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Schuller Son Blames Sibling Rivalry for Crystal Cathedral Downfall
As the Crystal Cathedral tries to find its footing without any members of founder Robert H. Schuller's family at the helm, the only son and one-time successor says 'sibling rivalry' played a key role in the California megachurch's decline
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Crossroads Hits Obama on Energy
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Viral Video Indicates Why Rick Santorum is Winning in the Heartland and South
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Church Offers Adults-Only Services for Sex Offenders
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A Wisconsin church is reaching out to sex offenders by providing services that are for adults only. The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison started offering the services in late February after a parole officer contacted the Rev. Jerry Hancock about offenders wanting a place to worship that would not violate their parole. The senior minister at the church, Curt Anderson, said the program was a natural progression for the church, which also has a prison ministry. "This congregation has a history to reaching out to all people," Anderson said. "Folks who are in prison are people too." The bi-weekly meetings have attracted approximately 10-12 participants for each service, he said. Experts in rehabilitation say faith-based groups can provide an important support system for offenders. "Churches often have a capacity to help reintegrate offenders into the community because of wide network and an interest in helping people," said Maia Christopher, the executive director of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. 
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Texas Atheist Left 'Completely Flabbergasted' After Christians Raise Money for His Medical Problem
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 Patrick Greene says he has always been "treated like dirt" by Christians because of his atheistic beliefs.
That recently changed, leaving Greene "completely flabbergasted."
It happened when some Henderson County Christians offered Greene financial assistance with a medical problem despite his opposition to a nativity scene on the courthouse square.
Greene is the San Antonio atheist who threatened to sue in an attempt to force Henderson County officials to remove its nativity scene. Greene also filed a complaint with the state against the county judge for not removing a county commissioner for remarks supporting the nativity scene.
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10 Things I Wish I Could Say To Every Church Leader!
By Perry Noble #1 - You can do EXACTLY what God has called you to do! #2 - Never, I mean EVER apologize for big vision! #3 - Steps of faith are always scary...if they weren't scary then you would not need faith!
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Oklahoma Presbyterian Church to Split from Denomination Over Theological Differences
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 First Presbyterian Church of Edmond's session, a group of elected leaders, has recommended that the church seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church USA. Citing theological differences, a prominent metro-area church may soon part from the country's largest Presbyterian denomination. The Rev. Mateen Elass, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, said the church's session recently recommended that the congregation ask its regional affiliate for dismissal from the Presbyterian Church USA. "We've come to believe that barring a miraculous work of God, the trajectory of the church is going toward liberalism at an accelerated pace," he said. "We see this increasingly huge divide, and we're not willing to cross the divide to go in the direction the denomination is trying to go. |
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Atheists Use Unholy Water to Unbless Highway
By Bobby Eberle Now I've heard it all! Frustrated by the fact that religious leaders blessed a portion of highway in Florida, a group of atheists decided to "unbless" the road. Armed with scrubbers and a large container of "unholy" water, the group sought to wash away the work done by the Polk County organization known as Polk Under Prayer.
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Tenn. Law Would Allow Debate On Evolution and Creationism
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 NASHVILLE -- A bill allowing teachers to have classroom debate about scientific theories, including creationism and evolution, has passed the Tennessee Senate. The upper house voted 24-8 Monday in favor of the measure, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported. The Assembly approved a similar bill nearly a year ago and must now vote on the Senate's amended version, which bars teachers from bringing up their own religious views in the classroom. "The idea behind this bill is that students should be encouraged to challenge current scientific thought and theory," sponsor Republican state Sen. Bo Watson said. Critics charge the bill is designed to provide cover for teachers to introduce intelligent design and creationist theories in class. Several courts around the country have held that those are religious beliefs, not scientific ones. |
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Peace and Justice in Iraq?
By Dr. Russell Moore Today is the ninth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. We might disagree about whether the war was the right decision, and about where U.S. policy should go from here. But those who belong to Christ ought to be able to agree on one at least one thing: prayer for peace, justice, and gospel in the old country of Abram.
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Annual Tally Finds Drop in 2010 Donation to Churches
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NEW YORK - An annual report on North American congregations found that total donations to the churches declined by $1.2 billion in 2010, the second consecutive year denominations reported a drop in giving. According to the latest Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, congregations reported $29 billion in contributions for 2010, or $763 per capita, for a dip of 2.2 percent. Between 2008 and 2009, as the impact of the Great Recession continued, reported donations had dropped by $431 million. The yearbook, published by the National Council of Churches, also tracks reported membership numbers for denominations. The Roman Catholic Church in the United States remains the largest religious group by far, with 68.2 million members, a growth rate of less than 1 percent in 2010. |
SC Man Gets 7 Years for Defrauding Church Workers of $2.5M in Health Insurance Premiums
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - A South Carolina man has been sentenced to seven years in prison on federal charges that he defrauded church workers out of $2.5 million in health insurance premiums. William Madison Worthy was sentenced Tuesday in Greenville. A judge ordered him to undergo treatment for alcoholism and pay restitution, which will be calculated later. Worthy pleaded guilty last year to insurance crimes affecting interstate commerce. Worthy and one of his companies collected more than $3.5 million in health premiums between 2004 and 2006. Prosecutors said $1 million in medical claims were paid, but the remaining $2.5 million was diverted to bank accounts that Worthy controlled. |
Headlines for March 21, 2012
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ELECTION TRACKER HEADLINES |
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