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A group of Ohio religious leaders criticized lawmakersÂ’ efforts to pass protections for unborn babies Thursday during a pro-abortion protest at a church in downtown Columbus. The event at Trinity Episcopal Church, coordinated by the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, included Christian and Jewish leaders who oppose a bill to prohibit abortions after unborn babies have a detectable heartbeat, about six weeks of pregnancy.The state House passed the bill in November, and the Senate is considering it this week. It is expected to pass the Republican-controlled legislature. HAPPENING NOW: Faith leaders organized by @OhioRCRC are speaking against bans on...

My cat allegedly has had several physical altercations with neighbors' cats and it is said he has eaten their food after these incidents. We are not conceding that he has ever done anything wrong, as there are no video tapes of these alleged actions. However, we would like to state for the record that if indeed there is any small truth to these allegations, there are many extenuating circumstances that would not only excuse his supposed behavior, put prove it to be commendable. Evolutionary - Cats fight other cats and take their food. That is "survival of the fittest," the...

BOBBY ASKS: Who are the “Mainline” Protestants today? DOUGLAS LIKEWISE ASKS: (Paraphrasing) What do we make of proposals for “Mainline” Protestants to drop that label for themselves? And where does that leave me, an “evangelical” who remains in the Episcopal Church “as a grain of sand in the oyster”? THE GUY ANSWERS: The dictionary definition of “mainline” signals mainstream prestige, so “Mainline” Protestantism’s decline over recent decades could mean this designation has long since outlived its usefulness. In his email, Douglas considers it “adjectival mayhem.” The discussion has been renewed by the Christian Century magazine, often considered the bible of...

Trends continue in church membership growth or decline, reports 2011 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches New York, February 14, 2011 -- Growing churches continue to grow and declining churches continue to decline, according to the National Council of Churches' 2011 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. "The direction of membership (growth or decline) remains very stable," writ es the Yearbook's editor, the Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner, in the newest edition released this week. "That is, churches which have been increasing in membership in recent years continue to grow and likewise, those churches which have been declining in recent years...

I think I want a Divorce by Paul R. Hinlicky — March 12, 2009 Not from my wife of 35 years, but from my denomination. The grounds of my desire are biblical: infidelity. The covenant we had made was binding: to govern our life together by the Word of God as attested in Holy Scripture as understood by the Lutheran Confessions for mission and ministry in America and throughout the world. It’s partly my fault, I admit. I have long wondered whether my denomination has had some other love at heart, but I looked the other way, busy with my...

To the Apostles and disciples gathered with him that night in the Upper Room, Jesus said, “one of you will betray me…” Shocked at the statement, the disciples began to ask among themselves who it might be…” Now, of course, in manifold ways this very same mystery of betrayal has continued on within the life of the Church privately and publicly down throughout the centuries… And so it is today in Connecticut. The web page of The Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut reads: Catholics across the State of Connecticut mobilize to fight the irrational, unlawful, and bigoted Proposed Bill #1098/2009 A...

Catholic Family News • March 7, 2009 Write to the Senator and Representative - Show Up for the Rally on March 11! See below: • Urgent letter from Brideport Diocese Webpage • Information on March 11 Rally • Contact information for CT Senator and Representative • Statement from Father Greg J. Markey (More details also at http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/03/connecticut-state-legislature-introduced-bill-10982009/) (Text of bill at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SB-01098-R00-SB.htm) This past Thursday, March 5, the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature, which is chaired by Sen. Andrew McDonald of Stamford and Rep. Michael Lawlor of East Haven, introduced a bill that directly attacks the Roman Catholic...

POINTLESS CHURCH DEBATES WORTHLESS RESOLUTIONS GenCon 2006 is not going to be all homosexuals, all the time. ECUSA will also take on international issues, among them, the Middle East. About which, something called the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns has a backround report up on five resolutions on which GenCon will vote. Their report is entitled "Report on Palestine/Israel" and says things like this: "A group of American Episcopalians stands in enclosed Bethlehem looking out at the Wall between it and growing Israeli settlements. In some places it is a fence topped with barbed wire...

I'm interested to see the criteria defining "mainline Pritestant" and "Evangelical Christian" in the topics category on this part of the board. What is basically the difference? I was an a Christian forum (which is predominantly the "evangelical" types) and there were other brothers who ask me "I always thought that Baptists were main stream.". And why do we lump the Baptists and AOG and much of the independent Bible churches together, when theologically AOG and Charismatics are Arminian while much of the Baptist and Bible churches are actually not? (not being fully 5-point Calvinist doesn't count as Arminian -...

(AgapePress) - A conservative minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) is denouncing a proposal that would allow homosexuals to become pastors in the denomination if they prove they are in a so-called "lifelong, committed, and faithful same-sex relationship."

Bishop: We're united amid differences MILWAUKEE, WI (AP) - The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has passed a resolution recommending the Churchwide Assembly permit gays and lesbians in committed relationships to be ordained. Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers said it was important to maintain unity within the church. "We are committed to remaining united even amid our differences, recognizing our center is not on our opinions but rather it is in Christ," he said. The recommendation was passed at its annual meeting Saturday. It is one of up to 65 that are expected to be delivered to...

Josh Reubner, grassroots advocacy coordinator for the US Campaigns and the Israeli Occupation (www.endtheoccupation.org), a diverse nationwide coalition of 175 organizations that work to end US support for Israeli occupation in the territories, applauds the church’s decision. “For the Commerce Department to threaten organizations that are considering divesting from companies that profit from human rights violations, and to call this a violation of US an anti-boycott law is ridiculous,” said Reubner. “It’s the Commerce Department that is breaking US law by licensing caterpillar bulldozers to be sold to the Israeli Army in full knowledge that Israel is using these bulldozers...

Is there a ‘gay conspiracy’? No. Don’t be ridiculous.It’s an open, organized, international, deep-pocketed thing which has been going on for years, directly or indirectly involving activists, lawyers, a variety of judges, academics, politicians, legal experts & conferences, trade unionists, media, educators, journalists, grass-roots folks, and (of course) some clergy. Just ask energetic Catholic-whackers (to be fair, traditional non-liberal-religion foes) Kevin Bourassa & Joe Varnell at samesexmarriage.ca — Three years ago, in Turin, we heard the words of South Africa’s Justice Cameron. In anticipation of the great victories around the world, Cameron urged the LGBT community to leverage our advocacy...

Goddess RosaryJoining scholars like Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Letty Russell and a growing number of feminist theologians in reconceptualizing the canon and biblical authority ... connect with the Holy Other in holy writings and sacred rites. The banner on the outside of Ebenezer Lutheran Church boldly proclaims “Goddess Rosary Every Wednesday 7 p.m.” Doubtless this precipitates questions in the minds of passers-by: a rosary at a Lutheran church? A feminist take on a ritual indigenous to a denomination with an especially strong patriarchal foundation? I was eager to experience this new phenomenon, and it was with open mind and heart...

This article by Dr. Mohler originally appeared on Crosswalk.com. It is reprinted with permission. "We have figured out your problem. You're the only one here who believes in God." That statement, addressed to a young seminarian, introduces Dave Shiflett's new book, Exodus: Why Americans are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity. The book is an important contribution, and Shiflett offers compelling evidence that liberal Christianity is fast imploding upon itself. Shiflett, an established reporter and author, has written for The Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Investors' Business Daily, among other major media. He...

Since its initial gathering in 2001, Christian Churches Together has sought to form a fellowship of the broadest spectrum of Christian churches and traditions in the USA. The gathering at Los Altos brought together a wider, more diverse circle of Christian church leaders than at any of the previous four meetings.

"Friday afternoons are usually a good time for me to visit the ill, counsel church members or fine-tune my sermons, but at the end of a workweek earlier this month, I found myself spending several hours assembling a thick stack of documents. Three members of Fairfax Presbyterian Church had lodged a formal complaint against the church's governing board for allegedly mishandling a mortgage refinancing, and I needed to gather materials to mount a defense. I resented the time and effort being eaten up, but I knew that the issue had to be taken seriously. This case was heading down an...