Church news briefs
The Presbyterian Layman, November 20, 1998
Government
Ohio can keep its motto “With God, all things are possible,” but a federal judge has ruled that the Bible cannot be cited as the source of the quotation. The motto appears on state documents and publications and in public locations. By taking away the Scripture reference, U.S. District Judge James Graham said the phrase becomes a benign, generic statement with no Christian trappings.
Three other states use God in their official mottos: Florida (“In God we trust”), South Dakota (“Under God, the people rule”), and Arizona (Ditat Deus, Latin for “God enriches”).
What’s important?
WASHINGTON – American churchgoers say a congregation’s beliefs and doctrine, how much its members care about each other, and the quality of sermons are “extremely important” factors in their choice of a church.
Those were the conclusions in a recent poll by the Barna Research Group as reported by Religious News Service.
The results were based on a random telephone survey of 1,015 adults in July. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Blessed events?
WAKE FOREST, NC – Wake Forest Baptist Church, a congregation with membership in the Southern Baptist Convention, has voted to approve a statement that asks God to bless “all loving, committed, and exclusive relationships between two people,” according to the Associated Press. The church also voted to approve letting its ministers preside over same-sex “weddings.” The SBC teaches that marriage is only for a man and a woman. Wake Forest Baptist Church is adjacent to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The seminary, which has a conservative administration and faculty, has long been at odds with the local congregation.
6,000 churches planted
Zimbawbweans have started 6,000 churches in six years. In 1992, churches and para-church ministries set a goal of starting 10,000 congregations by 2000. Apparently, the vision is so strong that Christians are starting new churches without consulting their pastors. “People simply move into an area which still has no church and start one. I hear of these spontaneous church plants all the time,” said pastor Richmond Chiundiza. About 2.2 million people have become Christians through the church-planting effort.
Priests murdered
Rebels killed six priests at a Congo church. The militia group Ninjas reportedly slaughtered 50 people who had gathered to pray for peace. The priests were part of a multi-denominational group trying to negotiate a settlement between rebels and the government of Denis Sassou Nguesso, United Press International reported. The gunmen interrupted the service Nov. 14, ordered the priests outside, and then shot them. About 45 other people, including women and children, also were killed.
Murderer in video
A murderer is featured in Christian videos. David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, says satanic worship made him a murderer, but that he has become a Christian. Two videos about his life and conversion to Christ are being used by prison chaplains and youth counselors to show that God can reach even the most evil person. Berkowitz makes no money from the tapes, and the video companies say they accepted the projects after verifying that the tapes could not help him win parole, the Associated Press said. Berkowitz murdered six people and wounded seven others in New York City 21 years ago.