Lessons from Lambeth September 10, 1998 Decisions made by Anglican bishops at the recent Lambeth Conference are instructive. First, when confronted with modern liberalism’s stock demand to study an issue that has been studied for decades without bringing new information to light, the bishops just said “No!” Adultery, fornication and homosexual behavior remain outside God’s…
Jesus Christ or a ‘Jesus experience?’ September 4, 1998 Our editorial conference this month was feistier than usual. At issue was the Presbyterian Youth Triennium story. “Here’s good news,” suggested one of our editors. “6,600 young people praised the name of Jesus. We can celebrate that.” But conflicting reports, including one from Presbyterian seminarian Tracee…
Bishop Spong’s successor elected Episcopal News Service, July 17, 1998 Faced with the opportunity to make history by electing the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Newark instead chose one of its own priests to succeed its high-profile bishop. The Rev. Jack Croneberger, rector of Church of the Atonement in…
Newspaper ads say homosexuals can change The Presbyterian Layman, July 17, 1998 Full-page ads in three major newspapers proclaiming that God can help homosexuals change their lifestyle have caused outrage among gay activists. The three ads appear this week in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. The $206,000 cost is being…
Methodist congregation leaves denomination United Methodist News Service, July 17, 1998 About 200 members of the Kingsburg (Calif.) United Methodist Church declared July 28 that “in Christian conscience” they could no longer remain members of the denomination. Acting on a recommendation made earlier in the month by their administrative council, members voted together and then…
UCC minister says ads offer “false hope” United Church of Christ News Service, July 17, 1998 CLEVELAND-“Ex-gay ministries,” promoted in national newspaper ads placed this week by the Christian Coalition and other religious-right groups, offer “false hope,” says an expert in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ministries with the United Church of Christ. In a…
Salvation Army ends contracts with San Francisco By Chris Herlinger, Ecumenical News International, July 17, 1998 New York, 15 July (ENI)–While the Salvation Army in many parts of the world is modernizing its image, it has reaffirmed its bedrock theology in perhaps the most politically and socially liberal city in the United States. Last month…
By Mark Tooley, Institute on Religion and Democracy, July 9, 1998 For the abortion rights movement, it is difficult to impossible to allow for any possibility that abortion under any circumstances is not an absolute “right,” no less than freedom of speech or religion. The latest example involves the church-backed Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice…
A new law protecting charitable donations from creditors in bankruptcy cases represents a coup for churches and other nonprofit organizations, an attorney for a United Methodist agency says. The new law, dubbed the Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act, prevents creditors from claiming charitable contributions that are made by donors who later file for…
United Methodist News Service, June 10, 1998 The Rev. Jimmy Creech, the Nebraska pastor who attracted worldwide attention after performing a same-sex ceremony for two women last September, will not be re-appointed to First United Methodist Church in Omaha. After a meeting with Nebraska Bishop Joel Martinez on May 5, Creech said he was informed…