Regional leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA have issued a pastoral letter declaring that denominational debate on homosexuality “threatens to break us apart.” In their statement, released Dec. 2, regional executive ministers outlined steps they would take to deal…
SBC leaders say no to ecumenical group
The Southern Baptist Convention has told organizers of Christian Churches Together in the USA, a fledgling ecumenical organization, that it has no interest in joining. The new organization, set to formally launch next fall, aims to bring Catholics, mainline Protestants,…
UCC flies complaint with FCC over rejection
The United Church of Christ has asked the Federal Communications Commission to deny licenses to two Miami television stations after church ads were rejected as “too controversial” by the NBC and CBS networks. The church accused the two stations-WFOR, a…
Iraqi leader says country will protect Christians
Iraq's foreign minister met with Pope John Paul II on Dec. 13 and pledged the commitment of his interim government to protect the country's Christians from terrorist attacks. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari delivered a message to the pope from…
Separationists sue over funding of missions
A church-state separationist group has filed suit to try to halt a new law calling for the distribution of taxpayer funds for the historical preservation of California mission churches. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based watchdog…
Familiar look? Forensics scientists reconstruct face of original Santa
What did the real Santa Claus look like? Viewers of a program broadcast Dec. 18 on British TV found out. A team of forensic scientists at Britain's Manchester University has reconstructed the face of St. Nicholas of Myra-the precursor of…
Powerful symbol: Christmas trees evolved from centuries-old traditions
By Timothy Harper The Christmas tree remains a powerful symbol for many of us. “Christmas trees probably add more to mark the period of ‘peace on earth, goodwill toward men' than any other product of the soil,” says Ann Kirk-Davis,…
For Protestants, Jesus’ mother is making more than a cameo appearance
By Kim Lawton It's Christmas-and for Protestants, that means it's time for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to make her annual cameo appearance in creche sets, carols and children's bathrobed Christmas pageants. But for some Protestant theologians and…
In holy season of light, darkness grips Bethlehem
Leading the way into the Bethlehem Peace Center, Hatem Abu Tarboush, a wiry, 30-year-old tourism agent, remarks: “They're talking about peace. But I don't think there's any peace to talk about.” The center, housed in the old British headquarters on…