ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, July 13, 1996                TAG: 9607150023
SECTION: RELIGION                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 

RELIGION BRIEFS

Cable name change

The Faith and Values television channel, available to cable subscribers in several Western Virginia communities, will change its name to Odyssey on Oct. 1. Its focus will be on "Exploring Life's Journey," according to an announcement from Jeff Webber, acting executive officer for the channel. The new title better describes the goal of the programming, which tries to relate shows to the personal spiritual journeys of viewers, Webber said. Odyssey will continue to offer ecumenical and interfaith programs in an educational and objective format. Guidelines for the programs prohibit the promotion of specific points of view.

Women a factor

Women are becoming a "vital factor" in the growth of the Chinese church, according to a report from the Lutheran World Federation. Christianity has increased 10-fold in China since the communist People's Republic was established in 1949.

The report states that women account for 70 percent of Christians in the country, with those ordained having grown from 75 in 1988 to 223 by 1994.

Many women also are studying in seminaries. However, women in the Chinese church still face much discrimination and the ordained are often unable to perform Baptism and Holy Communion, the report reveals.

Leaders to meet

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexei II, and the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, are scheduled to meet in Hungary in September. Discussions are expected to center on Catholic evangelization policies which have been opposed by what was formerly the state church of Russia.

Earlier this year, Russian church leaders tried to ban missionary work by outsiders unless it had been approved by their institutions. The Duma - state lawmaking body - refused, however, to permit such a ban. Meanwhile, Russian Orthodoxy is actively developing its own ministries throughout the nation.

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