By Bradley W. Parks, The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio) Heavy doors swing slowly open with a creak. Donna Barclay, the secretary at Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Zanesville, kicks the doorstop down. It hits the floor, echoing off the sanctuary walls. The sanctuary is like this many days of the week — empty, reverberating with…
By Christiana Holcomb, The Gospel Coalition. More than 35 states now issue same-sex marriage licenses. An increasing number of scholars and judges insist that the First Amendment only protects the freedom to believe—not the freedom to live out those beliefs. At least one state now compels employers to provide insurance coverage for elective abortions. Many cities…
By Kate Tracy Inside the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to rebuild two monasteries and a church torn down by Stalin about 85 years ago. But as Russia rebuilds churches with one hand, with the other it’s been knocking them down. While a campaign in China to de-Christianize city skylines has drawn the most…
By Jeff Cavanaugh Once upon a time, churches were intensely local affairs. Christians attended the church nearest them, often walking or taking public transportation to the place where the congregation met. But North American communities and lifestyles have changed in the last 50 years, such that many people live, work, shop, play, and worship in…
By Dr. Susan Berry In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Prop 8, some attorneys are encouraging churches to change their by-laws as a means of protection against lawsuits from same-sex couples. While some in the wedding industry have experienced legal difficulties due to their…
By Ed Stetzer Denominations and networks of churches were and still are created for the purpose of partnership in mission. At times, these organizations have successfully unified churches around their common goals and accomplished much. But sometimes the very institutions meant to unify and encourage the mission have inadvertently hindered their own ability to multiply…
By Moki Edwin Kindzeka YAOUNDE — Thousands of Christians in Cameroon no longer have places to worship as the government continues to crack down on illegal churches for what it says are activities that have nothing to do with preaching the word of God. But pastors of these churches said they are being targeted because…
Large churches across the country experienced increased offerings in 2012, and many of them have plans to hire additional staff members in 2013. Research from Dallas-based Leadership Network shows that 83 percent of 1,600 megachurches – defined as those Protestant congregations reporting a sustained average worship attendance of 2,000 or more people on a weekly…
Two Virginia churches have ended their relationships with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Thompson Valley Presbyterian Church and Mary’s Presbyterian Church, both located in Tazewell and pastored by the Rev. Danny Whitt, were dismissed from Presbytery of Abingdon in southwestern Virginia during the March 14 presbytery meeting. Both have aligned themselves with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church…