Leaders at the Assemblies of God’s Northwest District Council said late Monday that they unanimously decided to fire Pastor Dean Curry of the multicampus Life Center Assembly of God church in Tacoma, Washington, based on the “testimony of two or more witnesses” about alleged misconduct with a former church employee. Curry says the accusations are untrue. 

“After a thorough investigation of the allegations, the Northwest Ministry Network Executive Presbytery, having received the testimony of two or more witnesses and acting in their role as the Ministerial Relations Committee, has unanimously recommended dismissal of Pastor Curry to the General Council of the Assemblies of God,” Greg Stern, senior director of operations and finance with the Assemblies of God’s Northwest District Council, said in a statement to The Christian Post.

“This recommendation requests that Pastor Curry’s credentials with the Assemblies of God be terminated for violating prescribed standards of ministerial conduct, and he be listed as a dismissed minister of the Assemblies of God. This recommendation is within the Northwest Ministry Network’s purview as per Article X of the Assemblies of God General Council bylaws.”

Due to an ongoing investigation, Stern did not…

A California bill that that targets so-called “conversation therapy” for gays could have major consequences for religious liberty and even impact what pastors can say at conferences and in certain sermons, legal experts are warning.

AB 2943, which passed the Assembly in April and is expected to pass the state Senate before the end of summer, would ban the advertising or sale of “sexual orientation change efforts” by counselors, even if an adult wants to pay for it. But it could have more far-reaching consequences that its supporters aren’t acknowledging, says Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious liberty organization. 

The text of the bill says “sexual orientation change efforts” is defined as “any practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation.”

“This includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex,” the bill reads.

An ADF memo said the bill would mean that:

— “A pastor paid to speak at an event addressing current social topics could not encourage attendees that they can prevail over same-sex desires or feelings that they were born the wrong sex.”

— “A licensed counselor could not help a married mother of three who is experiencing unwanted attraction to a close female friend or confusion over her…

North Point Community Church Senior Pastor Andy Stanley recently explained to popular radio host and Messianic Jewish author Michael Brown why he’s quit using the term “the Bible says.”

In an episode of Brown’s podcast “Line of Fire” that aired Monday afternoon, Stanley explained why, although he considers the Good Book inerrant, the term “the Bible says” doesn’t work with those he’s trying to evangelize.

“Once upon a time that was very effective in our country. Those days are long gone. But unfortunately, church leaders still want to leverage ‘the Bible says,’ which is great for people who take the Bible seriously,” said Stanley.

“It’s not my audience. … I’m trying to recapture the imagination of people, adults and students who’ve left because of what else is in the Bible or because everyone is one click away from information or misinformation about the Bible.”

Stanley described Christianity as “an event-based faith,” telling Brown that he believes if people come to accept Jesus’ Resurrection, “their confidence in the Old Testament and their interest, most importantly,…

The American Charge d’Affaires in Ankara has said that Turkey’s continued detention of pastor Andrew Brunson on spying and terrorism-related charges is impeding US-Turkish relations.

Philip Kosnett said there is a “strong sense of unity in Congress between Republicans and Democrats” on the need for Brunson to be released and “a similar sense of unity between Congress and the administration that in order for the relationship between Turkey and the US to progress, we need to resolve that status not only for Brunson but also for other American citizens and local Turkish employees of US missions who we feel are detained unjustly under the state of emergency”.

According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, Kosnett said that resolving those cases would improve “prospects for progress” in other areas of co-operation, such as security in northern Syria. He was speaking to reporters yesterday as it emerged that two senators travelled to Turkey last week to lobby Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the release of Pastor Brunson, whom they visited in prison.

Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen met President Erdoğan in Ankara last Friday (29 June) after visiting Pastor Brunson in prison in the Aliağa district of the western city of Izmir earlier that day, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

Following their previously undisclosed trip, Shaheen told…

A Roman Catholic diocese that purchased the former Crystal Cathedral building has announced that a “Holy Year of Preparation” will take place in advance of the church’s official dedication next year.

In 2012, the Catholic Diocese of Orange purchased the former Crystal Cathedral building and grounds, notable as the megachurch headed by the Rev. Robert Schuller and his family, renaming it “Christ Cathedral.”

The Diocese’s Bishop Kevin Willian Vann announced a decree last Friday proclaiming a “holy year” in advance of the July 19, 2019 dedication ceremony.

“That, in accord with canons 35 and 48 of the Code of Canon Law, a Holy Year of Preparation for the Opening of Christ Cathedral is to begin today, the Solemnity of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul…

Pixar Animation, now owned by Walt Disney Studios, recently named committed Christian Pete Doctor as their new Chief Creative Officer.

The Christian Post reports that Doctor has worked on beloved Pixar films such as “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Inside Out,” and “Up.”

Doctor spoke with The Christian Post and shared his thoughts on his new role:

“I am excited and humbled to be asked to take on this role. It is not something I take lightly; making films at Pixar has been my chronic obsession since I started here 28 years ago.

“I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented people on the planet,” he added, “and together we will keep pushing animation in new directions, using the latest technology to tell stories we hope will surprise and delight audiences around the world.”

Last year, Doctor spoke with Radix magazine about how his faith informs his work:

“Years ago, when I first spoke at church, I was kind of nervous about talking about Christianity and my work. It didn’t really connect. But more and more it seems to be connecting for me. I ask for God’s help, and it’s definitely affected what I’m doing. It’s helped me to calm down and focus. There were times when I got too stressed out with what I was doing, and now I just step back and say, ‘God, help me through this.’ It really helps you keep a perspective on things, not only in…