News
Christians are free to cry aloud to the Lord. But when 7-month-old Tori Nowlin entered Community Presbyterian Church one Sunday morning, she was hustled by her mom straight to a soundproof room with a window on the sanctuary.Wailing infants and talkative toddlers are regulars in the church’s “crying room,” a child-friendly space that lets families attend church without distracting other members.Read more of this story.
If the Internets has taught us anything, it’s that, in the near future, no one will be able to read ink on a page. Newspapers will be delivered to inboxes, not mailboxes; books will be read on Kindles, not leaves; and the silver screen will satiate our need for stories. Only one group can stop print from fading into obsolescence, just one hardy band of traditionalists stand between us and this paper apocalypse … the Amish. That’s right, folks. Read more of this story.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2009, the chief legislative authority of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a new social statement on human sexuality with exactly the number of votes needed to pass it.Read more of this story. Lutheran convention almost struck by tornado – Julia DuinWas God in the Whirlwind? – Christianity TodayAUGUST 22 – FURTHER DEVELOPMENTSLutherans Lift Barriers For Gay Clergy – Los Angeles Times Conservatives React After Lutherans Lift Ban – Associated Press
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Congress may be on summer recess, but Americans who are motivated by their faith are joining the conversation over changing the way that health care is paid for in the United States. The Huntsville Chapter of Health Care for Everyone-Alabama, for example, includes many who are motivated by their faith to support ways that Americans can work together to make sure that everyone has access to affordable health care. Read more of this story. Obama Turns to Religious Community on Health-Care Reform – Washington PostThe ProLife Response to the President’s Call – David Brody, CBNBaptist Analysis says House Health…
It is relatively rare to find blatant, broad examples of discrimination on the basis of institutional accreditation.Rare — but not unheard of. And one is unfolding right now in Wisconsin, where state officials have (so far) decided not to let students at Northland International University receive grants designed to help Wisconsin residents afford public and private nonprofit colleges.Read more of this story.
Delegates to the fifth World Congress of Families concluded their gathering this past week with the release of a declaration affirming that “the future of nations rests on families that are spiritually grounded.”“Representing families and organizations from over 60 nations, we delegates … affirm Article 16, par. 3, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreeing that ‘the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, and is entitled to protection by society and the State,’” stated the “Amsterdam Declaration” that was adopted following the conclusion of the WCF’s Aug. 10-12 gathering in the Netherlands.Read more of this…
Prayer Movement Expanding Across U.S. CampusesTim Collier and Dayn Lukes serve as Campus America Co-coordinators for the state of Wisconsin. They, along with Anell Daniels, the Wisconsin Prayer Network Coordinator, are searching for catalytic young people and intercessors for each of Wisconsin’s four-year colleges and universities to coordinate a minimum of 72 hours of united prayer on their own campuses in 2010.
GAITHERSBURG, Md.—The Rev. Sarah Scherschligt walks behind her Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to the spot where she feels “closer to God.” Surrounded by a chicken-wire fence and marked by a sign that reads “Fruitful Fields,” is her church’s new vegetable garden. Growing there are tomatoes ready to be picked for the local food kitchen, basil that a member may use in some home cooking, green beans that can be eaten right off the stalk. Read more of this story.
Megachurches have become one-stop centers, with food courts, sports leagues, and automotive repair shops alongside concert-caliber praise bands and strong preachers.Next up: seminaries.Mars Hill Church, the Seattle megachurch of high-profile pastor Mark Driscoll, will launch the Resurgence Training Center this fall. Dubbed "Re:Train," the degree-granting graduate program is part of a strategy for preparing leaders to plant 1,000 churches.At the same time, popular pastor John Piper’s Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis—which has had a pastor-training institute for 11 years—will start offering master’s degrees as Bethlehem College and Seminary.Read more of this story.LOCAL ANGLE:Some Madison churches also offer advanced theological training. HighPoint…
Dr. David Cook’s book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, has inspired thousands and is being used in men’s groups at churches all around the country. It’s a story about the character "Johnny" who finds a new putting style at a golf course in a small town called Utopia, Texas.David Cook has been to Madison a number of times and has friends here in Madison, WI. His book was recently picked up by Zondervan and is being republished. The website for the book (www.linksofutopia.com) was recently redesigneb here in Madison, WI and USA Today has also…