Faith Leaders on Kavanaugh Nomination: Defender or Destroyer of Religious Liberty?

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Faith Leaders on Kavanaugh Nomination: Defender or Destroyer of Religious Liberty?


Faith Leaders on Kavanaugh Nomination: Defender or Destroyer of Religious Liberty?


As Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, a District of Columbia appellate court judge, headed to Capitol Hill to meet members of Congress who will determine his fate, religious leaders and experts weighed in on whether he should be named the replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.


One group of evangelical Christians, mostly men, is hailing President Trump’s nomination as someone who will protect “the God-given dignity of every human being,” while a group of evangelical women is seeking a more centrist Kennedy successor who will help mitigate the culture wars. As those debates over faith and culture continued Tuesday (July 10), secular leaders worry Kavanaugh could be a “disaster” for the principle of church-state separation, while some conservatives think he will be a staunch defender of religious liberties.


Here’s a sampling of responses from faith leaders and organizations concerned about the role of religion in U.S. society:


Paula White, senior pastor, New Destiny Christian Center, Apopka, Fla.


“If President Trump hit a home run with Justice (Neil) Gorsuch, in the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh he’s hit a grand slam. President Trump has done it yet again, fulfilled a promise exactly as he said he would. In Judge Kavanaugh, we literally could not have asked for more. His excellent legal mind, along with his impeccable…

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Church of England Donations Down by Nearly $2M; Leaders Say Millennials Not Giving as Much

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Church of England Donations Down by Nearly $2M; Leaders Say Millennials Not Giving as Much

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The Church of England has reported its first ever decline in planned donations since records started being kept, with some leaders pointing to millennials who are not giving as much as previous generations.

According to The Telegraph, figures from the General Synod discussion on the Archbishops’ Council’s budget for 2019 revealed that in 2016, planned giving fell by 0.4 percent, or £1.35 million, which amounts to around $1,786,000.

“We need to address the issue of giving by our millennial generation, the future of the church, but they are saddled with student debt and looking at being unable to buy a house,” said Julie Dziegiel, the treasurer of a parish in the diocese of Oxford.

John Spence, chair of the Archbishops’ Council Finance Committee, also noted that young people are not as likely to attend church compared to previous generations.

“An 81-year-old is eight times more likely to go to church than an 18-year-old. And that’s having its impact on finance. The numbers of people in our planned giving schemes declined by 13 percent since 2010,” Spence argued.

“Their commitment has grown individually by 27 percent or roughly four percent a year, enabling the overall sum to rise by 10 percent,” he added.

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Christian mother raises more than £14k to appeal Ealing abortion clinic vigil ban

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Christian mother raises more than £14k to appeal Ealing abortion clinic vigil ban

Ealing Council was the first in the country to create a 100-metre protest-free “buffer zone” outside a Marie Stopes clinic in the west London borough after pro-life activists were accused of intimidating the clinic’s patients.

The vigil members deny the claims and say they simply pray and offer patients counselling and other options besides abortion.

Mr Justice Turner decided to allow the ban on 2nd July after Christian mother Alina Dulgheriu challenged it.

He said the council was “entitled” to conclude it was a “necessary step in a democratic society”.

Dulgheriu has started an online fundraiser to pay for legal costs to appeal the ruling. It has received more than £14,000 in six days.

“I do not have the financial resources to challenge the PSPO in the Court of Appeal, and without your support, I can’t bring an appeal,” Dulgheriu said.

She added she was offered help and support when entering an abortion centre by a pro-life vigil in 2011.

“I was given another choice which meant that I could have my beautiful daughter,” she said.

“Since then I have regularly attended vigils in London to offer the same help and support to other women in need, as many women who go to an abortion centre do not want an abortion.”

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What’s in a Name? Episcopalians Move to Change Their Words for God

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What’s in a Name? Episcopalians Move to Change Their Words for God


What’s in a Name? Episcopalians Move to Change Their Words for God


For some watching (and blogging and tweeting) the debate on the floor of the Episcopal Church’s triennial General Convention this week, it sounded as if someone were trying to give God a sex change.


Bishops, priests and lay delegates, who have been meeting in Austin since July 5, are discussing legislation that would make changes to the Book of Common Prayer aimed at stripping away some of the masculine descriptions of God in favor of more “expansive” language.


During the hours of debate over the weekend, delegates butted heads over tradition, theology and what it means to be welcoming. One argued that children of all genders should hear language that allows them to feel made in God’s image. Another speaker, a delegate from an urban parish that serves poor families, said the masculine nature of God is crucial for children growing up without a father. 

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‘It’s coming home’ given the Cathedral treatment

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‘It’s coming home’ given the Cathedral treatment

The choir at Chelmsford Cathedral have received praise for their rendition of the song Three Lions originally recorded for the Euro ’96 tournament, written by The Lightning Seeds and comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel.

The choir aren’t alone in their optimism.

 

The Duke of Cambridge issued a rallying call to the England team ahead of their upcoming game and said to reporters: “Come on England – it’s coming home!”

He added that a “new generation is enjoying the magic” of the tournament – and that the “whole country” is willing Gareth Southgate’s side on.

Prime Minister Theresa May has also been getting behind the team from a Nato summit in Brussels.

She said: “I met the Croatian Prime Minister yesterday and we exchanged football shirts.

“Gareth Southgate and the boys have done a fantastic job and I’m sure that they’re going to go on to do well and I just wish them all the very best of luck tonight.”

 

Up to 10,000 England fans are expected in Moscow for the nation’s first World Cup semi-final in 28 years.

England have only ever reached the final once before – in the 1966 victory.

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Compassion International Boy among 13 Rescued from Cave; ‘Thank You to God,’ Parents Say

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Compassion International Boy among 13 Rescued from Cave; ‘Thank You to God,’ Parents Say


Compassion International Boy among 13 Rescued from Cave; ‘Thank You to God,’ Parents Say


The parents of the boys rescued from a Thailand cave were celebrating Monday, and among them were the father and mother of a boy who is sponsored through Compassion International.


“Thank you so much for all prayers and all the encouragement,” the boy’s mother said in a video interview posted by the Christian ministry. “Thank you to God. I’m really thankful that they found my son and all 13 [including the soccer coach] are alive. I’m so happy and so thankful to see my son again. Thank you so much to everyone that has been praying for us and the boys and helping us; thank you.”


The 12 boys and their soccer coach became trapped in the cave in June when it flooded. It required an international effort and a team of expert divers to save them.


Names have not been released to protect the privacy of the boy and the family who is assisted through Compassion International. The soccer team – the Wild Boars – practices on a field at the Baag Jong Church, which also houses a Compassion International center. The center was used as a base for the rescue.


“As center director, I want to say thank you so much for all your prayers as we have heard that [the boy] is now safe inside the cave,” said the center’s director, known as Nasou. “I’m so thankful to God and know that they will come out very safely.”


Even before the successful…

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Church of England to spend £27m on new churches

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Church of England to spend £27m on new churches

The Church’s ambitious growth programme hopes to revive the Christian faith in coastal areas, market towns and outer urban housing estates.

Ten dioceses including Bristol, Ely, Exeter and Canterbury will receive funding.

 

Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, the Bishop of Dover represents the Canterbury dioceses and told Premier the Church is putting its money where its mouth is.

“The Church is always called to reach out, meet God’s people and share with them the life changing faith of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Today that’s what the Church of England is saying. We’re putting our money where our mouth is. We’re saying we’re going to use the money that God has given us to do God’s work.”

In Canterbury for example, the project aims to create nine new worshipping communities based on on the model of Ignite, a church gathering in cafes which aim to reach marginalised and deprived communities.

Ignite offers an unconditional welcome to all and weekly meetings involve food and a magazine-style service based around short interactive activities and input exploring a Christian theme.

Bishop Trevor told Premier it’s all about building relationships.

“Upon building relationships you can start to build your faith. It’s not about great campaigns, it’s not about great statements. It’s getting alongside people, becoming friends and then you can work on that.”

Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of…

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Thai soccer coach kept boys alive: “He loved them more than himself”

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Thai soccer coach kept boys alive: “He loved them more than himself”

Ekkapol Ake Chantawong (known as Coach Ake) is the twenty-five-year-old coach of the Wild Boars soccer team that has made global headlines in recent weeks. He and the entire team have now been rescued from the cave system in northern Thailand where they were trapped since June 23. He was the last one out.

What do we know about him? His cousin, Thamma Kantawong, told reporters, “He is a very good person, loves kids, takes care of kids, he is very diligent, and always volunteers himself to help others.”

Divers who found the team reported that Coach Ake was among the weakest in the group because he gave his food to the boys. He taught them meditation techniques and showed them how to drink water from the cave’s walls.

When they were found, he wrote a note to their parents: “I promise to take the very best care of the kids. I want to say thanks for all the support, and I want to apologize.” They wrote back to the coach asking him not to blame himself and credit him for keeping their sons alive until they could be rescued.

One of Coach Ake’s friends said of his relationship with the boys, “He loved them more than himself.” I’m sure we’ll learn more about the coach in coming days. For this morning, I’d like to focus on his story as a metaphor for our time.

Culture wars are escalating

The rhetorical wars over President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh have started to escalate. There’s even a hashtag campaign: #STOPKAVANAUGH.

While liberal activists are offering apocalyptic warnings about the consequences if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, evangelical Christians are alarmed over the direction of our culture as well.

Consider a recent column by Rod Dreher, one of our most perceptive cultural commentators.

Dreher notes Summit Ministries’ announcement that it would move a summer program from Biola University near Los Angeles. Its concern: AB2943, a bill passed by the state Assembly and likely to become law. The bill prohibits…

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Blackpool Transport bans Franklin Graham event ads

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Blackpool Transport bans Franklin Graham event ads

Blackpool Transport, which oversees the buses, claimed the ads “resulted in heightened tension”.

A number of people had taken to social media to claim that Franklin Graham would be preaching hate and homophobia at the event which is due to take place at the city’s Winter Gardens in September.

 

Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport said: “The removal of these adverts is as a result of us listening and acting on customer and public feedback which we aim to do at all times.

“Blackpool Transport is a proud ongoing supporter of the Pride and LGBT+ communities and in no way did we intend to cause any distress or upset.”

A number of MPs have raised concern about his visit to Blackpool fearing he will repeat previous statements condemning homosexuality and Islam.

But speaking to Premier earlier this year, Graham said: “I’m not coming to preach hate, I’m here to preach about a saviour – Jesus Christ who can make a difference in our lives if we put our faith and trust in him.”

 

His visit is however is being supported by many local church leaders.

Franklin Graham has led evangelism events across the world in his role as president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

He’s also reached millions of people through his aid work with the charity Samaritans Purse.

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Five Reasons a Wave of Revitalization of Churches Is Likely

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In my post on Monday, I asserted that a revitalization wave is about to come to our churches, and I am really serious and optimistic about it. In that article, I shared how churches will be impacted from a high-level perspective. In this post, I will explain why I see this major trend on the horizon.

I began with the total number of churches in North America, about 350,000. For many reasons, we can’t get a precise number, but I believe our estimates are close.

In the article Monday, I also stated that 300,000, or 85%, of all churches needed some level of revitalization, from modest to radical revitalization. In our research we released a year ago, we found that 65% of churches were declining or plateaued. Based upon our interactions with other congregational leaders, we see about another 20% of churches with modest but declining growth rates. The sum of those two is thus 85%.

Here is where I take a contrarian position compared to many others, including positions I have held in the past: Of the 300,000 churches in need of revitalization, 100,000 will revitalize organically or internally, and another 100,000 will be revitalized through replanting. It’s a bold assertion, but something that could very well unfold over the next five to ten years.

Why I am optimistic? Am I in a state of denial? Bear with me as I share five reasons for the likelihood of a wave of revitalization.

  1. Thousands of church leaders are facing reality. They are not denying the difficult state of their churches. This…

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