The current global economic crisis is not just a squeeze on lenders, borrowers and spenders. It also crunch time for the politicians and for the Christian churches, says Simon Barrow. Now is a time to be investing in practical alternatives.

Leaders of Eastern Orthodox churches recommitted themselves to overcome intra-Orthodox conflicts as well as to continue theological dialogues with Christians from other confessions at a 10-12 October meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.

Two Christian campaigners from Manchester have handed in a petition to 10 Downing Street at the close of the second week of their fortnight long protest camp in Parliament Square in London over the mistreatment of asylum seekers.

Tough questions are being raised over the implications over the British government’s plans to further increase and promote the role of faith groups in the management of offenders, both in prisons and in the community.

Meeting from 13-14 October 2008, the Methodist Council - a governing body for the Methodist Church in Britain - has backed a major Free Churches' initiative on the environment in the light of the reality of global warming.

The rapidly changing relationship between religion and state was the focus of a dialogue between ten Chinese and nine European scholars and religious leaders representing Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and traditional Chinese religions

A leading Christian social action charity, Faithworks, has announced that it is restructuring to focus on new ways of achieving its strategic priorities in the current difficult funding climate - including a new Charities Paliament.

Accord, the coalition concerned about the way faith schools currently operate and its impact on society, the new report by the Schools Adjudicator highlights the dangers of discriminatory admission policies and lack of regulation.

A Geneva-based network that promotes debate on ethical issues has launched a global online library, with more than 1 million documents, to help lessen the "digital divide" between the northern and southern hemispheres.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has commended Christian communicators for support that helped liberate his country from minority white rule, and has appealed for their continued assistance in the post-apartheid era.

Protestants in Germany are recalling the life of George K. A. Bell, an Anglican bishop who opposed the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler but also sharply criticised indiscriminate bombing of German cities during the Second World War.

The current global financial crisis is a spiritual one with usury at its heart, argues political economist Ann Pettifor. In spite of the Gospel message, Christians have also colluded in idolising wealth above people and planet.

Much contemporary human rights discourse is individualistic. But, Savi Hensman points out, human beings are also shaped by economic, social, cultural and religious forces which work for justice - or against it.

The global financial crisis should not derail progress on fighting poverty worldwide, religious leaders have said, adding that the current financial market turmoil makes attempts to tackle deprivation all the more urgent.

Amidst rapid social and political changes in Eastern and Central Europe, leading representatives of theological institutions in the region gathered in Romania recently to seek more mutual cooperation and development.