A Christian student group located on the University of Iowa campus says it won’t cave to the school’s demands that it open its leadership to LGBT persons.

The group, Business Leaders in Christ, says it has the right as a religious group to require members to affirm a statement of faith. The controversy began in 2016 when the group refused a leadership position to a gay student because he did not affirm its beliefs.

“The University is discriminating against [us] because of our religious beliefs, while allowing other student groups to form around their shared values and beliefs,” Jacob Estell of Business Leaders in Christ told The College Fix. “We have not changed our mind or caved in to the University’s wishes.”

The university stripped the group of its official status, but the group sued and won in court earlier this year. That lawsuit is still pending. The university is wanting to deregister all groups who don’t open their membership and leadership positions to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

“Anyone is, and always has been, welcome to be a member of BLinC,” Estell told The College Fix. “We only ask that our leaders align with our mission, just like the Republican and Democratic student groups, the pro-life and pro-choice student groups, the fraternities and sororities, and every other group on campus does.”

He added,…

Students heading back to school in Tennessee in the coming weeks will be greeted by more than new teachers and old friends. They’ll also see “In God We Trust” displayed prominently in their schools.

A bill requiring the national motto to be displayed in a prominent place was signed into law in April, meaning the 2018-19 school year is the first one to be impacted by the new rule.

The law defines “prominent place” as a “school entry way, cafeteria, or common area where students are likely to see the national motto.” The phrase “may take the form of, but is not limited to, a mounted plaque or student artwork.”

The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Susan Lynn.

“Our national motto is on our money. It’s on our license plates. It’s part of our national anthem,” she told The Tennessean. “Our national motto and founding documents are the cornerstone of freedom and we should teach our children about these things.”

Reaction to the new law has been mixed. WATE-TV in Knoxville asked viewers on Facebook their thoughts.

Pebby Distefano, a parent, has mixed feelings.

“I believe in God,” Distefano said. “My daughter believes in God. However, there are also people who do not believe in God that attend the same school that my daughter does and I would not want their religions imposed on my beliefs, as well as I know my beliefs don’t need…

A Jacksonville pastor is back in the pulpit after doctors told him he could have lost his voice forever.

Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr., pastor at The Bethel Church, had a number of surgeries to remove a polyp from his vocal cord.

Ten years ago, McKissick had surgery that paralyzed one of his vocal cords. Years later, doctors found scarring on his other vocal cord.

The surgeries could have left McKissick without a voice, but two months after surgeries, McKissick is back to preaching.

“Today was the first Sunday and it was jam-packed. You could tell they were listening and I think they appreciate the teaching more than the styling,” McKissick said of Sunday’s service at the Florida megachurch.

McKissick had been known for his dynamic teaching style while behind the pulpit, but, under doctor’s orders, McKissick said he’s taking it easy on his vocal cords.

“Having to change my style because of the severe scarring is going to be more of a teaching, well delivery-wise. I’ve always been a teacher. I think because of the style, you’re going to see a difference in the church, as far as even those who come to be a part of it, ” he said.

“It’s going to be tough because I’m used to going hard in the paint, so to speak. To preserve my voice and because of the scarring, I’m going to have to become almost conversational in my preaching and teaching, which…

President Trump met with inner-city pastors from all over the country Wednesday. During the 30-minute session, each pastor introduced himself and the group discussed prison reform.

In his introduction, President Trump stressed the importance of churches in America’s cultural life. “Throughout our history, America’s churches and religious leaders have called for change and have inspired us to care for and bring hope back to those in need.  So many people in need.  These are the people that — they do a job, and it’s really, largely unrecognized, which is something they don’t even care about, frankly.”

Ohio pastor Darrell Scott, who supported President Trump since he announced he was running for President, raised eyebrows when he praised President Trump’s support for minority communities.

Scott said, “But, to be honest, this is probably going to be the — and I’m going to say this at this table — the most pro-black President that we’ve had in our lifetime because — and I try to, you know, analyze the people that I encounter.  This President actually wants to prove something to our community, our faith-based community and our ethnic community.

The last President didn’t feel like he had to.  He felt like he didn’t have to prove it.  He got a pass.  This President is — this administration is probably going to be more proactive regarding urban…

A persecution watchdog group is petitioning the White House to secure the release of a North Carolina pastor imprisoned in China.

ChinaAid the watchdog organization, launched a petition this week calling on the White House to support the release of John Cao. Cao has been in a Chinese jail for more than a year, according to The Christian Post.

“While working to build schools for impoverished children in Myanmar, John was detained at the Chinese border on March 5, 2017,” the petition says. “Twenty days later, he was charged with ‘organizing illegal border crossing,’ despite the fact that he had used the same route between China and Myanmar for this humanitarian work for years.”

The organization says Cao helped build 16 schools in the areas before he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Chinese officials arrested Cao in 2017 while he was on a raft returning from the Yunnan province, where he had been helping build schools. He also tossed his cell phone in the water to protect other Christian teachers, according to The Christian Post.

Earlier this year, Cao’s son, Ben Cao, told the Associated Press that he hopes China will release his father.

Cao’s wife, Jamie Powell, told the U.S. State Department at the inaugural Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom event that Cao was “set up” for arrest because of his faith.

“Since his detainment, my husband has suffered…