AR: Dutch Politician Marianne Thieme Continues to Lead the Party for the Animals

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rsz_mariannethieme_2 The Adventist Review recently ran a story on Marianne Thieme, the Dutch Politician who co-founded the Party for the Animals.[1] Despite criticism, the party has thrived in the Netherlands and has spread to other countries. "Thieme said her secret for success has been to live what she teaches, stand by her convictions, and determinedly press ahead despite opposition, remembering that heated emotions can be a catalyst for change." Thieme shares, “I have experienced that one can be successful by sticking to your ideals and by practicing what you preach.”

Although she is a Seventh-day Adventist, "never expect to see Thieme preaching on the job. The Party of the Animals is secular, and Thieme keeps matters of church and state strictly separate." A colleague reveals, “She doesn't believe in 'Christian politics'; therefore, she started a secular party. She strongly believes in the separation between church and state.”

Naturally, Thieme is a vegetarian, as is her husband, Jaap Korteweg (aka, The Vegetarian Butcher). The Adventist Review article looks into this part of her story:

While studying vegetarianism a decade ago, Thieme learned about Adventists and began to read books by Ellen White. She said she was struck by White’s message of compassion toward animals and her passionate plea for vegetarianism.

“I dare say she was an animal rights activist,” Thieme said.

One passage that particularly impressed her came from a chapter titled “Flesh as Food” in White’s book “Ministry of Health”: “Animals are often transported long distances and subjected to great suffering in reaching a market. Taken from the green pastures, and traveling for weary miles over the hot, dusty roads, or crowded into filthy cars, feverish and exhausted, often for many hours deprived of food and water, the poor creatures are driven to their death, that human beings may feast on the carcasses.”

“Together with my beliefs and my animal advocacy, the Adventist Church appealed to me and I became an Adventist in 2006,” Thieme said.

Her joy was short-lived, however. As she began to talk with other Adventists, she found that some downplayed White’s writings as old-fashioned.

“Old-fashioned? I was so surprised,” she said.

Thieme said she saw nothing 19th century in White’s writings about a healthier life with no animal products, her compassion toward animals, her advice not to smoke cigarettes, and the fact that Adventists were the first religious group with health programs to stop smoking and provide vegetarian products.

“Right now, at this moment, it’s a most relevant and current message,” she said.

She said Adventists should be more visible in ongoing global discussions about the impact of meat on climate change, obesity, animal welfare and a looming food crisis.

Read the entire story here. Note the additional resources at the end of that article, as well as these three:

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[1] Andrew McChesney, "Dutch Politician Finds Success in Practicing What She Preaches," Adventist Review (24 July 2014); http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/pioneering-dutch-politician-finds-success-in-practicing-what-she-preaches.

NOTE: See other APF articles about Thieme here.

ANN: Celebrating Religious Freedom in Zimbabwe

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csm_zim-web_2ffcdb29b1 "More than 4,000 Seventh-day Adventist youth marched from Harare city center to join over 30,000 Adventists at Glamis stadium to celebrate religious liberty in Zimbabwe on June 21," reports the Adventist News Network (ANN, 23 July 2014, link). "The Zimbabwe prisons band played for the Pathfinders who carried banners reading 'Celebrating Religious Liberty in Zimbabwe.'”

Excerpts:

The Guest of Honor, Minister of State in The President’s office Harare Province, Cde Miriam Chikukwa, spoke on government’s commitment to protect the constitution that guarantees religious liberty.

Paul Charles, Communication director for the denomination’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, told the gathering that the purpose of the function was for the Seventh-day Adventists to express their profound appreciation to the government of Zimbabwe for the religious freedom the church was enjoying. He urged the Adventists to respect those from other religions and denominations.

“The reason why we love each other, even though we do not know each other is that in you I see the image of God and in me you see the image of God,” Charles said.

View the entire article here.

Adventist Peacemaker Noticed by Review Magazine After Flight MH17 Tragedy [UPDATED]

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640px-Boeing_777-2H6ER_9M-MRD_Malaysian_(6658105143) The Adventist Review reports that "Frieda Souhuwat-Tomasoa, had booked a seat on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on July 17."[1] However, because "she wanted to arrive at her destination earlier, she at the last minute changed to a flight a day earlier on Emirates." The flight was shot down while passing through eastern Ukrainian airspace.

Her purpose for traveling:

Souhuwat-Tomasoa, a member of the Executive Committee of the Netherlands Union Conference and an elder at her local Adventist church, Rotterdam-North, was traveling to Ambon, Indonesia, to assist in a United Nations mandate to reconcile people in an area buffeted by sectarian conflict a decade ago.

She frequently travels to Ambon, located on Maluku Islands, just to the east of the island of Sulawesi, as an active participant in the UN program, Altink said.

Read the original AR story here.

UPDATE: On July 25 the Adventist Review posted a follow-up story describing Souhuwat-Tomasoa's peacebuilding efforts in Indonesia.[2] She was making an"emergency visit to Ambon, Indonesia, where a major conference that she was organizing was on the brink of collapse."  Souhuwat-Tomasoa works for "UNPO, a Hague-based organization that seeks to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts that affect indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognized or occupied territories."

The article reports:

Souhuwat-Tomasoa, a member of the Netherlands Union Conference’s Executive Committee and an elder at her local Rotterdam-North church, retired from a career in Dutch government service but remains active with UNPO, which she joined in 1991.

She serves as a representative of the people of the Maluku Islands, where a conflict erupted between Christians and Muslims in the regional capital, Ambon, in 1999. The sectarian violence, which saw entire villages burned down, raged until 2003 and killed an estimated 10,000 people.

Souhuwat-Tomasoa was present in Ambon during the violence and used her position with UNPO to steer shiploads of food and clothing from ADRA, the Adventist relief agency, to those who needed assistance.

She also helped facilitate a peace agreement that ended the fighting and has engaged in efforts to rebuild the shattered region, again working with the Netherlands branch of ADRA. She said the four years of fighting left many orphans and people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

When a multiyear study found that the Maluku Islands are the second poorest of Indonesia’s 33 provinces and its inhabitants are among the least educated in the country, UNPO decided to organize a major conference to create understanding and insight into local problems and to help shape the province’s policy. Souhuwat-Tomasoa set to work organizing the conference with Ambon’s three largest universities.

The entire article with more details is accessible here.

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[1] Andrew McChesney, "Dutch Adventist Leader Changed Malaysia Airlines Ticket at Last Minute," Adventist Review (22 July 2014); http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/dutch-adventist-leader-changed-malaysian-airlines-ticket-at-last-minute.

[2] Andrew McChesney, "She Missed Flight 17 Because of the Sabbath," Adventist Review (25 July 2014); http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/dutch-adventist-missed-malaysian-airlines-flight-because-of-sabbath.

Adventist Pilot Gary Roberts Supports Conservation Efforts in Chad

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Herd_of_Elephants Spectrum reports that Gary Roberts was included in a Smithsonian article on elephant conservation--"Christians and Conservation" (Sterling Spence, 21 July 2014). Roberts "flew to the aid of local conservationists to investigate reports of a mass killing and attempted to save the life of a single 9-month old calf."

Spence concludes, "As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to look at the world through the lens of the gospel. What conversations do you think the community should have when addressed with issues of conservation, consumption, and climate change?"

Spectrum Article

Smithsonian Article

Four Pioneering Adventist Peace Churches

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10197515_GFFW_NEwZRn3uYgVG1EJU8y2_wn7Kzh9yl2OTUDnas4The APF provides a certification program for churches committed to working for peace and social justice as an integral part of their identity and mission so that they can become part of a public Adventist Peace Church network. The following four pioneering churches have passed official motions to become part of the Adventist Peace Church movement: Anaheim SDA Church 900 Sunkist St. Anaheim, CA 92806 www.anaheimadventist.org

Glendale City Church 610 E. California Ave. Glendale, CA 91206-3701 www.glendalecitychurch.org

Advent Hope Church 111 E. 87th St.(between Park and Lexington) New York, NY 10128 www.adventhope.org

Hollywood SDA Church 1711 N Van Ness Ave Los Angeles, CA 90028 www.hollywoodsda.org.org

The certification process to become an Adventist Peace Church takes approximately one year to complete and includes the following steps (also posted on the APF website):

1) Churches must become registered applicants for Adventist Peace Church certification by notifying the APF by email of their desire to join the Adventist Peace Church network.

2) Church boards must pass a motion—such as the APF model resolution for churches—affirming basic principles of Christian peace witness and concern for matters of social justice as integral to their identity and mission, as well as expressing a desire to be publicly identified as an Adventist Peace Church.

3) Churches must identify one or more of the following core campaigns to emphasize in their work with a long-term commitment to building relationships and developing action strategies appropriate to their local contexts: care for creation, economic justice, peacemaking and reconciliation, racial and gender justice, health and human rights.

4) Over a one year period, church congregations must engage in three concrete actions or conscious-raising events in their local communities in partnership with non-members to address peace and justice concerns.

5) Over a one year period, churches must include at least three worship services that emphasize peace and justice themes.

6) On a designated weekend (such as Fourth of July or Memorial Day weekend), all Adventist Peace Churches will hold services that with sensitivity and respect for all members recall the Adventist heritage of peacemaking and conscientious objection in times of war, mourn the victims of violence (both civilians and combatants), and focus attention on the work of individuals around the world whose commitment to peacemaking places them in danger and hardship.

7) Upon completion of these steps, churches will be officially designated by the APF as Adventist Peace Churches. They should notify their Union and Division papers of the steps they have taken and wherever appropriate encourage their sister churches to join the Peace Church network.

8) In order to remain an active Adventist Peace Church, congregations must continue to follow steps 4-6 or other processes or actions voted by the Adventist Peace Church network as a whole on an annual basis (with accountability to other Peace churches).

AR: Adventists Team Up With Panama University to Fight Violence

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"President of the University of Panama Dr. Gustavo Garcia De Paredes (left) together to President of the Adventist Church in East Panama Pastor Jose De Gracia sign special agreement on May 15, 2014, at the campus of the University of Panama in Panama City, Panama. Both entities will join efforts in developing initiatives to counter the growing violence affecting the most vulnerable sectors in the Central American country. Image courtesy of East Panama Conference/IAD http://www.interamerica.org/?p=12222#axzz36EkE4Akj The Adventist Review reports that "Seventh-day Adventist church in Panama has signed an agreement with the University of Panama in Panama City to develop initiatives to counter growing violence in the Central American country" (IAD Staff, 2 July 2014, link). The article continues, "Under the agreement, the church and the state university will conduct joint research about young people, carry out early detection and prevention of domestic violence, and promote family unity with special programs and activities."

The complete article can be read here.

Joanna Darby on the Basis for Creation Care

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greenJoanna Darby recorded a short video on creation care for Brad Rea's YouTube channel, Seventh-day Adventist Fans of Jesus--Toward an Adventist perspective on Christian Environmental Ethics. Brad asked Joanna to share her thoughts on camera because she often preaches about a Christian approach to sustainable living and because he values her belief that Christians should be Environmental activists in their own way.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5R8gbNssIw?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Here is the video's YouTube description:

Published on Jan 31, 2014

"Creation Care" - An Adventist's perspective on Christian Environmental ethics, and the need to look after God's natural creation - the world around us.

Popular SDA speaker Joanna Darby talks about a Christian environmental ethic in light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Joanna Darby (Jo Darby) is a popular Seventh-day Adventist speaker at youth rallies, church services, SDA Summer Camps, The One Project, and church retreats. Joanna is also a writer and artist.

Visit Joanna Darby's website at - http://www.joannadarby.com

Video title: Toward an Adventist perspective on Christian Environmental ethics - Joanna Darby "Creation Care" Music by Mark Robinson.

 

SDA Church’s Euro-Asia Division President Calls Adventists to Pray for Peace in Ukraine

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Wikimedia Commons "The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Euro-Asia Division is calling on all Adventists to pray for peace in Ukraine," according to APD and Adventist Today (link, 28 June 2014). Furthermore, he "has urged church members to give a donation to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in support of people who have lost their homes and belongings in the unrest."

The article continues:

Pastor Guillermo Biaggi declared Sabbath, June 28, a day of prayer across the division, which includes Ukraine, Russia and 10 other former Soviet republics as well as Afghanistan. His call comes nearly four months after Adventist leaders in Russia and Ukraine released a joint statement advocating for peacekeeping efforts.

“We pray for wisdom from heaven to guide the countries’ leadership toward a peaceful resolution,” Biaggi said last Thursday. “We want to see peace in order to avoid losing lives as we have in the past few days.”

The complete article can be read at Adventist Today.

International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty Convenes in Geneva

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csm_eud-web_2199c9c8d9 The Adventist News Network (ANN) reports that on June 10, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) "co-sponsored a panel discussion on the sidelines of the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council."

ANN story excerpts:

The Adventist-affiliated group AIDLR got a welcomed boost in visibility this month by organizing its first event at the United Nations office in Geneva, organizers said.

Panelists at the June 10 event, titled “Worldwide Human Rights, Religious Liberty and Religious Minorities,” cautioned that religious freedoms risked being curbed if efforts weren’t made to better coordinate the work of the UN, European Union and other entities that have various approaches to human rights. (Complete article, 24 June 2014).

In addition to the panel discussion, AIDLR released a book during the gathering. The Religion and Law Consortium shares:

The special edition of AIDLR's "Conscience and Liberty" entitled "Worldwide Human Rights and Religious Liberty. A New Equilibrium or New Challenges Volume I" was launched with some of the authors presenting their contributions. The book contains articles, statements and reflection of four UN Secretaries-General, UN High Commissioners of Human Rights, ambassadors, scholars, religious leaders as well as testimonies or letters of former presidents of the Honorary  Committee of AIDLR including Eleanor Roosevelt, Rene Cassin, Leopold Sedar Senghor, and Mary Robinson. (UN Side Event, 10 June 2014)

Loma Linda Study Links Diet and Climate Change

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West_Show_Jersey_July_2010_11 A Loma Linda study finds a beneficial connection between a vegetarian diet and climate change, reports the Adventist Review ("Vegetarian Diet Is Effective Tool Against Climate Change, Study Finds," June 26, 2014, link).

Excerpts:

The research, published in the upcoming July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that a vegetarian diet results in nearly a third less greenhouse gas emissions than a diet with animal products.

"To our knowledge, no studies have yet used a single non-simulated data set to independently assess the climate change mitigation potential and actual health outcomes for the same dietary patterns," said Joan Sabaté, a study co-author and a nutrition professor at Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

The study argues that a global shift toward plant-based diets would help protect people against food shortages by increasing food security and sustainability.

The complete article is available on the Adventist Review website.

Symposium on the Impact of WWI on Adventism

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British_wounded_Bernafay_Wood_19_July_1916 The Institute of Adventist Studies at Friendensau Adventist University (Theologische Hochschule Friedensau), hosted a symposium May 12-15 on the Impact of World War I on Seventh-day Adventism (event website). Sixteen presenters and over one hundred auditors, representing twelve countries, gathered at the school near Berlin, Germany, to discuss three broad areas relevant to this time period—the failure of apocalyptic prophecy (the Eastern Question of WWI), Adventist involvement in war, and the emergence of the Reform Movement.

I attended as a representative of Adventist Today, submitting daily reports on the symposium. In addition, I was given a 15-minute time slot at the event to promote the Adventist Peace Fellowship. Approximately half of this time was used for question-and-answer dialogue. During the open discussion, I appreciated the support of APF co-founder Doug Morgan, who was a presenter at the event.

Following is a brief overview of the content covered at the symposium, along with links to media coverage of the event.

Apocalyptic Prophecy and Interpretation

Three presentations looked at the failure of Adventist prophetic teachings centering on WWI—the Eastern Question. At the time, Adventists focused their evangelism on the Ottoman Empire, predicting it would move its capital to Jerusalem, ushering in Armageddon and the end of the age. With the transition of the Ottoman Empire into modern Turkey with no seat in Jerusalem, this prophetic interpretation had to be abandoned.

Adventists and the Challenge of War

This topic consumed the bulk of the event's time and attention. Including George Knight's key note address to kick off the symposium, twelve presentations were given, covering a range of countries affected by WWI—the United States of America, Germany, Great Britain, France, Russia, Denmark, South Africa, Australia, Italy and more.

The range of issues covered in these presentations was compelling—conscription/draft, religious freedom, conscientious objection, church-state relations, nationalism, and the tension between pragmatism and idealism. These issues could have consumed much more time than the four-day symposium allowed.

The Church, The Prophet and the Reform Movements

The third major area dealt with the development of the Reform Movement, first in Germany but also in several other European countries. When church leaders in Germany informed the government that Adventists would participate in armed combat and would act on Sabbath as other soldiers do on Sunday, a minority of church members refused to comply. Amidst protest, these Adventists were disfellowshiped, and their stance on Sabbath and nonviolence led many to be imprisoned, with some even dying for their faith. Seventh-day Adventists at times reported on the reformers to authorities and even witnessed against them, which naturally contributed to friction between the groups.

After WWI ended, General Conference leaders clarified the error of the German leaders' decision, but the attempts at reconciliation failed, thus setting the reform movement on a path toward forming a new denomination, the Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement (sometimes referred to as the German Reform Movement, though this label misses the larger nature of the movement). This group eventually split again in 1951, with one faction adding the phrase International Missionary Society (IMS) to their name. Together, these two entities have approximately 70,000 members, with operations in 120 countries. Since the early schism, the Reform Movement has developed other disagreements with the mainstream Seventh-day Adventist Church.

On Wednesday evening, event organizer Rolf Pöhler read a recently-released statement by German Seventh-day Adventist leaders apologizing for the decisions and actions of 1914. After this statement, symposium participants associated with the IMS and SDA churches clasped hands, expressing a level of warming between the groups. While disagreements continue between the two groups on a handful of issues, the symbolic action appeared to be meaningful for those present.

Publication

The papers presented at the symposium, along with chapters addressing Canada and Romania, will be revised and published as a book. Adventist peacemakers will likely find this volume to be quite informative and engaging, making it an important publication along with books such as Seventh-day Adventists in Time of War (Wilcox, 1936), Adventism and the American Republic (Morgan, 2001), The Peacemaking Remnant (Morgan, 2005), The Promise of Peace (Scriven, 2009), and Should I fight? (Bussey, 2011).

These were the presenters: George Knight, Jón Stefánsson, Bert Haloviak, Rolf Pöhler, Douglas Morgan, Ronald Lawson, Denis Kaiser, Eugene Zaitsev, Richard Müller, Jeff Crocombe, Daniel Reynaud, Gilbert Valentine, Stefan Höschele, Johannes Hartlapp, Idel Suarez, Jr., Woonsan Kang, Michael Pearson, and Reinder Bruinsma.

Media Coverage

You can learn more about the event through the following media reports:

Symposium participant Denis Kaiser will be publishing an article about the gathering for Adventist World. This will likely appear in the August 2014 edition, marking 100 years since the start of WWI. We will link to Kaiser's article when it is available online.

Glen Stassen Passes Away

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glen-stassenGlen Stassen, noted Baptist theologian and peace advocate, passed away April 26 at the age of 78.

APF co-founder and current treasurer Doug Morgan shares:

I found the “just peacemaking” approach that Glen Stassen developed enormously helpful in overcoming the sometimes tiresome pacifism/just war debate. It called pacifists beyond nonviolence to active peacemaking and just war advocates to engage in practices that would reduce the likelihood of war. Along with intellectual rigor, a heartfelt commitment to Jesus came through his writing that challenged and inspired me.

I concur. As a graduate student in peace studies, I read a number of his original and edited works, such as Kingdom Ethics (2003), Just Peacemaking (2008), andThe War of the Lamb (Yoder, 2009). Later I shared lunch with him at a peace conference, and I found him to be friendly and engaging. His love for Jesus--and the way of Jesus--always came through.

Below are excerpts from a tribute written by David Gushee, who co-wrote Kingdom Ethics with Stassen:

Glen Stassen was a scholar of Christian ethics. He loved his work. He loved reading everything in Christian ethics. He loved talking about Christian ethics. He loved arguing with people about the best directions for Christian ethics. He will leave behind a vast library of well-marked books in Christian ethics, which for him meant biblical studies, theology, political science, economics, science, international relations, peace and war studies, and ethics proper. Those marked-up books help symbolize his epic engagement with the field.

Glen was an activist. His earliest activism was in civil rights. He was at the March on Washington in 1963. He did civil rights work everywhere he went in the 1960s and 1970s. But most who knew him later will remember him as a peace activist, especially against the threat of nuclear annihilation. This was one of my very first intersections with him. Trained in nuclear physics, Glen knew exactly what destructive power humans had unleashed. Glen became a leading activist against nuclear weapons during the Cold War and helped the global, not just Christian, anti-nuclear movement refine its theory, message, and strategy.

Gushee's tribute can be read in full here--Sojourners.

Adventist Demonstrator in Ukraine Shares Motivation

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Serhiy-Horokhovskyy

On February 20 of this year, APF reported on the actions of Union College graduate Serhiy Horokhovskyy, who was active in the political protests (article here). Horokhovskky recently share with Adventist Today about his experiences during the demonstrations. Here is an excerpt:

Jeff Boyd: What motivated you to join in the protests?

Serhiy Horokhovskyy: Honestly, my motivation and desire to join had a few stages. First, I would just come and see what all the fuss is about, the whole country was talking about Maidan (the main square of Kyiv, where all these protests and confrontations took place), but most of things I heard were from the people that knew nothing about the situation or from people that were fed only by the media. I decided to go from time to time to listen to the speeches and to find out what the people stand for. I am not indifferent to the fate of my country. I went there to protest injustice, corruption, violence of those who swore to protect us, etc. When the situation got violent, I knew that I had to be there as a citizen and as a Christian. As a citizen, I tried to protect the helpless, and as a Christian, I needed to help the wounded.

The complete interview is accessible here for people with an AToday membership.

Open House at The Center and & Library for the Bible and Social Justice

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CLB-LOgo2The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice will host an open house on April 4, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. (17 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, New York 10980). "Join us for a reception at the Library, stay for dinner ($15.00), or come for dessert and a dialogue between Norman Gottwald and R. Douglas Bendall as they talk about the relevance of the Center and Library to the work for social justice in the classroom, in the pulpit, and in the street. RSVP info@clbsj.org or 845-405-6470."

In addition to the amenities for respite, retreat and research, CLBSJ’s 6,000+ volume library includes the past six years of acquisitions by the Lehman Library of F.O.R. and the libraries of half a dozen scholars and activists including Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Professors Norman Gottwald and Jack Elliott, and Mark Johnson.

What could the Center & Library offer you?

  • Fully catalogued in renovated space, a library and conferencing venue to support scholarship and engaged activism: Students, Faculty, Activists, Pastors, Researchers, Preachers, Advocates, Seminarians, Movement Builders, Writers, Liturgists, Librarians, Lay Leaders, Seekers.
  • With 6000+ volumes that extend over the fields of study of the Bible, philosophy, ethics and their intersection with anthropology, sociology, economy, ecology, political science, history, CLBSJ represents a rich and concentrated research base.
  • On the campus of a 180-bed retreat center, served though the hospitality of its Community of Living Traditions, with the capacity to support residences and host symposia, colloquia, dialogues, a relaxed, safe setting in which to explore difficult questions, deep concerns.

International Symposium: The Impact of World War I on Seventh-day Adventism

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wwi18The Institute of Adventist Studies at Friedensau University will host an international symposium entitled "The Impact of World War I on Seventh-day Adventism" (Germany, May 12–15, 2014). One hundred years ago, the so-called “Great War” broke out, which not only shaped the history of the 20th century in Europe and beyond, but also had lasting repercussions on the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For this reason, the Institute of Adventist Studies is organizing an academic symposium in Friedensau, Germany.

Scholars and interested individuals are invited to participate in this conference and hear/discuss the findings of 16 internationally known researchers. The symposium deals mainly with the following issues: prophetic interpretation (“The sick man at the Bosporus”), Adventists und military service, and the so-called “Reform Movement”, the largest offshoot in the history of the denomination. The conference language is English.

The 16 presenters are: George Knight, Bert Haloviak, Ronald Lawson, Douglas Morgan, Gilbert Valentine (all USA); Daniel Reynaud (Australia), Michael Pearson (Great Britain), Reinder Bruinsma (Netherlands), Richard Müller (Denmark), Hjorleifur Stefánsson (Iceland), Eugene Zaitsev (Russia); Denis Kaiser, Johannes Hartlapp, Daniel Heinz, Stefan Höschele und Rolf Pöhler (Germany).

Event Details

Registration: gaestehaus@thh-friedensau.de; Phone ++49-3921-916-160 (office) and ++49-175-5742677 (mobile)

Location: Friedensau Adventist University, D-39291 Möckern-Friedensau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Learn more on the symposium website.

Union College Graduate Involved in Ukranian Protest

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531c0233236c5.preview-300Serhiy Horokhovskyy, who studied religion at Union College, is currently involved in the political protests in Kiev, Ukraine, according to the Lincoln Journal Star ("Union College grad at the center of Ukrainian riots," Chris Dunker, 19 Feb 2014; the included picture is copied from Dunker's article as well). Excerpt:

Carrying heavy logs alongside priests and other Ukrainians, he spent Tuesday night stoking the fires preventing riot police from storming the protester camp in Kiev’s Independence Square.

Talking by video chat late Wednesday morning, Horokhovskyy said he planned to return to the barricades Wednesday night to keep the fires going, carry out the wounded and keep standing for what he believes is the right future for his country.

But he realizes the circumstances have changed drastically after 25 people -- including nine police officers -- were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in Tuesday night riots, prompting President Viktor Yanukovych to promise a swift crackdown on “extremist groups” who began as peaceful protesters in November.

The complete article can be accessed on the Lincoln Journal Star website.

Anti-Defamation League Honors John Weidner Posthumously

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WeidnerThe Anti-Defamation League recently honored John Weidner posthumously. During WWII Weidner formed the Dutch-Paris, an underground network responsible for smuggling more than 1,000 Jews and others out of the reach of Nazi forces. Spectrum reported on the story in late January (First-ever posthumous award from the Anti-Defamation League to an Adventist, 31 Jan 2014), and the award was given in early February. Excerpt from the Spectrum article:

At its annual meeting in February, the Anti-Defamation League will present the Jan Karski “Courage to Care” award to a man credited for saving over 1,000 Jewish men, women, and children, Allied pilots, and political opponents of the Nazis during the Second World War.

The coveted award will go Johan Hendrick (John Henry) Weidner who, at the age of 29, founded Dutch-Paris which became the largest and most successful underground network rescuing people being persecuted for their faith or race. In its heyday, some 300 people participated in the underground which escorted refugees over the Alps to safety in neutral Switzerland or Spain. For his efforts, Weidner became one of the most sought of the underground leaders of France, and for whom the Gestapo offered five million francs for his arrest.

On February 7, 2014, The Anti-Defamation League posted three stories about the award:

Additional resources about John Weidner and the Dutch-Paris:

Articles

Books 

Films

Websites