Solidarity Statements & Prayer Requests

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As Christians we stand in solidarity with all people and especially those who stand on the edges of society. We post prayers and messages of solidarity in support of other students, SCMs and Christians around the world.

  1. WSCF-E Calls for Equal Rights of Sexual Minorities in Russia

    WSCF Europe wishes to express solidarity with Russian LGBT community in the times of rising homophobia in the country, expressed in the brutal incident in Volgograd. 

    On 10 May, 23-years old Vladislav Tornovoi was murdered in Volgograd by his two friends after coming out as gay. This brutal and shocking act illustrates the intensity of homophobic prejudices within parts of the population in Russia, which clearly shows that these are not to be taken lightly. This incident increases the worries about the state-sanctioned homophobic policy that is being pursued in Russia. In January the article 6.13.1. of the Code of Administrative offences banning “Propaganda of homosexualism among minors”, which would effectively criminalise any self-identification of people as gay in public spaces, passed its first reading in the Russian parliament. The second reading is planned for 25 May. This law would presumably serve as a source of further development of homophobic attitudes within Russian society. This brutal murder has shown once again that failure to confront and overcome intolerance can have fatal effects.

    Therefore WSCF Europe calls all Christians in Russia and elsewhere to raise their voice to support efforts for equal human and civil rights of sexual minorities in the country. It is our duty as followers of Jesus Christ to stand for those who are suppressed and marginalized.

    We remain in prayer for the victim’s family and for everyone who falls victim of hate crimes.

     

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on May 16th, 2013 12:03 pm / Continue Reading »

  2. Joint Communique on the Abduction of Bishop Paul & Bishop John

    The World Student Christian Federation joins many others in the churches and ecumenical community in calling our members and friends to pray for the two bishops kidnapped in Syria and for and end to the ongoing tension and violence in the region.

    Our Middle East Region has requested that we share the following joint statement released by the Greek Orthodox and Syriac Patriarchates. This statement offers guidance to all of us as we struggle to know how to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Syria during this time and how to pray. Please share widely.

     

    On Monday the 22.04.2013, we were surprised by the news that our brothers Bishop Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo and Alexandretta and Bishop John (Ibrahim) Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo, have been kidnapped on their way back to Aleppo after accomplishing a humanitarian mission. We deeply regret what happened as we regret all similar acts targeting civilians, regardless of their belonging and therefore we address to the local and international communities the following declaration:

    1- The Christians living here are an essential part of their lands. They suffer the pain every person suffers, work as messengers of peace to lift the injustice off every oppressed: They follow the teaching of their Gospel telling them that love is the basis of human relations. The official positions issued by the spiritual leaders of the various churches, are the best expression in this respect and the mission fulfilled by the two kidnapped bishops is but a further proof of this orientation.

    2- The Christians in this East are deeply sorrowed by what their countries are going through, namely violence that is spreading and killing the sons of the one country and exposing their lives to various dangers of which kidnapping, that represents one of its the most horrible expressions due to its absurdity, and ist jeopardizing of the lives of the peaceful and unarmed individuals. We call the kidnappers to respect the life of the two kidnapped brothers as well as everyone to put an end to all the acts that create confessional and sectarian schisms among the sons of the one country.

    3- We understand the anxiousness of the Christians because of what happened and call them to patience, to hold on to the teachings of their faith, and to rely on God whose strength lies in our weakness. For defending our land means first of all to hold on to it and to work on making it a land of love and coexistence. We are also aware that all citizens from all confessions suffer the same pain due to such acts, and we pray that the Lord may strengthen them in their difficulties. We support them to raise the voice high in refusing all sorts of violence tearing up our countries and making our hearts bleed.

    4- In this painful situation, we can but call the whole world to try putting an end to the Syrian crisis so that Syria becomes again a garden of love, security and coexistence.

    Settling accounts should not happen at the expense of the human beings who live here.

    5- We also call all the churches in the whole world to stand fast in the face of what is going on and witness to their faith in the power of love in this world. It is necessary to take steps that reflect their refusal to all kinds of violence hitting the human beings living in the East.

    6- We take the opportunity to call our partners in citizenship, from all islamic confessions, to stand hand in hand and work on refusing the misuse of man and deal with him as a product, a shield in the battles or a means for monetary or political bribery.

    7- Finally we address the kidnappers and tell them that those whom they kidnapped are messengers of peace in this world. Their religious, social and national work witnesses for them. We call them to deal with this painful accident away from any tension that serves only the enemies of this country.

    We pray the Lord in these blessed times so that this crisis quickly ends and that the souls of all our brothers and sisters regain their security and peace, so that our country enjoys the prosperity and peace it deserves.

    Patriarch John X Yazigi

    Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 25th, 2013 12:04 pm / Continue Reading »

  3. Call for a Prayer for Korea’s reconciliation

    The National Council of Churches in Korea has released the statement concerning the present political situation in the Korean Peninsula. 

    The statement consists of the letter by the NCCK General Secretary Rev. Dr. Kim Young-Ju which we publish in its full form, and the petition for peace on the Korean Peninsula which you will find by clicking on the link below. 

    Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

    I am very worried about the deteriorating situation on the Korean peninsula. Since the Korean war, the confrontation and tension of South and North Korea has been of serious significance. No one cannot predict how the situation will progress, and my prayerful hope is that the instability of the Korean peninsula should be resolved so that the close relationship between South and North Korea may be recovered.

    This sombre situation of the two Koreas needs to be understood by Christians and all people in the world, for the body of Christ is one and each one of us is a part of it. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it”. (1 Corinthians 12:26, NIV). The National Council of Churches held an emergency prayer for peace and discussion related to the urgent crisis on the Korean peninsula on April 5 and also released ‘The urgent statement for peace of the Korean peninsula’. Please kindly find attached the Friday statement of the NCCK.

    In terms of the threatened confrontations, it is of vital importance to direct our prayers to God, since He is the only One with absolute authority over all situations. It is a great and comforting thought that the leader’s heart is in God’s hand, as asserted by the writer of Proverbs: “In the Lord’s hand is the king’s heart.” (Proverbs 21:1. NIV)

    Therefore, the NCCK is asking you to to show solidarity joining as a whole Christian family in prayer for Korea’s peaceful reconcilliation and reunification. Your cooperation and  solidarity are needed to stabilize the fractured Korean peninsula.

    Sincerely

    Rev. Dr. Kim Young-Ju

    General Secretary,
    The National Council of Churches in Korea

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 11th, 2013 1:01 pm / Continue Reading »

  4. WSCF Europe prays for the new Pope

    WSCF Europe congratulates the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church on the election of a new Pope. We would like to express the strong hope that the election of Pope Francis would provide a new impetus for the Roman Catholic Church as well as the whole of Christianity.

    The personal story of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio and his first gestures of humility as Pope Francis encourage us to believe that the Roman Catholic Church will stand even stronger for the rights of those who are vulnerable and marginalised. As the new Pope is part of a religious order (The Jesuits) whose members take a vow of poverty and make solidarity with the poor a central tenet of their ministry, we express our hope that this desire to be in solidarity with the poor will be a model for the Roman Catholic as well as other churches. We pray for all Christians, including ourselves, that we fully realise that we cannot worship and live in community with our God truthfully, while rejecting the equal claims to dignity and just livelihood of those who are poor and excluded

    WSCF Europe, as part of global federation of Student Christian Movements, appreciates that the Roman Catholic Church, for the first time in electing a Pope from Argentina, is reflecting, a shift from the traditional centre of Christianity to the global South. We recognize this step as a sign that the Roman Catholic Church is becoming more conscious of its internal cultural diversity.

    In the same sense, we encourage the Roman Catholic Church led by Pope Francis to continue to place an ever greater deepen emphasis on ecumenism and build on Cardinal Bergoglio’s already established reputation for inter-religious dialogue in Argentina. Furthermore we pray that the new Pope, together with Christians of all denominations will renew the face of the earth through the spreading the Spirit of the Gospel all over the world.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on March 19th, 2013 11:06 am / Continue Reading »

  5. WSCF Asia-Pacific Appeal for Solidarity

    This Solidarity Appeal was prepared by the WSCF Asia-Pacific Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee. It calls all members of Student Christian Movements to lobby on behalf of people who are harmed and threatened.

    Support the just cause of villagers in Odisha, India against POSCO steel project

    The peoples’ struggle in Orissa, India against the Korean Steel giant, the Pohang Steel Company (POSCO) is entering a new face of protest.

    On February 3rd 2013,State Police and POSCO goons attacked villagers who have been struggling for the past seven years to protect their land and livelihood. The attack happened at around 4AM on Feb. 3rd. As reported, twelve platoons of police forcefully entered the villages of Dhinkia and Govindpur to take over forest land. These villages have been at the centre of a seven year long resistance movement against POSCO which seeks to build a port and a steel plant in Jagatsinghpur District. On entering the village, police targeted women and children first. At least 6 women, children and elderly people were seriously injured; 50 people were arbitrarily detained and one arrested.

    Furthermore, from the 5th February onwards, police and Indian government officials have initiated forcible land acquisition procedures in the villages opposed to the proposed project.

    Background Information
    Since 2005, when POSCO started its project in India (so far the largest Foreign Direct Investment in India) the question of human rights violations and forest rights raised by the people have not yet been addressed by the federal and the state governments.

    The proposed steel plant is expected to affect seven villages in three Gram panchayats, namely Dhinkia, Nuagaon & Gadakujang, and will allow POSCO to extract 600 million tons of iron ore over the next 30 years. Census reports issued by the Government and by POSCO claim that about 400 families will be displaced by the project. According to figures from 2001, the three panchayats (villages) have 3,350 households, which adds up to 22,000 people who will be displaced. This discrepancy is partly due to anomalies in Government records which recognize only 438 acres out of 4000 acres as being privately owned, whilst in reality, most of the land has been under betel, cashew and other cultivation by adivasi (indigenous) communities for several generations. This is fertile land, and an average family involved in cashew farming earns about Rs. 20,000 ($500) per season. About 50% of the families are also involved in pisciculture (mostly prawns), for which the daily earnings per family can range between Rs. 100-5000 ($2.50-$125). In addition, there are many landless families that depend on ancillary employment like making baskets for packaging Paan leaves grown in the area.

    Around 4000 families who will be affected by the project do not want their home and livelihood sources to be ceded for construction of the integrated steel plant. The Gram Sabhas – the assembly of elders in the village/Panchayat – of the concerned villages have time and again reiterated their opposition to any acquisition of their land as the people will lose forest land, water bodies and rice-paddies in the area, which are important sources of livelihood.

    There is evidence of the land acquisition being unconstitutional as it violates the Forest Rights Act 2006 which states that no forest land can be diverted without the informed consent of the gram sabha (village council).

    Even the National Green Tribunal has suspended the environmental clearance given to the project. The actions of the government of Odisha with the support of the police and POSCO clearly violate several international human rights treaties, which have been ratified by India.

    Six years ago, 52 families who were forcefully evicted from Dhinkia Village now live in make shift shelters built by POSCO. What was meant to be a transit camp is now their permanent residence. Some of them are given a dole of Rs.20/- per day, which is insufficient to meet even basic needs.

    SAMPLE LETTER

    (Please Address separately the different agencies and government officials listed below.)

    Shri. Naveen Patnaik
    Chief Minister, Orissa

    At- Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road, P.O.-Bhubaneswar
    Dist.-Khurda, Pin-751001 (Orissa)

    Dear Sri Patnaik,

    Greetings!

    We write to express our utmost concern and condemnation of the violence unleashed by the police together with POSCO private security on February 3, 2013 against the villagers who were conducting a peaceful protest over the land-grabbing of POSCO for its industrial plants construction. Moreover, most of those hurt were women, children and elderly and most men villagers were threatened and arrested.

    We call on the government to hold accountable the police forces and private security who were involved in violence during the human-chain protest of the villagers.

    It should be noted that time and again the villagers stood for their right to livelihood, land and homes in those areas being forcibly acquired by the POSCO management thru its private goons and state police. The multi-million POSCO project planned on the vastness of 4, 004 acres of land will displace at least 4000 families in around seven villages in Jagatsinghpur District, Odisha Orissa.

    The recent October 2012 Assembly of Villagers once again united to vote against the POSCO project. This cemented the defiant struggle of the farmers and adivasis against the forcible displacement and possible exploitation of the people’s resources and resonates the peoples call for the cancellation of the POSCO project.

    We support the united and peaceful struggle of the villagers in defense of their land, livelihood and life.

    We further call on the state government under Shri. Naveen Patnaik and the central government of India to stop the violent attacks on the villagers and heed the just demand for the cancellation of the POSCO project.

    We hope that the Orissa and Indian central governments will adhere to international human rights norms, laws and conventions to which it is signatory.

    We greatly your attention to this letter.

    Sincerely,

    PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO

    1. Shri. Naveen Patnaik

    Chief Minister, Orissa

    At- Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road, P.O.-Bhubaneswar
    Dist.-Khurda, Pin-751001 (Orissa)
    Fax: +91-67-4253-5100
    E Mail: 

    2. Debadutta Singh

    Superintendent of Police

    Email:   (no fax number available)

    3. Chairperson

    National Human Rights Commission of India

    Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110 001

    Fax: +91-11-2334-0016

    Email: 

    4. Dr Manmohan Singh

    Prime Minister of India

    South Block, Raisana Hill
    New Delhi 110011
    INDIA

    Fax:  +91-11-2301-9454 /6857/5603
    Email: pmosb@pmo.nic.in; 

    5.  S.K. Mallick

    District  Collector, Jagatsinghpur

    Fax: +91-67-2422-0299

    6. Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya

    United Nations Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights Defenders

    Email:

    FAX: +41(0) 22.917.90.06

    7. Mr. Maina Kiai

    UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

    Palais des Nations

    CH-1211 Geneva 10
    Switzerland
    Fax : + 41 22 917 9006
    Email : 

     

    PREPARED BY THE WORLD STUDENT CHRISTIAN FEDERATION ASIA PACIFIC (HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMITTEE).

    PLEASE A COPY OF YOUR LETTER TO US.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on March 14th, 2013 11:40 am / Continue Reading »

  6. WSCF supports young Christians in Egypt

    The leadership of the World Student Christian Federation held its yearly Staff and Officers Meeting in Cairo, Egypt from 13 to 20 February 2013 in order to offer their presence and support to the Student Christian Movements in Egypt.

    WSCF’s leadership, which included the Chairperson, Treasurer, and General and Regional Secretaries, met with students, youth and church leaders to hear their perspectives on their faith and witness during this tumultuous time in Egypt’s history, and to reinforce the WSCF’s commitment to support their communities during the process of ongoing change in the country and region.

    A highlight of the WSCF leadership’s time in Egypt was meeting with students and youth from the eight Student Christian Movements. The students boldly expressed their fears, hopes, and dreams for their communities during this time of deep economic and political instability. Following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, the young people have a newfound understanding of what it means to be both Christians and citizens in their country – an understanding which has spurred them to increased activism on social and political levels.

    CopticPope

    The WSCF leadership team met with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II in Cairo. From left to right: Mohsen Edward, Christine Housel, Elsy Wakil, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Luciano Kovacs, Marcelo Leites, and Sunita Suna.

    However, the students shared with the WSCF team that their desire to play an increasingly active role in the future of their society is complicated by the economic pressures to leave Egypt to find secure jobs and peaceful livelihoods – a pressure which affects many Egyptian youth. They also shared that as Christians, and therefore minorities, they have fears about the fact that the new constitution does not give them the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

    In addition, the young Christians are impatient with the lack of unity between the churches and expressed their desire for churches in their community to move beyond their differences and intentionally work together to demonstrate the leadership and unity needed to transform their churches, communities, and society during this time.

    The students and youth called upon the WSCF’s leadership to support them by: offering support to their ongoing ecumenical work with young people; entering into high-level conversations with church and ecumenical bodies and leaders; and fostering greater communication between Student Christian Movements in the Federation’s six regions. They also expressed profound gratitude to the staff and officers for choosing to be present with them during this turbulent time.

    Egypt

    WSCF leadership team celebrates the Universal Day of Prayer for Students
    with representatives of the Federation’s movements in Egypt.

    The World Student Christian Federation commits itself to:
    • Offering renewed solidarity and support to Egypt and the Middle East Region during this extraordinary moment in history;
    • Communicating the concerns of the youth to the global church, ecumenical bodies, and wider world;
    • Encouraging and supporting the work of the Student Christian Movements;
    • Creating space for young voices to be heard;
    • Encouraging and facilitating Muslim Christian peace-building at all levels of the Federation;
    • Continuing to equip students and the Federation to play a role in the evolution and change happening in Egypt and the Middle East; and
    • Continuously hold our sisters and brothers in Egypt and the Middle East in prayer.

    “The Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
    Matthew 2:15

    Here you can download the full document.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on February 26th, 2013 9:35 am / Continue Reading »

  7. Universal Day of Prayer for Students

    World Student Christian Federation invites our members and friends to celebrate The Universal Day of Prayer for Students on 17 February 2013.

    The UDPS has been observed by the World Student Christian Federation since 1898, making it one of the oldest ecumenical days of prayer. The UDPS is one of the tangible signs of our common life and connection between students and senior friends of the Federation all around the world.

    This year’s theme is “God of Life, Lead Us to Justice and Peace”

    Here you will find the UDPS liturgy sourcebook prepared by the Student Christian Movement of Cuba,
    together with the WSCF Inter-Regional Office with material contributed by the Student Christian Movement of India.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on February 11th, 2013 10:58 am / Continue Reading »

  8. WSCF-E calls on Russian Parliament to reject Anti-LGBT bill 6.13.1

    The World Student Christian Federation in Europe wishes to pronounce its strong and unambiguous protest against legislative plans discussed in Russia at the moment to criminalise the self-expression and fundamental human freedom of sexual minorities, especially homosexual people.

     

    The article 6.13.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences banning “Propaganda of homosexualism among minors” currently debated in the Russian Parliament amounts to a violation of the basic human dignity of sexual minorities in the country and its passage would irretrievably undermine the claim of the Russian Federation to being an integrative and diverse state.

    As Christians, we firmly believe that all human beings, irrespective of their standing in man-made social, cultural, political and gender value systems and hierarchies, are created in the image and likeness of God. It is the basic human dignity that derives from this and that includes the right to personal self-realisation, also in the relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, that we as the WSCF-E feel called to vigorously defend in the face of the discriminatory legislation currently considered in the Russian parliament.

    We stand in solidarity with all groups and individuals in Russia bravely speaking out against this legislative proposal. We make our heartfelt appeal to the Church in Russia to raise its voice to support efforts for equal human and civil rights of sexual minorities in the country. We do not see this as a matter of theological controversy, but as a duty of Christians to support our oppressed and excluded brothers and sisters to which our discipleship in following Jesus Christ, who consistently challenged social exclusion of any kind, calls us.

    Therefore we urge the members of the Russian Duma to reconsider their stance towards this legislation and to reject it. We pray that mutual understanding and openness in Russian society will further grow and that the conviction takes hold that the rights and the freedom of the people are manifest in the dignity of social minorities along all the different lines. And we pray that the strength of the resolve that we find in our protest against this unjust legislation will help us to also speak out against other instances of discrimination and social exclusion, happening in all European countries and worldwide.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on January 21st, 2013 10:56 am / Continue Reading »

  9. Call for Solidarity with the Student Christian Movement in Santiago de Cuba

    WSCF Latin America and Caribbean  Regional Secretary Marcelo Leites calls for solidarity with the Student Christian Movement in Santiago de Cuba:

    In the early morning of October 25, Hurricane Sandy – which affected the majority of the Caribbean and the East Coast of the United States leaving thousands of materials lost and hundreds of human lives lost – hit Cuba principally affecting the eastern provinces, Santiago de Cuba was one of the provinces most affected. While Sandy was short lived in Cuba, the strong wind generated destruction unprecedented since 1963.

    These material losses are located around 150 thousand affected homes, with a large percentage of them completely destroyed. The electricity (which still has not been totally restored) and potable water were affected, in addition to cut off roads and highways, and serious damages to public buildings of health and education, businesses, restaurants, and hotels. The city and various towns of the province showed an image of desolation similar to the effects of a war-time bombing.

    Flooded fields, crop losses. Ranches for various animals absolutely destroyed and thousands of animals drowned.

    The World Student Christian Federation is making a call to its students, Senior Friends, Movements, Churches, civil society organizations, and individuals to solidarity with citizens of Santiago. The Student Christian Movement of Cuba has been developing joint actions with other actors from the Ecumenical World like the Cuban Council of Churches and the Martin Luther King Center. Many SCMers residing in Santiago have been affected on an individual level.

    “All of the SCMers here have been affected by Sandy: Guiorkys lost the roof of his house; Mercedes’ house partially collapsed; Liset had to escape running from her house when a piece of the roof fell and destroyed her son’s crib; in the middle of the night Alexander went out with his brother Edicito to retrieve their zines; and the rest of us, like one million people, went to sleep in the early morning of October 25 with the sound of strong winds, rain, and the movements of help to our neighbors who needed a friend’s roof,” says María de las Mercedes, an SCMer from Santiago.

    We call for solidarity in different ways, making a concrete call for donations to send to the Student Christian Movement in Santiago.

    These donations will be distributed by the SCM of Cuba to help SCMers and people in Santiago de Cuba to buy basic needs to live post-disaster. These can be food, cleaning products, clothes, materials for the home, and/or construction among others.

    We also want these donations to be able to create a space in the SCM for directing joint work to help in the emergency.

    We want to acknowledge the remarkable hope and faith of the Cuban people that undoubtedly will be an element in their speedy material recovery. We pray for the victims and celebrate the Faith with them. Dianet Martinez, President of Cuba’s SCM told us:

    “How sad to find, especially for those of us who knew the city before, a Santiago without trees and with so many losses, among them, homes! But our major finding, without a doubt, was to find warm, caring Santiago hospital that we knew before, ‘Hands and Hearts at work!’ and celebrating, above all, life and hope.”

    To donate send your contribution to:

    No.  190 0523 854

    SWIFT: BROUUYMM

    ABA: 026003324

    Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay

    Montevideo, Uruguay

     

    Greetings in solidarity

     

    Marcelo Leites

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on November 30th, 2012 1:04 pm / Continue Reading »

  10. World Council of Churches invokes prayers for hurricane victims

    The World Council of Church (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit calls for prayers for the people affected by Hurricane Sandy. In recent letters to the National Council of Churches in the United States and the Caribbean Conference of Churches Rev. Tveit says:

    “I write to assure you of the prayers of the World Council of Churches for all those who have been affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones or who now find themselves without a home.” 

    Tveit went on to say that “in this time of recovery when so many local churches are working together to offer emergency relief and support, we see a poignant reminder of how important the common witness and service of the ecumenical family is.”

    We encourage all our friends and supporters to join WCC general secretary and to pray for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on November 2nd, 2012 5:19 pm / Continue Reading »

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