Tuesday the nation’s largest Protestant body voted against the “moral validation” of the transgendered since God’s original design was to create two distinct and complementary sexes, according to Christian Today.
Last month, a group of pastors and theologians called for an amicable split in the United Methodist Church over homosexuality, according to USA Today.
The possibility of Christians, Muslims and Jews all praying under the same roof in a building so unusual that it doesn’t have an official designation is the hopeful project of a pastor, a rabbi and an imam, according to the Times of Israel.
The Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopalian church, is hosting its first transgender priest celebrating “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender” Month, which President Obama issued by proclamation.
Denmark’s Parliament voted by a large margin to force State churches to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies inside their sanctuaries.
The International Foundation arranged for a 15-member delegation to visit the Vatican in the spirit of Ecumenism, which included mega-church speaker and author Joel Osteen, to meet with Pope Francis last Thursday.
Egyptian Christians have welcomed the election of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in the hopes that the former field marshal will protect them from Islamic extremism, according to Barnabas Aid.
La Paz County is forcing a small church that helps the homeless to close its doors by June 15 unless it pays $68,000 in back-taxes and penalties that both state law and the Arizona Department of Revenue say the church doesn’t even owe, according to International Christian Concern.
Twenty-eight percent of Americans believe the Bible is the actual word of God and that it should be taken literally. This is somewhat below the 38% to 40% seen in the late 1970s, and near the all-time low of 27% reached in 2001 and 2009. But about half of Americans continue to say the Bible is the inspired word of God, not to be taken literally — meaning a combined 75% believe the Bible is in some way connected to God. About one in five Americans view the Bible in purely secular terms — as ancient fables, legends, history, and precepts written by man — which is up from 13% in 1976.
An estimated 600,000 evangelical Christians held a “March for Jesus” Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, an annual event that routinely draws hundreds of thousands throughout Brazil.
A group of 80 pastors is suggesting that the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination is facing an imminent split because of an inability to resolve long-standing theological disputes about sexuality and church doctrine.
A Baptist church agreed to take down a sign about hell after police investigated the message as a “hate incident,” reports the Daily Mail.
Last year, the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly decided that it couldn’t condone same-sex marriages or civil partnerships, yet its commissioners approved a proposal that allowed individual congregations to hire gay ministers while the assembly continues to debate their ordination.
Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham and head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said “Christians are under attack by Islam” and that “radical” Islam has nothing to do with it because “it’s just what it is.”
Phil Robertson, star of the popular “Duck Dynasty” television show, defended his controversial comments on homosexuality, giving a church sermon in which he ridiculed media coverage and others “blurring” the lines between “sinners” and homosexuals.
A Vatican spokesman explained Thursday that atheists are still going to perdition despite Pope Francis’ homily last week that proclaimed all of us, even atheists, were capable of doing good.
As part of his homily Wednesday, Pope Francis said that the Blood of Christ promised redemption for everyone engaged in doing good works, including atheists, according to Vatican Radio.
Two wolves who infiltrated a Turkish congregation were among more than a dozen suspects arrested as police foiled a plot to assassinate the pastor.
The Barna Group recently surveyed Americans who attended church and reported on their worship experiences.
A recent Pew Report examined government restrictions on religious beliefs and practices; it also revealed that social hostilities involving religion have risen in Sweden, Denmark and the U.K.