Monthly Archives: November 2007
NEWS SIDEBAR: Practical tips on helping the homeless
By RNS Blog Editor — November 21, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Steve Burger, former executive director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, urges Americans not to give money to the homeless on the streets. “If you give a dollar to a panhandler, often you are really funding the local tavern or drug dealer,” Burger said. “Most Americans do not […]
Spare some change? Many Americans unsure how to respond
By RNS Blog Editor — November 21, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Every day, Lawaune Stockton stands with her cup in front of a downtown McDonald’s, jingling the change inside as customers come and go. She cinches the strings on the hood of her sweatshirt to keep out the damp air. Stockton, who’s only been homeless for four months, knows […]
COMMENTARY: Lessons for the new flock from a veteran new pastor
By Tom Ehrich — November 21, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Other than common-sense civility _ be nice, be patient, be fair _ what advice would I give a congregation that’s welcoming a new pastor? First, realize that this moment of newness matters. Take it seriously. Revolving-door clergy happen, in large part, because new pastorates start poorly. A succession of […]
FBI Tallies Incidents of Religious Bias
By Adelle M. Banks — November 21, 2007
The FBI has released its 2006 hate crime statistics and tells us that religious bias was a factor in nearly 1,600 offenses reported by law enforcement officials. Here’s what they found: – 64.3 percent were anti-Jewish. – 12.0 percent were anti-Islamic. – 8.8 percent were anti-other religion. – 5.5 percent were anti-multiple religions (groups of […]
God Exists. Discuss.
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 20, 2007
Jim Martin’s column-even if you believe God exists, it’s impossible to prove-from last week is generating some chatter down in Dallas.
The new demographics of Catholic schools
By Francis X. Rocca — November 20, 2007
A report released by the Vatican today indicates some of the dramatic changes that America’s Catholic schools have undergone in the decades since World War II. Published by the Congregation for Catholic Education, the report deals with church-affiliated schools around the world, but breaks down statistics by country. In 1950, the report reveals, 86% of […]
Groups say hunger figures, food prices up
By RNS Blog Editor — November 20, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) While millions of Americans are stocking their kitchens for a Thanksgiving feast, many groups are concerned about those who will go hungry on Thanksgiving and in the weeks and months to come. Inflation has made food more expensive, making it harder for families to put food on the table […]
Evangelicals shift toward acceptance on divorce
By Adelle M. Banks — November 20, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When Pentecostal power couple Randy and Paula White recently announced they were headed to divorce court, the most remarkable part of the reaction was that there wasn’t much reaction at all. For increasing numbers of clergy, a divorce no longer generates the kind of career-killing hue and cry of […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — November 20, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service Chicago Lutheran church tests gay policy (RNS) A Chicago congregation is testing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s new policy on gay clergy by ordaining a lesbian who did not take a vow of celibacy. Resurrection Lutheran Church ordained the Rev. Jennette Lynn Rude, 27, on Saturday (Nov. 17) despite […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Something even atheists can be thankful for
By RNS Blog Editor — November 20, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Given the recent wild popularity of books touting the benefits of atheism, one might wonder if we’re about to be overrun with an overpopulation of turkeys. Say what? According to Gallup surveys, one out of every eight Americans either plan a non-traditional Thanksgiving or do not observe the holiday […]
Can Catholics Root for Rudy?
By Daniel Burke — November 20, 2007
This a curious article from Newsweek. The reporters say a “number” of “activist” bishops told them they would deny Communion to Giuliani. Why not tell us their names, or at least the number? Not trying to do media criticism here; just wondering if we can get some sources.
And Fort Worth Makes Four
By Daniel Burke — November 20, 2007
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth on Saturday became the fourth U.S. diocese to change its constitution to pledge allegiance to the Anglican Communion, not the Episcopal Church. This despite the objections and warning of ECUSA’s Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth said “She has no authority to bring Fort […]
State Baptists Act on Alcohol Use
By Adelle M. Banks — November 19, 2007
The topic of alcohol continues to be discussed at the state conventions related to the Southern Baptist Convention, with the Florida Baptist State Convention among those taking prominent action this fall. At their annual meeting last week, Florida Baptists approved a bylaws revision requiring only teetotalers to serve on the state convention’s boards. Last month, […]
Columnist: Religious Folks Need to Deal With Their Own Prejudices
By Adelle M. Banks — November 19, 2007
In a column for The Plain Dealer, religion writer David Briggs points out that research shows religious leaders have a range of prejudices to overcome. At a recent meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association, Michigan State sociologist Ralph Pyle presented new findings that show: -Moderate Protestants […]
Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There!
By Daniel Burke — November 19, 2007
Connecticut’s MiddleTown Press has a short item on a meditation-thon that took place (I believe, it’s kind a hard to tell) on Nov. 17. Put on by the Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut, the event, or non-event, I guess, was supposed to be a fundraiser and way to interconnect a whole buncha minds. Is there […]
