So much for a quiet slide into the weekend …

Michigan megachurch pastor Rob Bell is stepping down from his pulpit, though it’s a little unclear how much his “I’m not really sure about hell” book has to do with it. The official announcement from Mars Hill Church is here. That’s him, by the way, at left.

The National Organization for Marriage has a new chairman, culture wars veteran John Eastman. Brian Brown remains as NOM’s president, and co-founder Maggie Gallagher will remain on the board but wants more time to finish her book against gay marriage. The nation’s top Catholic bishop warned POTUS that his policy of looking the other way on gay marriage is going to prompt a “national conflict” between church and state.

Following the execution of Georgia inmate Troy Davis, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary prez Al Mohler said the death penalty is actually inherently “pro-life” because it “affirms the value [and] sanctity of every single human life.” Except, apparently, the life of the guy on the gurney.

You can add this to your 2012 political lexicon: “Teavangelical.” Michele Bachmann says she’s one, listing her qualifications as a believer in low taxes, small government and Jesus Christ, in that order. Jewish voters may or may not be in play, depending on whether you read the polls (probably not) or Republican activists (could be).

Democratic operative Eric Sapp is going after Texas Gov. Rick Perry for saying the private sector should do more of what the government does, while also only giving 1/10,000th of his income to his church. Perry, meanwhile, is gaining traction (and endorsements) among luminaries of the religious right.

And, at the risk of posting something provocative from an unfamiliar blog, let me just be clear: I’m not related to South Carolina comptroller Richard Eckstrom, who reportedly referred to “Jon friggin’ Mormon Huntsman” on his cell phone. In his state-owned car. On his way to see his mistress. Or something like that. The truly-madly-deeply audio is here.

Roman Catholics in and around Phoenix have become too accustomed to receiving both bread and wine at Communion, the diocese says, and they should expect to only receive the bread under newly tightened rules.

Meanwhile, in Peoria, the parents of a baby who was born stillborn but made a full recovery are crediting the intercession of the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen (the pioneer of Catholic televangelism), whose sainthood cause is just getting off the ground.

Hillel, the Jewish campus group, is hoping a new initiative to create “meaningful Jewish experiences” (whatever that means) for students will help groom the next generation of American Jews.

B16 is on day 2 of his first state visit to his native Germany; yesterday he was received by the country’s Lutheran chancellor, divorced Catholic president and openly gay mayor of Berlin. Today he’s seeking Protestant allies (in the land of Martin Luther) in the fight against secularism.

Over in France, authorized have levied the first fine — $162 — against a Muslim woman for breaking the country’s ban on full-face veils and burqas. The French have also bid adieu to an “Jew or not a Jew” app from Apple.

The Sudanese orphanage behind the success story of “Machine Gun Preacher” say they’ve been left in the dust as Sam Childers travels around the U.S. promoting his new film.

And yeah, I know we’ve already talked about Ted Haggard and Gary Busey swapping wives on reality TV — oh, the places we could go with that one! — but Jack Jenkins’ roundup of the Twittersphere is more than worth your time. Haggard’s long-suffering wife Gayle just can’t catch a break.

– Kevin “I’m not that Eckstrom” Eckstrom