(RNS) — Eileen Guenther, the national president of the American Guild of Organists, reveals behind-the-scenes church struggles in her new book, Rivals or a Team?: Clergy-Musician Relationships in the Twenty-First Century. Guenther, an associate professor of church music at Washington’s…
God and Caesar: What does it mean to be a faithful citizen?
Since the earliest days of Christianity, followers of Jesus have wrestled with the demands of dual citizenship — as citizens of God’s kingdom and of the nations of this world. Jesus established the principle: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…
Online community seen as mission field
(ABP) — Jim Somerville pastors a Baptist congregation in Virginia that, thanks to the Internet, includes people living in Austria, India and Slovakia. And now, he learned recently, some guy in Iowa. “He said ‘I tune in online and consider…
Faith of presidential candidates raises questions for Christians
President Barack Obama holds positions on hot-button social issues that put him at odds with many evangelical Christians. His challenger, Mitt Romney, served as a bishop of a church that many evangelicals consider a cult. Add to the mix persistent…
Most pastors disapprove of pulpit endorsements
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly 90 percent of pastors believe they should not endorse candidates for public office from the pulpit, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research. However, the survey also revealed 44 percent of pastors personally endorsed candidates…
Resource offers guide to churches engaging the political process
WINSTON-SALEM — Just weeks before voters head to the polls in the closely fought presidential election, a resource developed by faith groups and civil liberties leaders offers guidelines to churches hoping to influence the political process without violating legal restrictions….
Pastors challenge IRS over political endorsements, and they’re likely to get away with it
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — On Oct. 7, some 1,400 American pastors planned to break the law. And they’re likely to get away with it. As part of “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” religious leaders across the country endorsed political candidates — an…
EDITORIAL: Proposals and partners
In a departure from the collegial spirit of years past when, “We’re all in this together” was the prevailing attitude during this current economic hard times, Virginia Baptist Mission Board leaders have decided they can no longer live with the…
OUT LOUD
“A lot of the younger people are very spotty in their attendance at worship, but if we have a mission project, they’re here.” Eileen Lindner The former editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, on a new study…
Racial equality pioneer Langford dies
By Bob Allen Henry V. Langford, a white Baptist preacher whose support for racial equality caused him to be blackballed by churches in the 1950s, died Oct. 7 at age 93. A memorial service is planned at 4 p.m. Sunday,…
Scholars discuss faithful citizenship
By Ken Camp Jesus established the principle: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” but some American Christians struggle with how to put the principle into practice. About 10 years ago, theologian Marcus Borg said,…
Resource offers guide for churches
By Robert Dilday Weeks before voters head to the polls in the closely fought presidential election, a resource developed by faith groups and civil liberties leaders offers guidelines to churches hoping to influence the political process without violating legal restrictions….