grandma (who would have been older than Dick), who died on Christmas morning, surrounded by love. She taught me what I know about love and about waiting. She always made me sit with her while we ate diabetic candies. I remember bouncing around her bright, sun-filled nursing home room on summer afternoons, with a sweetie (hard candy) clanging in my mouth. My grandma would tell me not to bite the candy, while patting the side of her bed, inviting me and my Dad, who always fussed about fixing the drapes and checking the thermostat, to "Ten' Tuddy," which might loosely translate to "be quiet and still." And so, my Dad and I would sit there, two antsy spirits lovingly tethered to a calm soul, waiting for the candy to dissolve. I didn't realize how countercultural it was at the time. Waiting is often seen as foolishness, wasteful, and irresponsible when there is so much urgent need around us. A need to do, problem-solve, strategize, help... And yet, just as the farmer must wait for the right time to harvest, I now know that so many amazing things come from times of waiting. Sitting with my grandma taught me that waiting doesn't need to be passive; in fact, it can sometimes be the most active expression of love. And the clearest declaration of our faith: we are willing to wait for things that are worth it. The sweetness of sitting beside my grandma was priceless. In these last days of waiting, may we cling to the love around us, while listening to the ancient wisdom of our foremothers, who gently pat the side of the bed during moments of sweetness and invite us to be patient, and wait a while before we rush off to revolutionize the world (which we will). For their wisdom and love, I say: Thanks be to God. Resources to Hopefully Help Give You More Time to Wait Resources: Don’t forget about Making Space for Grace 4C worship service. Still working on your Christmas Eve service? Let our 2024 Advent Unwrapped Christmas Eve Service inspire you. Don’t forget about our Advent Zine Prayers for the Family. A perfect resource to print out and share with folks! Even though we are almost in Week 4, people can still take a moment to reflect and light a candle for each week.   Some videos to watch: The Moderator’s Christmas video is out. Learn some new songs from the Then Let Us Sing! and 40 Days of Engagement on Anti Racism Webinar, “What will we sing when we need to sing a new song?”  Don’t forget our Music for Advent Playlist. Check out the amazing Christmas playlist from Tisdale St. Paul’s United Church which includes Silent Night in Several Languages and a Prairie Nativity. [Image credit: Love: notice Mary, Joseph and Jesus loving each other. Where do you encounter the grounding presence of God's love? (Eph 3:17) How does trusting "the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge" invite you into the fullness of God's love? (Eph 3:19). Permission has been granted for non-commercial use in The United Church of Canada worship services during Advent 2024. To use these resources after December 2024, please contact the artist at ksudom@gmail.com.] This Week in Prayer This week we are grateful for the opportunity to join the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) in prayer (under Advent Unwrapped 2024: Advent Prayers of the World). EBF is a fellowship of bishops from various churches in the Philippines united in their passion for providing pastoral guidance through prophetic ministry in the Philippines by organizing, educating, documenting and providing sanctuary when needed. Together we give thanks for the multitude of gifts that we have received including the gifts of service, spirituality, humility, solidarity, passion, steadfastness, love, resiliency, time, loved ones, and the opportunity to be in solidarity with those who are suffering. EBF asks us to join them in prayer for: a just and enduring peace in the Philippines and everywhere; the resumption of peace talks; a final peace agreement to be signed between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on social and economic reforms; for an end to extra-judicial killings and indemnification to victims for their losses; and that respect, love, compassion, and creation care reign in all humanity. Waiting, in love, with you, Alydia [Picture taken October 14, 2024 Perez, Bulakan, Bulacan. As people sing Pananagutan or “Accountability” to our “Kapwa” (siblings/ kin) in solidarity and hope with siblings in fishing communities. The song is a call to protect God’s creation, the people and the environment.] Twitter Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

Copyright © 2024 The United Church of Canada, All rights reserved.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Spreading ‘truth, faith, God’s word, equality and joy,’ regardless of age

North Carolina minister urges young people to activate a ‘newer, sharper vision’ for the church and beyond

The Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee delivers a sermon during the Young Adult Advocacy
Conference. (Photo by Darla Carter)

With a sermon infused with self-deprecating humor about her age, the Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee encouraged attendees of the “Jesus & Justice” Young Adult Advocacy Conference to realize the power within them and to never let anyone look down on them because of their youth.

“Stand firm in the Word of God and don’t let anyone derail your passions for ministry, witness, mission and your outreach,” said Barbee, a Ministry Engagement Adviser for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). “You can change the world. You can change the future of the church and let me take it a step further today: It’s your responsibility to do so.”

Barbee, a North Carolina minister, acknowledged that elders sometimes can be dismissive of young people by saying things like, “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand,” and “You’re not even old enough to know about that. Give yourself some time, baby.” Likewise, young people can discount their elders.

But through anecdotes about her own attempts to master iPhone photography — a trial that exasperated her niece — and her mother’s past attempts to operate dial-up internet, which exasperated Barbee, the preacher demonstrated that people of all ages can and should learn from each other.

Flanked by the Rev. Christina Cosby, Ivy Lopedito addresses the Young
Adult Advocacy Conference. (Photo by Darla Carter)

“You have a different vision, a different prophesy, if you will,” she explained to the young adults before her. “Your vision has been developed through a newer, sharper lens. That does not discount the vision of those older than you, but together, the vision is clearer. Together, we listen to and discern the Word of God. God spoke to 12-year-old Jesus. God can speak to you, and God can speak to me.”

Barbee spoke on the second day of the conference, which was put on by the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Barbee’s sermon was part of a full day of events that also included workshops, a panel discussion and greetings from representatives of various seminaries.

The conference, which was part of a series that began last year in Louisville, is designed to enhance young people’s advocacy efforts and to showcase the importance of advocacy in the PC(USA).

“We are passionate about advocacy, and we are here to build that dynamic community in a place that we can learn from each other, that we can grow together, and that we can all inspire one another, of all ages,” said Ivy Lopedito, OPW’s Mission Associate. “Let’s equip ourselves to be agents of change in our communities and also beyond. Like Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee said, let’s all keep showing up.”

Among the presenters during the Young Adult Advocacy Conference is the Rev.
Dr. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator of the Presbyterian Committee on the
Self-Development of People. (Photo by Darla Carter)

Barbee also stressed the importance of being prepared. “I’m asking you to study, read the Word of God, love one another, and have your ducks so much in a row that when you go to the elders, your gifts cannot and will not be denied,” she said.

There are multiple advantages that put young people in a great position to get involved in advocating for causes they believe in, she said.

For example, “you can go to social justice rallies and stand on your feet for hours on end,” she said. Thanks to computers, you can “gather all the needed material in seconds. You can send a single text and have 150 people gathered in 45 minutes. You are with transgender students who are bullied every single day. You can even run a high-level background check on the new Sunday school teacher in minutes. These are very valuable gifts, and you can use these gifts to spread truth, faith, God’s word, equality and joy.”

“You can be a Christian leader in your circles by being the example,” she said, adding, “Don’t ever be discouraged by naysayers opposing your gifts. Find your Apostle Paul, who will speak for and with you, listen to you, support you, and teach you to be the leaders we need. … You’ve got the power. Use it.”

The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations are part of the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Darla Carter, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Let us join in prayer for:

• McKenna Britton, Communications Associate, Presbyterian Historical Society
• Kendra Bright, Operations & Accounting Associate, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

Let us pray:

God of compassion, when we serve others, let us follow the example of children, shedding our expectations so that we may reflect your love. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: Jesus and Justice’ urges young adults to pursue advocacy and partner with the PC(USA)

Conference-goers in North Carolina are told that ‘Advocacy is something within all of us’

“Jesus and Justice,” the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Advocacy Conference, is
held in Charlotte, N.C. The Rev. Tony Larson, co-moderator of the 226th
General Assembly (2024), is among those addressing conference-goers.
(Photo by Alex Simon)

With an inspiring sermon and a rousing rendition of “We are Marching in the Light of God” — sung in English and Swahili —the Young Adult Advocacy Conference (YAAC) kicked into high gear on its opening day in North Carolina.

The “Jesus and Justice” conference was part of a series launched last year by the advocacy offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). It’s designed to expand the ways young people do advocacy and to show how important advocacy is to the Church.

“We are committed not only to having a prophetic voice in this country and a global voice, but also to partner with you to amplify your voice,” said the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, who directs the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. Whether young adults want to speak out on federal policy or interact with the United Nations, “we are a resource for you.”

Later, the Rev. Albert Moses, pastor of Matthews-Murkland Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, framed advocacy as an urgent matter. Given anti-immigrant sentiment and other disturbing results of public opinion polling on topics such as immigration, “now is not the season to sit on our hands or sit this one out,” he said, adding that people who do social justice work must display courage, commitment, consciousness and compassion.

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, the PC(USA)’s advocacy director, addresses
the Young Adult Advocacy Conference. (Photo by Alex Simon)

The opening day took place at Sharon Presbyterian Church, near the Charlotte campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary. That’s where the bulk of the free conference was held, with a host of regional and denominational leaders, including the Rev. Tony Larson, co-moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024).

Lawrence Robertson, mission specialist for Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries, led participants and staff in a multicultural version of “We Are Marching in the Light of God.” He chose it as the conference theme song because of an African proverb that says, “When you pray, move your feet.”

The takeaway: “Advocacy is something that’s within all of us just to do it,” Robertson said before energizing the room with the song with the help of the Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson of the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People on drums.

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, the PC(USA)’s advocacy director, addresses
the Young Adult Advocacy Conference. (Photo by Alex Simon)

Later, conference-goers listened to a sermon by Moses, who spoke on the danger of getting caught up in minor, day-to-day church work while forgetting the more important things. That’s a lesson he himself learned, not only from Scripture but from respected influencers, such as the late Rev. Dr. James H. Costen, former dean of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary and the moderator of the 194th General Assembly of the of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. The Presbyterian Historical Society has documented how Costen worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.

The Rev. Albert Moses, pastor of Matthews-Murkland Presbyterian Church in
Charlotte, N.C., preaches during the Young Adult Advocacy Conference.
(Photo by Alex Simon)

Moses’s sermon was taken from Matthew 23:23, which in the Amplified Bible says, “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters] and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others.”

As further evidence of the Church’s calling, he cited Micah 6:8, which says in part, “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”

Moses also noted that Jesus himself said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).

He also stressed the seriousness of social justice advocacy, noting, “This work may cost you your life, a limb or your livelihood.”

He closed with YAAC participants joining him in “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” — anywhere, Lord, anytime.

The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People are among the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Darla Carter, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Let us join in prayer for:

• Luci Duckson-Bramble, Director of Development & Services, Presbyterian Historical Society 
• Tara Brannigan, Financial Administrative Assistant, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Holy One, inspire us to serve you and all your people with passion and purpose. May we be empowered to take risks to follow you wherever you may lead us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - When a church becomes an affordable home

‘It is not as hard as we like to think it is to make the world that God calls us to make,’ says podcast guest

The Rev. Sara Hayden

“My theology is, like, we can do better. It is not as hard as we like to think it is to make the world that God calls us to make,” said the Rev. Shannon Ball, a guest on the “New Way” podcast. “It takes effort; it takes intention. It takes seeing the person in the midst of all these really difficult circumstances, but it can be done.” Ball started her career post-seminary doing re-entry preparation for women prior to their release from the Metro State Women’s Prison of Atlanta. She currently serves as program director of Enterprise Community Partners (Southeast), where she puts her almost 20 years of experience working with justice-involved populations to tackle the achievement and development of affordable housing together with faith-based communities.

https://vimeo.com/1017143185

“It’s so expensive to be poor. It sort of makes you think, OK, we can do better. We can do better,” said Ball. While working with women coming out of the criminal justice system and trying to re-enter tenuous social support systems and tense or traumatized family systems, Ball saw the importance of a safe place to live.

Ball grew up in a modest, middle-class family in the South. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and her mother had her master’s degree in Christian education. They were both social justice advocates for the economically and racially oppressed. Ball, a teaching elder in the PC(USA), attended Columbia Theological Seminary in the early 2000s but knew early on that her ministry was not in the parish but serving marginalized communities in practical ways. Ball learned quickly the realities and signals of privilege that separated her from her clients and their families. She learned subtle and sympathetic ways to build bridges of understanding and trust.

“Just the constant everything, because it’s twice as hard,” Ball said as she described the unrelenting reality of her clients living day to day. “It is not that a person makes bad choices, but they made the best choice among only bad choices — or only poor choices — available to them.”

“I think once you get your head around that, it very much shifts your ability to be much more sympathetic and empathetic to how hard it is, quite frankly, to be economically or culturally disadvantaged,” she said.

“You’re throwing good money after bad,” said Ball, who described how a person sinks money into an old car because they can’t afford another or keeps renting a barely inhabitable home. “You can’t afford to hold your landlord accountable for the unfair and illegal living conditions you’re in, so you just keep paying overinflated rent in a place that’s really not safe,” Ball said before highlighting the vast shortage of affordable housing across the country.

https://vimeo.com/1017139596

In her current role as program director at Enterprise Community Partners (Southeast), a national affordable housing nonprofit, Ball works with their Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) program, which addresses several issues regarding housing — housing policy, capital funding for its development and programs to support an ecosystem of affordable housing. According to their website, the FBDI program “provides houses of worship with the knowledge and tools to develop underutilized land into affordable homes and community facilities.”

During this season of “New Way,” host the Rev. Sara Hayden and producer the Rev. Marthame Sanders have focused on the redevelopment of church property or the creative use of church facilities for social entrepreneurship.

Ball says she loves the FBDI program because it helps people act. “People are taking these amazingly well-positioned lots or buildings or houses of worship and making places for people to live that are going to change lives,” said Ball, who also described a few of the most common scenarios of church redevelopment that can include all or a portion of the physical site.

Ball rejoices in seeing communities of faith create literal homes and places of belonging for its neighbors who are being left behind by unchecked market capitalism. “They’re going to take a family that would’ve struggled and enabled them to blossom and succeed,” said Ball. “And if that is not the world that God calls us to live in, I don’t know what is.”

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Let us join in prayer for:

• Daniel Braden, Managing Editor-Publishing, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
• Lynn Bradley, Operations Administrator/Receptionist, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

O God, open us to seeking a peace that is deeper than fear and to holding our neighbors in the light of peace. Amen.

WCC interview: Metropolitan Dr Vasilios reflects on challenges—and hope—for real peace in Cyprus

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee met in Cyprus from 21-26 November at the invitation of the Church of Cyprus, Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Ammochostos, extended by H.E. Metropolitan Dr Vasilios of Constantia - Ammochostos, Church of Cyprus, WCC president. The metropolitan reflected on the history of conflict and occupation, and the ongoing hope for peace, in Cyprus.  Photo: Sean Hawkey/WCC 17 December 2024 The gathering of the governing body, a significant encounter on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, observed 50 years of Turkish occupation and division of the country and its impact on the people, churches, and the Republic of Cyprus.  It has been 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus led to the division of the island, the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots, whose government is internationally recognized. The August 1974 ceasefire line became a United Nations buffer zone, along which Cyprus remains divided. As Metropolitan Dr Vasilios recapped the history, he expressed the pain of a church that has been buffeted by the shifting winds of conflict and occupation.  “Actually the situation, to my point of view, of course, is becoming more and more difficult,” he said, noting that the people and the churches of Cyprus often feel subject to world leaders who wish to dominate the entire region.  “Cyprus, for Türkiye, is the ideal place for playing this role; you see in this in the areas in which they create military bases—they always increase,” he said. “Even if there were no Turks in Cyprus, Türkiye needs to have Cyprus strategically.” With Cyprus strategically well-located between Europe and the Middle East—at least from a military perspective—the Church of Cyprus has endured, for hundreds of years, persecution, occupation, and lack of access to freedom of religion.  “In the Byzantine period, of course the most important event was from the fourth century when the Church of Cyprus became autocephalous,” the metropolitan said. “But for me, this was not just a church event—this was a political event, too.” Eras of persecution Then, during and after the period of the Crusades, the Church of Cyprus began to be oppressed and squeezed out of society.  “There was a decision to limit the Orthodox hierarchy from 14 or 15 bishops to only four, and the Orthodox bishops were not in the big cities but sent to the small villages, areas in which they were not able to have contact with the population,” said the metropolitan.  Later, there was a Latin hierarchy in Cyprus, so the Orthodox then were obliged to take part in official celebrations and processions of the Latin church. “You had to accept the Pope as the head of your church,” said the metropolitan. “When a Cypriot went to the Holy Land, they were not accepted by the Orthodox to take communion because they were under the Latins.” Metropolitan Dr Vasilios recalled a painful period of martyrdom for the Church of Cyprus in bygone eras: monks and bishops killed, and people barred from society.  The Ottoman Empire ruled Cyprus from 1571 to 1878. “But of course it was not an easy time, the Ottoman period,” said the metropolitan. Even today, walking around Cyprus, one sees the influence of Latin and Venetian cultures.  “This is really very important, that they didn’t come to destroy but to build a culture, according to their western understanding,” said the metropolitan. In the end—and somewhat ironically—the metropolitan reflected that the Latin kings of Cyprus may have in some ways been more favorable to the Orthodox than to the Latins themselves.  50 years of occupation Türkiye invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974—a day when the course of the nation’s history changed forever. The metropolitan himself lost five family members, including an uncle and cousins. The Turkish invasion, following a brief Greek-inspired coup, caused massive destruction, with 6,000 soldiers and civilians killed (two percent of the male population in 1974). Still another 1,619 men and women, of whom 1,536 were Greek Cypriots and 83 Greeks, never returned home and were recorded as missing. Metropolitan Dr Vasilios recalled visiting a small village after the invasion. “When I went to the village, I saw the village empty, and I shouted: ‘Is there anybody there?’ And an old man opened his door, and he said to me, ‘Everybody left. Nobody is here.’ The old people—they remained in their houses.” Due to what happened in 1973, 142,000 Greek Cypriots and 55,000 Turkish Cypriots were displaced, and another 20,000 Greek Cypriots enclaved in the area were gradually forced to leave. The UN has been involved in talks since 1999 to resolve an impasse between the two sides of the island. Many people never returned, said Metropolitan Dr Vasilios. After living in Switzerland, he returned to Cyprus as a bishop. “But it is very painful to see,” he said. “The feeling is that someone is saying to you: ‘it’s ours, and we give you the permission to come and celebrate.’ It’s not easy.”  Glimmers of hope Metropolitan Dr Vasilios remains grateful for the support shown by the WCC, which includes visits from delegations and leadership, calls for prayer, statements from WCC governing bodies, and more. He also believes that religious leaders must help create an environment that promotes the unity of Cypriots. He observed that, after the collapse of the negotiations in 2017, there was time for reflection, from a political point of view, for both sides. He also acknowledged some attempts were made at a later stage with meetings of the leaders of the two communities, that developed some mutual confidence. Yet real engagement for negotiations remains elusive. The metropolitan also sees Cyprus continue to be regarded as a strategic tool for military power. “The problem is that many countries saw and still see Türkiye as an important country for NATO, for economic interests like Germany, and for many, many other things, and so they keep silent—and yet they put sanctions to Russia for the invasion of Ukraine,” he said.  Also painful for the metropolitan has been the history of destruction of churches, monuments, mosques, and even cemeteries.  Over 500 churches in the occupied area are known to have been desecrated, along with holy icons, frescoes, and mosaics. Following a United Nations agreement, there is a joint committee in Cyprus working to restore monuments of churches and Muslim mosques, cemeteries, and other monuments. The metropolitan works to restore churches to save the Christian character of the area. And, although the inaction is painful for the metropolitan to see, he also sees some glimmers of hope.  “Now, we see, for example a change of the policy of the United States,” he said. “We don’t know yet about Trump’s election but I suppose that the administration doesn’t depend on who is the president or not.” One month ago, the president of Cyprus visited US president Joe Biden in the United States.  Metropolitan Dr Vasilios believes the inaction is due in part because the world sees people living peacefully in Cyprus—so they think peace is not urgent.  Yet Dr Metropolitan Vasilios has three-quarters of his diocese on the island of Cyprus under Turkish occupation—but no Christians are still living in the occupied part. “This has to be resolved,” he concluded.  WCC urges peaceful end to division of Cyprus (WCC news release, 25 November 2024) WCC executive committee radiates hope amid world’s darkness (WCC feature story, 28 November 2024) Photo gallery: WCC executive committee meeting in Cyprus See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem share “eternal Christmas message”

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem shared a Christmas message amid continuing conflict and uncertainty in the region. A star sits at the top of a Christmas tree at Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 17 December 2024 “This ancient path of redemption leads us full-circle to our time, when wars still rage and untold millions in our region and around the globe continue to suffer grievously,” the message reads. "Outwardly, little seems to have changed.” Yet inwardly, the message reflects, Jesus Christ’s holy birth sparked a spiritual revolution that continues to transform countless hearts and minds towards the ways of justice, mercy, and peace. “For those families of the faithful who have remained in the Holy Land, as well as those who have joined us, it is our privilege to continue to testify to the sacred light of Christ in the very places where He was born, ministered, and offered Himself on our behalf, rising victoriously from the grave to a new resurrected life,” reads the message. “In this hopeful Christmas spirit, we give thanks to the Almighty for the recent ceasefire between two of the warring parties in our region, and we call for it to be expanded into Gaza and many other places, bringing an end to the wars that have plagued our part of the world.” The message also appeals for the release of all prisoners and captives, the return of the homeless and displaced, the treatment of the sick and wounded, the relief of those who hunger and thirst, the restoration of unjustly seized or threatened properties, and the rebuilding of all public and private civilian structures that have been damaged or destroyed. “Finally, during this sacred Christmas season and beyond, we call upon all Christians and those of goodwill around the world to join us in praying and working towards this noble mission, both in Christ’s homeland and wherever there is conflict and strife,” the message concludes. Full message by Patriarchs and Heads of Churches  Christmas message from the World Council of Churches WCC Christmas 2024 page  See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland