World Council of Churches gives thanks for the life of Fr Georges Tsetsis

World Council of Churches gives thanks for the life of Fr Georges Tsetsis

Panorthodox Synod : ADDRESS BY ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT THE WCC TOWN-H...

Panorthodox Synod : ADDRESS BY ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT THE WCC TOWN-H...:   World Council of Churches Address by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the WCC Town-Hall Discussion on Interfaith Dia...

#WCC CC interviews - His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

WCC central committee opens in Geneva with prayer recalling 75th anniversary - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivers sermon in the Ecumenical Centre Chapel,Geneva,Switzerland,

WCC central committee opens in Geneva with prayer recalling 75th anniversary

Extraordinary Session: Patriarch Bartholomew to Switzerland

On 21 June 2020,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will fly to Geneva, Switzerland for an Extraordinary Session of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.The session will be held at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva.It will run from 23-26 June.
The agenda for the first day will be centered on the pastoral needs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.All the Metropolitans of Europe will attend,in addition to the standing members of the Synod.*
Founded in June 1966, the Orthodox Centre is compromised of the Institute for Postgraduate Studies in Orthodox Theology;
 Library of the Orthodox Centre; the Museum of Christian Art of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and the Church​ of St.Paul, Apostle to the Nations.*
Head of the Orthodox Centre is His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Switzerland.In the words of Patriarch Bartholomew at Metropolitan Maximos' enthronement in 2018, the Orthodox Centre is to be:
a dynamic place of dialogue,congresses, ecumenical meetings and other events in the service of unity, the promotion of Orthodoxy and Orthodox culture, through the emergence of the Centre's Museum.*

Major Protestant/OrthodoxTheological Conference Held in Geneva

An International Theological Conference on "The Anthropology of Luther:Protestant and Orthodox Approaches" was held from 7-8 November 2017 in Geneva,Switzerland.It was jointly organised  by the Postgraduate Institute of Orthodox Theology of The Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy;the Department of Theology of the University of Geneva;and the Swiss Institute of Systematic Theology and Ethics (IRSE).Distinguished speakers from Theological Schools and Universities in Switzerland;France;Germany;Greece;the UK;the US;and Lebanon attended.Sessions were held at The Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the University of Geneva.*
Topics addressed in the papers included:
"The Eccesiological Proposal of the Lutherans and the Theological Dialogue;"
"The Freedom of the Christian;"
 "Faith and Vindication;"
 "Sanctification and Theosis;"and,in conclusion,
 "Sola Fide:An Interpretive Approach" by His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate).
Other thought leaders presenting included His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos and His Eminence Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Ecumenical Patriarchate);Ambassador to the Vatican Dr.Tamara Grdzelidze (Republic of Georgia);Christoph Chalamet (University of Geneva);and Dr.Beate Bengard (University of Basle).*
The event closed with a piano recital in honour of the conferees at the Great Hall of the City Conservatory,organised by the Theological School of the University of Geneva.

Preparatory Meeting for Pan-Orthodox Council Called (Revised and Updated)

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will chair a meeting of delegations from the 14 autocephalous Orthodox Churches at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy,Switzerland from 21-28 January.The meeting is to make final preparations for the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church,which is scheduled to begin on Orthodox Pentecost Sunday,19 June 2016,at Haghia Irene,the ancient Church of St.Irene,in Constantinople (Istanbul).The rules of the Council must be finalised and any other remaining issues resolved.The meeting will evaluate and validate the texts to be proposed for approval at the Council.
Among those in attendance at Chambesy are Archbishop Demetrios of America;Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia;and Patriarch Daniel of Romania.Metropolitan Sawa of Poland and Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East could not attend for health reasons;while Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece could not come for personal reasons.All Churches have sent authorised delegations,however.The primates will concelebrate the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is being advised by theologians Metropolitan John of Pergamon and Metropolitan Emmanuel of France.He proposed that the length of the Great and Holy Council be two weeks and that a range of people,including representatives of the Orthodox clergy and laity,as well as media and non-Orthodox ecumenical observers,be invited to the Council.*
The Council has been many decades in the making.It will seek to convey the Orthodox Church's message to the modern world at large,as well as work to normalise her internal affairs and guide her external relations with other Christian churches and other religions.

Searching For Yield:Bank Loans,Gold and IBM

We think ultimately rates are going to be heading higher,said Mark Kiesel,PIMCO CIO and co-manager of the firm's iconic income fund,the Total Return Fund.You're better off investing in bank loans at 4-5% yield.You're not going to get that with bonds today.It's also a sign of global disinflation.With bank loans,you're investing in a structure that protects you.MGM and Hilton are offering 4-5% on bank loans.
As of 9-26,we've outperformed about 90% internationally at the Total Return Fund.TIPS,or Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,are very cheap,favouring international markets like Brazil and Mexico.We have a great story at Total Return Fund.
Morningstar Associates gives the Total Return Fund three out of four stars and considers it to be world class.
Bank loans in the form of mortgage-backed securities are commonly in the portfolios of income funds,including the Total Return Fund.*
Most of the damage done by the Swiss central bank,which of a sudden lifted a three-year-old cap on the Swiss franc, probably occurred in retail debts.I don't think there will be anything untoward that happened to US banks.I think it just causes greater disrespect for central banks generally,said Dennis Gartman,editor of The Gartman Letter.
I've been long gold and short euros,and that's been very beneficial.I see no reason to think that strong gold's going to change.The Swiss move is going to be detrimental to their currencies and strong to gold.*
IBM reported earnings per share of 5.81,in line with the estimate.Revenue was 24.11 billion,falling a bit short of the 24.77 billion estimate.Currency fluctuations and divestitures hurt their revenue.I think it's a step in the right direction,said Daniel Ives of FBR Capital Markets.Can this company succeed in the cloud?The outlook going forward is really the elephant in the room for investors.Given the playbook,it's about IBM giving investors comfort in the cloud transition.*
PIMCO Total Return Fund Class A(PTTAX),International Business Machines(IBM),Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF(GDX)

The Geneva Syria Talks:Change and Danger

Secretary of State John Kerry is headed for Geneva,Switzerland for two days of talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.Each side will bring technical experts to assess the proposed turnover of Syria's chemical weapons to international supervision and evaluate the way forward,according to White House spokesman Jay Carney.At the same time,there are discussions at the UN to frame a Security Council resolution on the matter.We are working with Great Britain and France on the resolution.
The process needs to be credible and verifiable.After 20 years,Syria suddenly acknowledges it has chemical weapons and says it will sign the convention against their use.This is significant.
The president never considered canceling his Tuesday night speech.It is still very important for the president to speak to the American people.We will continue to have this discussion in the days ahead.This is far too complex an issue to reduce to a single phrase or words.
Russia has made this proposal and is engaging with other members of the UN Security Council.Russia's prestige is on the line.
There's no question very significant changes have taken place from the recent past.We go into this with eyes wide open.The goal of the Geneva meeting is to test the seriousness of the Russian proposal,Mr.Carney indicated.
Congressman Peter King,R-New York,said I have multiple concerns about Russia.We have now made Russia a major player in the Middle East.They will have influence over the region,and we will be almost indebted to them.Iran is actually more of a threat than Syria.
We've pretty much given immmunity to Assad.We should be extremely sceptical,extremely wary and not make any more concessions.We have to take a tough line with Russia.Russian President Vladimir Putin strengthens Syria and Iran's position in the Middle East.Don't give the benefit of the doubt to Putin.He wants to reestablish Russia and assert himself in a powerful way,Congressman King warned.
Mr.Putin is being seen as a man who does business with Syria and Iran,obsessively cultivating a Cold War mentality of being the counterweight to the influence of the United States.The Russians are part of the problem in Syria;they are not credibly part of the solution,said Senator John Cornyn,R-Texas.

Ladies European Tour Concludes in Dubai With a Chinese Win

The Ladies European Tour has ended its season with the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai,UAE.American Lexi Thompson yielded her title to China's Shanshan Feng on Sunday and her final round 21 under par 69.Dewi Claire Schreeful of the Netherlands was second with a 16 under par 69;third place on the leader board was shared by Caroline Masson of Germany and Becky Brewerton of Wales.
Carlota Ciganda of Spain won the Handa Order of Merit for the season with her earnings total of 251,289.95 euros.She was also named Rookie of the Year.
The tournament was played out against the looming backdrop of the ultramodern skyline of the desert city.
Following her win,Swiss watchmaking titan Omega named Feng a brand ambassador,adding her to a list including Greg Norman,Sergio Garcia and Michelle Wie.Fiancial terms were not disclosed.
In a statement,Omega said it is proud that this outstanding competitor,whose smile lights up every course she plays on,has joined its family of golfing brand ambassadors.The brand looks forward to celebrating with Shanshan Feng each time she adds to her already impressive list of victories and achievements on the golf course.
Besides Omega,tournament sponsors included Gulf News,Drydocks World,Maritime World,Mercedes Benz,Emirates NBD and CNN.

Debriefing From Davos

Attending the recent World Economic Forum in Davos,Switzerland,Duncan Niederauer,CEO of NYSE/Euronext,shared some of what he learned there.He said he was taking away from Davos that companies' futures are improving.The worst is definitely behind us,but people are still saying are we doing the right things collectively and collaboratively.In the meetings I've been in,Mr.Niederauer recalled,I said it's key to get the financial leaders and the regulators together.Then you can put the foundations together for a healthy economic recovery.Separating banks' proprietary trading from customer activities is virtually impossible,in my opinion.
Mr.Niederauer,who wears an "autism speaks" lapel pin,sees robust initial public offerings at NYSE over the next six months.