Kein Eckstrom
Kein Eckstrom is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Kein Eckstrom
N.Y. Church Holds Cautionary Tale for Churches Considering Development
By Kein Eckstrom — April 20, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal on tony Park Avenue is one of those churches that can prompt a case of professional envy for some pastors. Big building. Big congregation. Big money. Big ideas. But 25 years ago, mired in a divisive real estate battle that split the church and […]
In Ownership Disputes, Churches Find `Messy and Uncertain’ Answers
By Kein Eckstrom — April 20, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When the Rev. Allen Kannapell and most of St. Andrew’s parish in Livonia, Mich., decided earlier this year that they could no longer remain Episcopalians, the conservative pastor knew he had a choice. Kannapell could either launch an expensive legal fight to claim ownership of St. Andrew’s that he […]
In Ownership Disputes, Churches Find `Messy and Uncertain’ Answers
By Kein Eckstrom — April 20, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When the Rev. Allen Kannapell and most of St. Andrew’s parish in Livonia, Mich., decided earlier this year that they could no longer remain Episcopalians, the conservative pastor knew he had a choice. Kannapell could either launch an expensive legal fight to claim ownership of St. Andrew’s that he […]
For Urban Churches Selling Hot Real Estate, the Sky’s the Limit
By Kein Eckstrom — April 20, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ The Rev. Bob Brashear rubs his fingers against the 117-year-old walls of his church and a shower of red dust sprinkles the sidewalk. Above him, scaffolding protects pedestrians from falling 20-pound chunks of sandstone. Inside, water stains line the walls and cracks trace the barrel-vaulted ceiling of […]
Sky’s the Limit for Urban Churches Selling Hot Property
By Kein Eckstrom — April 20, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A crunch on open space in many rejuvenated cities has developers courting churches with multimillion-dollar offers to buy their property and sometimes even the air above their heads. Finding the sky is the limit, many congregations are cashing in. “In an urban area, air rights are just as much […]
Episcopalians Cautioned on Electing Gay Bishops
By Kein Eckstrom — April 8, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) As Episcopalians in San Francisco consider two gay men and a lesbian to serve as their next bishop, a special churchwide panel is urging “very considerable caution” before electing another gay bishop. A 14-member panel declined Friday (April 7) to recommend an outright ban on gay bishops, but said […]
Online Game Features Crucifixions, Offends Catholic Group
By Kein Eckstrom — April 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have marked the days leading up to Easter with dramatic reenactments of Jesus’ suffering, culminating with his crucifixion on Good Friday. This year, in a 21st century twist, players in a new online game who break the rules can undergo “virtual” crucifixions as punishment, […]
Broadest-Ever U.S. Church Unity Group Launched
By Kein Eckstrom — April 4, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Leaders of 34 U.S. church bodies have officially launched the broadest-ever Christian unity organization in American history, and said fighting poverty will be its first priority. Christian Churches Together in the USA was formally inaugurated on Friday (March 31) after a three-day meeting outside Atlanta. A public kickoff is […]
Church Spending on Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal Tops $1 Billion
By Kein Eckstrom — March 31, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ U.S. Catholic leaders received 783 allegations of clergy sexual abuse last year, which pushed the price tag of the scandal past $1 billion since 1950, church officials said Thursday (March 30). In addition, researchers analyzed data from previous years to try to craft a profile of abusive priests. […]
Bishops Say All Catholic Lawmakers Must Work to End Abortion
By Kein Eckstrom — March 11, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Top U.S. Catholic leaders on Friday (March 10) told Democratic lawmakers there is no wiggle room in church teaching on abortion, and that they are duty-bound to work against “the destruction of unborn human life.” The statement by three top leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops […]
Religious Groups Divided Over U.S. Role Regarding Hamas
By Kein Eckstrom — March 8, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ If you asked many Jewish and evangelical leaders how the United States should respond to the Jan. 25 Palestinian elections that ushered Hamas into power, the reaction would be fairly swift and severe: No aid. No relations. No questions asked. But if you asked Catholic and mainline Protestant […]
Catholic Democrats Seek Room to Disagree With Church Teaching on Abortion
By Kein Eckstrom — March 1, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ A coalition of 55 Catholic House Democrats on Tuesday (Feb. 28) acknowledged the “moral leadership” of the Catholic Church but said they will remain “in disagreement with the church” on some issues, including abortion rights. The “statement of principles” resurrects a battle from the 2004 elections when some […]
Supreme Court Allows Sect to Use Hallucinogenic Tea
By Kein Eckstrom — February 22, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday (Feb. 21) unanimously sided with members of a small New Mexico sect’s bid to use hallucinogenic tea in religious rituals. Chief Justice John Roberts, in his first religious freedom case, said the sect’s right to religious expression and practice superseded federal drug […]
Gay Episcopal Bishop Seeks Treatment for Alcoholism
By Kein Eckstrom — February 15, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, is undergoing treatment for his “increasing dependence on alcohol,” Robinson said in a letter to the 49 churches in his diocese. Robinson, 58, voluntarily checked himself into an undisclosed facility on Feb. 1 for […]
Bono, After Years of Skepticism, Finds a Partner in Religion
By Kein Eckstrom — February 3, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Born to a Roman Catholic father and a Protestant mother in the sectarian strife of 1960s Ireland, U2 frontman Bono has more than a few reasons to distrust organized religion. Far too often, Bono did not see his experience of Christian faith reflected in what he saw as […]
