STAFF CHANGES • David Benjamin, to Winfree Memorial Church, Midlothian, as pastor. • Bill Hardison, to May Memorial Church, Powhatan, as pastor. • Lee McConnell, to New Hope Church, Chesterfield, as pastor. • Garrett Sheldon,now serving as pastor of First…
RIGHT OR WRONG?
I've been reading a lot about whether it is right or wrong to applaud in church. Is this just a cultural issue, or is there something deeper? The preaching of John Chrysostom 1,600 years ago troubled people of nobility but…
Faith groups push to increase minimum wage to $10 an hour
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A nonpartisan coalition of more than 90 faith, community, labor and business organizations has launched an ambitious “$10 in 2010” campaign to raise the federal minimum wage within two years. The Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign…
Survey suggests ‘unchurched’ represent a pretty fluid group
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A new survey shows that “unchurched” Americans may be worshipping more, and “churched” Americans worshipping less, than many people might think. Numerous surveys track trends among “unchurched” Americans, but what does “unchurched” really mean? Does it mean…
Healing the sick
What distinguishes religiously-affiliated hospitals from their secular counterparts? Chaplains and charity care top the list, administrators of faith-based, nonprofit health care institutions agree. “Every morning at 5 a.m., a chaplain goes into our surgical unit, where he has the opportunity…
Faith no laughing matter, court says
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — Making jokes and comments about a person's religion can create a “humiliating and painful environment” and be a form of on-the-job discrimination, New Jersey's highest court recently ruled. The New Jersey Supreme Court said remarks about…
Saddleback forum points out candidates’ differences, similarities
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Individual stand on moral issues — from personal character to the international arena — was the foundation of the Aug. 16 Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency. The two-hour forum, sponsored by Southern Baptist mega-congregation…
FAITHSHAPERS: Tricky Topics: Prayer
Our daughter Abby is starting to scare us. We thought she would unquestioningly believe everything we told her for several more years, but no such luck. She learned to thank God for things as we say our prayers at bed…
Obama, McCain’s first joint appearance set for Warren’s Saddleback Church
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Barack Obama and John McCain will make their first joint 2008 campaign appearance to an audience of Christian activists at a Southern Baptist church. The two have agreed to participate in a “compassion forum” at…