Kein Eckstrom
Kein Eckstrom is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Kein Eckstrom
Bishops Look to Lay Ministers to Fill Gaps From Shortage of Priests, Nuns
By Kein Eckstrom — November 10, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Amid all the hand-wringing over a shortage of priests and nuns, one frequently overlooked statistic may offer a glimpse of the future of ministry in America’s Catholic churches: More than 18,000 Catholics are enrolled in lay ministry training programs _ a figure that is six times larger than […]
Gay Episcopal Bishop Criticizes Pope; Some Catholics Outraged
By Kein Eckstrom — November 9, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) An openly gay Episcopal bishop has caused a stir among Catholics for criticizing Pope Benedict XVI and suggesting that frustrated Catholics could find a new home in the badly divided Episcopal Church. Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, whose election in 2003 now threatens to split the Episcopal […]
Alito Would Provide Historic Catholic Majority on Supreme Court
By Kein Eckstrom — November 3, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ If Judge Samuel Alito is confirmed as the next member of the U.S. Supreme Court he will usher in the court’s first-ever Catholic majority. Alito would join fellow Catholics Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts on the court. Justices John Paul Stevens and […]
Supreme Court Considers Use of Hallucinogenic Religious Tea
By Kein Eckstrom — November 2, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Lawyers for a small Christian sect asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday (Nov. 1) to allow the importation of a hallucinogenic tea from Brazil, a move that government officials say violates federal drug laws. The justices seemed skeptical that the government has a compelling reason to ban […]
Study Finds Student Loan Debt a Burden for New Pastors
By Kein Eckstrom — November 1, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When Nicole Lamarche decided to become a pastor, she knew two things: A master of divinity degree wouldn’t come cheap, and once she entered the pulpit, she wouldn’t make a lot of money. So Lamarche, 26, took out $28,000 in student loans. As she starts a two-year residency at […]
Methodist Rulings Reinforce Traditional Church Policy on Homosexuality
By Kein Eckstrom — November 1, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) An openly gay United Methodist minister lost her bid to return to the pulpit Monday (Oct. 31) when the church’s highest court upheld her conviction on charges of being a “self-avowed practicing” lesbian. And, in a separate decision that could have even wider implications, the church’s Judicial Council said […]
Liberal Episcopalians Make Plans for Denominational Split in 2006
By Kein Eckstrom — October 28, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Liberal Episcopalians, concerned that a split over homosexuality may be inevitable next year, have begun laying the groundwork for seizing control of church property and replacing bishops who leave the church. Leaders of Via Media, a loosely knit alliance of liberal groups in 12 conservative dioceses, sketched out the […]
In Bid to Return to Pulpit, Lesbian Pastor Cites Supreme Court Sodomy Ruling
By Kein Eckstrom — October 21, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A United Methodist pastor is hoping a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned sodomy laws will help her return to the pulpit after a lesbian relationship caused her to be expelled from the clergy. The Rev. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud will get her final appeal next week (Oct. 27) […]
Presbyterian Panel Urges Flexibility on Gay Clergy
By Kein Eckstrom — August 27, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A special panel has urged the Presbyterian Church (USA) to maintain its ban on noncelibate gay clergy, but the panel also wants local congregations to determine when to apply _ or bypass _ that standard. The 20-member panel, which has spent four years studying divisions over homosexuality, said the […]
Reed College, BYU Ranked as Nation’s Most Secular and Religious Colleges
By Kein Eckstrom — August 27, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) If your family is about to spend $40,000 a year to send your freshman off to Reed College in Portland, Ore., you can rest assured that he will get the nation’s top-ranked overall academic experience for undergrads. The one thing the Reed student won’t get, however, is much time […]
Reed College, BYU Ranked as Nation’s Most Secular and Religious Colleges
By Kein Eckstrom — August 26, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) If your family is about to spend $40,000 a year to send your freshman off to Reed College in Portland, Ore., you can rest assured that he will get the nation’s top-ranked overall academic experience for undergrads. The one thing the Reed student won’t get, however, is much time […]
NEWS STORY: Lutherans Lambaste Israel on Separation Wall, Sidestep Divestment Issue
By Kein Eckstrom — August 15, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service ORLANDO, Fla. _ The nation’s largest Lutheran denomination on Saturday (Aug. 13) voted to increase advocacy on behalf of Palestinians, but sidestepped a growing movement to divest in Israel that has angered many Jewish groups. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which has deep ties with the dwindling Palestinian Christian […]
NEWS STORY: Lutherans Maintain Policies Frowning on Same-Sex Unions, Actively Gay Clergy
By Kein Eckstrom — August 13, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service ORLANDO, Fla. _ The nation’s largest Lutheran church on Friday (Aug. 12) rejected a move to allow actively gay clergy and upheld a 1993 policy that frowns on blessing same-sex unions. A proposal to allow clergy in “life-long, committed and faithful same-sex relationships” to serve in the Evangelical Lutheran Church […]
Two Largest Mainline Protestant Churches to Share Holy Communion Table
By Kein Eckstrom — August 12, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service ORLANDO, Fla. _ Lutherans and Methodists, comprising the nation’s two largest mainline Protestant churches, will share in the sacrament of Holy Communion under an interim agreement approved Thursday (Aug. 11) by Lutheran delegates meeting here. The interim agreement approved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a small […]
Lutherans Consider Gay Issue With Unique Approach That Omits Discipline
By Kein Eckstrom — July 28, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) The nation’s largest Lutheran church body will try to settle the divisive issue of homosexuality by maintaining bans on gay clergy and same-sex unions _ while also allowing churches to break both those rules without threat of discipline. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), with 5 million members, […]
