RNS Opening Budget — Monday, November 4, 2019

After firing their founding pastor in February, the elders of the megachurch in suburban Chicago issued a statement on Sunday (Nov. 3) that said found a “substantial pattern of sinful behavior” that included “improperly exercising positional and spiritual authority over others […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-MacDonald-Disqualified: James MacDonald ‘biblically disqualified’ for ministry, says Harvest Bible
(RNS) — After firing their founding pastor in February, the elders of the megachurch in suburban Chicago issued a statement on Sunday (Nov. 3) that said found a “substantial pattern of sinful behavior” that included “improperly exercising positional and spiritual authority over others to his own advantage.” By Bob Smietana. 436 words. (categories: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-UMC-Council: Dissent from Traditional Plan dominates United Methodists’ top court meeting
CHICAGO (RNS) — Earlier this year the United Methodist Church’s top court upheld much of the Traditional Plan strengthening the denomination’s language barring its LGBTQ members from marriage and ordination. But questions about that plan still dominated the Judicial Council meeting this past week in suburban Evanston, Illinois. Many of the requests before the council had to do with actions recently passed by various regional annual conferences across the country dissenting to the Traditional Plan. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 916 words. (categories: a)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: What the US bishops can learn from the Amazon synod
(RNS) — The American Catholic hierarchy isn’t ready to follow the synod’s search for real-world solutions. Too many conservatives believe that if we simply return to the old ways of doing things, everything will be fine. By Thomas Reese. 1,500 words. (categories: k)