(RNS) — They’re rarely at worship services and indifferent to doctrine. And they’re surprisingly fuzzy on Jesus. But it’s not just Jews. It’s a phenomenon among U.S. Christians, too. Meet the “Nominals” — people who claim a religious identity but…
Small churches currently unable to afford health insurance for staff may benefit from Obamacare
(ABP) — A new program designed to make it easier to buy health insurance for small businesses has potential to become a major source of medical coverage for church staff and employees, says Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Church Benefits Board President…
‘We’re in a fight,’ GuideStone Financial Services head O.S. Hawkins says in challenging health law
(ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention agency that provides insurance for denominational employees filed a lawsuit Oct. 11 claiming the Affordable Care Act violates the religious liberty of faith-based organizations that do not meet the government’s narrow definition of “religious…
BJC opposes official prayers during local government meetings
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Opening local government meetings with prayer violates the conscience of not just religious minorities, but also of Christians who believe that worship must be voluntary, a Baptist church-state group argues in a legal brief filed in the…
Leader of SBC’s religious liberty group defends town’s ‘legislative prayers’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s top expert on religious liberty concerns says the U.S. Supreme Court should uphold a New York town’s practice of opening its city council meetings with sectarian prayer. “A prayer, by definition, isn't…
Can online Communion be a substitute for the real thing?
(RNS) — As online worship becomes more common in some churches, leaders within the United Methodist Church are debating whether the denomination should condone online Communion. About 30 denominational leaders met recently after Central United Methodist Church in Concord, N.C.,…
How can Christians really help the poor? Develop a strategy, say advocates
Though Christians seem to disagree about how best to help the poor, experts agree that developing a strategy based on the needs of a particular community will help churches minister to the needy around them. Giving money to a person…
Veteran urban minister suggests Oath for Compassionate Service
Christians motivated by compassion for the poor need to make sure both mercy and justice guide their actions, said Robert Lupton, based on his four decades of experience in urban ministry. Robert Lupton has proposed what he calls an…
Staying motivated for service among the poor demands discipline
Chronic poverty, hunger and homelessness can leave even the most committed Christian activists feeling overwhelmed and defeated. “After you finish providing one set of meals, more hungry people are in line right behind them. And there’s more after them. It’s…