Christian climate change campaigner found guilty of public order offence

Ruth Jarman, who is a member of Christian Climate Action, was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £640 in costs for knowingly failing to comply with Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.

 

She’d pleaded not guilty after being arrested during the Extinction Rebellion protests in London in April claiming she was a Conscientious Protector trying to prevent a crime against humanity and creation by drawing attention to the climate emergency we face.

Speaking after the trial, Ruth said: “For two decades, my campaigning on climate has been ignored. Two weeks on the streets of London in April could not be ignored.

“Opinion polls showed concern about the environment at the highest levels on record and the Shadow Chancellor stated that the Extinction Rebellion led directly to Parliament’s declaration of an environment and climate emergency. The leniency of my sentence shows the level of sympathy for our cause. The Rebellion is working!”

Over 1,100 people were arrested in total during the protests which closed some of London’s busiest streets.

More action is planned for October when Christian Climate Action is planning to create a ‘Bridge of Faith’ with round the clock prayer and worship.

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Supreme Court rules Christian business can refuse to make same-sex wedding invitations

Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski own Brush & Nib Studios, a specialist hand-painting company in Phoenix which creates artwork for big life events, such as wedding invitations.

They talk about their love of God on their website, saying that meeting each other was ‘a God thing’.

The city of Phoenix wanted to enforce an ‘ordinance’ which would prohibit anyone offering services (such as a business) discriminating against another based on their status in a ‘protected’ group, including someone’s sexual orientation.

The Christian women weren’t accused by the state but started the case themselves to prevent the ordinance being used against them in the future.

They wanted the right to have a statement on their website that explained that they would “not create any artwork that violates our vision as defined by our religious and artistic beliefs and identity.”

It lists several examples of objectionable artwork, including artwork promoting businesses that “exploit women or sexually objectify the female body”, “exploits the environment”, or “any custom artwork that demeans others, endorses racism, incites violence, contradicts our Christian faith, or promotes any marriage except marriage between one man and one woman,” such as “wedding invitations for same-sex wedding ceremonies.”

The city wanted to dismiss this request.

It’s now been ruled that the City of Phoenix cannot force…

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Christian teacher claims she felt pressured to resign from faith school for supporting gay marriage

Colvin worked at Ballarat Christian College, a non-denominational school in Australia, part time from 2016 to February 2019, having worked there full-time as an English teacher between 2008-11.

The teacher, who sings and plays guitar at her church, Bayside Church Cheltenham in Melbourne, is being supported by LGBT group Equality Australia to launch a case of discrimination against the school on the grounds of political or religious discrimination.

Mrs Colvin alleges that from around August 2018 and in the shadow of the national marriage postal survey, the College informed her that she would no longer be offered certain teaching and professional development opportunities at the school, despite Mrs Colvin offering to remain silent about her beliefs with her students.

 

 

She says that she was talked to by the chaplain and effectively forced to resign after she refused to sign the school’s statement of faith that said marriage is between a man and a woman.

The college, which says it’s purpose is “to provide each student Christian education that gives opportunities to develop gifts and talents to fulfil the will of God in his or her life,” has a statement which outlines that there is male and female, that a marriage is the only place for procreation and that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

She said: “I am devastated by what happened to me. I loved my job….

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‘You let her die in church’: How obeying what we don’t understand leads to peace

Cassie Griffin is laid to rest at Wedgwood Baptist Church on Sept. 20, 1999.

Cassie Griffin arrived at church on Wednesday night for a prayer rally and a concert. The fourteen-year-old was sitting on the second row with friends when a gunman entered the church and opened fire, killing her and six others and wounding seven before taking his own life.

The shooting occurred on September 15, 1999, at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. Sunday, the congregation marked the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy. Among those in attendance were Cassie’s parents, who had to identify their daughter that horrible night by the Halloween-themed socks she had been wearing. 

Four theological facts 

Cassie Griffin and the other victims were in a prayer meeting when they died. This grievous fact raises the question: Why pray? In our post-9/11 world, why pray for protection from terrorists? In this era of mass murders, why ask God to defend us and those we love from the next shooter? 

Let’s consider four theological facts. 

One: God honors the freedom he gives us. 

The most famous verse in Scripture tells us that “whoever believes” in Jesus will “have eternal life” (John 3:16). Joshua challenged his people to “choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Thus, we should not pray for the Lord to remove a person’s free will, even if they intend to misuse their freedom for evil. 

Two: God sometimes engineers circumstances to help draw people to himself. 

The Lord did not remove Saul’s freedom when he traveled to Damascus to persecute Christians. But he did visit him with a blinding light and the voice of Jesus to which Saul responded in faith (Acts 9:3–19). Thus, we can pray for God to draw to himself those planning evil before they commit their crimes. 

Three: God sometimes answers prayer by protecting victims of misused freedom. 

When King Herod imprisoned Peter with plans to execute him,…

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Cardinal in final appeal over child abuse convictions

Cardinal George Pell, who was the Vatican’s treasurer, has consistently maintained his innocence.

 

He was jailed earlier this year for abusing two boys in Melbourne in the 1990s.

After failing in his appeal of his six year prison sentence, his case will now be heard by Australia’s High Court.

Pell is yet to be struck off by the Vatican.

If he loses his appeal, he’ll be eligible for parole in October 2022.

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Christian teacher claims faith school dismissed her for supporting gay marriage

Colvin worked at Ballarat Christian College, a non-denominational school in Australia, part time from 2016 to February 2019, having worked there full-time as an English teacher between 2008-11.

The teacher, who sings and plays guitar at her church, Bayside Church Cheltenham in Melbourne, is being supported by LGBT group Equality Australia to launch a case of discrimination against the school on the grounds of political or religious discrimination.

Mrs Colvin alleges that from around August 2018 and in the shadow of the national marriage postal survey, the College informed her that she would no longer be offered certain teaching and professional development opportunities at the school, despite Mrs Colvin offering to remain silent about her beliefs with her students.

 

 

She says that she was talked to by the chaplain and effectively forced to resign after she refused to sign the school’s statement of faith that said marriage is between a man and a woman.

The college, which says it’s purpose is “to provide each student Christian education that gives opportunities to develop gifts and talents to fulfil the will of God in his or her life,” has a statement which outlines that there is male and female, that a marriage is the only place for procreation and that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

She said: “I am devastated by what happened to me. I loved my job….

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Getting under the Hood of Church Giving to Increase Generosity in Your Congregation

Podcast Episode #572

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Increasing generosity is not just about asking for more money more often. It’s about building the spiritual discipline of giving. Today, we welcome Jim Sheppard and Steve Caton to the podcast to discuss this and how metrics can help you in your church.

About Jim Sheppard
Jim Sheppard is CEO & Principal of Generis, a consulting firm passionate about helping Churches inspire and cultivate generosity through giving development, coaching and strategy.

About Steve Caton
Steve Caton, Chief Growth Officer at Generis. He leads all marketing and business development activities and provides support and guidance to an expanding portfolio of Generis consultants and thought leaders as they help us live out our mission to accelerate generosity toward God-inspired vision.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Stewardship is not just about money. It’s also about leadership.
  • What worked then, doesn’t necessarily work now. Methodologies from the 1990s don’t always work in 2019.
  • Developing a long-term system of sustainable generosity takes time.
  • It’s hard to deal with a situation when you don’t have good metrics or measurements on it.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you’re…

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Chick-fil-A on Campus Promotes Inclusion and Freedom, Purdue Tells Upset Faculty

Chick-fil-A on Campus Promotes Inclusion and Freedom, Purdue Tells Upset Faculty



Chick-fil-A is facing opposition from some faculty members and students at yet another university, although this time, the administration is standing by the company.


The University Senate is expected to vote in October on a faculty-led resolution that would ensure than any businesses on campus “uphold the same values and promote inclusivity with their policies, hiring practices and actions” as the university does. It doesn’t mention Chick-fil-A by name, although the restaurant is the target.


A Chick-fil-A is set to open on campus in fall 2020. The Journal & Courier newspaper ran an article Monday quoting faculty members and students opposed to the decision. The company is owned by a Christian family and has made donations that have been criticized by LGBT groups.


Linda Prokopy, a professor and member of the University Senate’s Equity and Diversity Committee, told the newspaper that “there are students, there are staff and there are faculty on this campus who are hurting by a decision made by this university” to bring Chick-fil-A to campus.


But on Friday, Purdue released a statement standing by its decision. It referenced a petition signed by more than 3,500 people requesting a Chick-fil-A on campus.


“While we respect and protect the rights of all to express their opinions at Purdue, this clarification is intended to reassure our…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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2,246 Remains of Unborn Babies Found on Abortion Doctor’s Property

2,246 Remains of Unborn Babies Found on Abortion Doctor’s Property



Pro-life leaders are calling for more regulation of abortion clinics after 2,200 fetal remains were discovered on the property of an Indiana abortion doctor after he died.


Ulrich “George” Klopfer performed abortions in South Bend, Fort Wayne and Gary, Ind., over several decades and was considered one of the state’s most prolific abortion doctors, according to the South Bend Tribune.  


But after his death Sept. 3, family members found 2,246 medically preserved remains of unborn babies on his property just across the border in Will County, Ill. The coroner now has possession of the remains, the newspaper said. Klopfer was 75 and conducted abortions for 43 years, according to the newspaper.


Law enforcement is investigating the matter.  


Indiana Right to Life President Mike Fichter said society “cannot just shake” its head at the horror and “walk away.”


“These sickening reports underscore why the abortion industry must be held to the highest scrutiny,” Fichter said. “We are calling on Indiana authorities to join in the investigation to determine if these fetal remains have any connection to abortion operations, or personnel, in Indiana.”


The discovery, Fichter added, raises numerous questions. 


“Why were these babies preserved?” Fichter asked. “When and where did these babies die? Did the mothers of these babies know their…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Baptist Church Makes History, Calls Transgender Pastor

Baptist Church Makes History, Calls Transgender Pastor



An Ohio Baptist church this summer called a transgender pastor to lead its church, making it one of the few Baptist congregations in the United States to be led by a minister who has a gender identity different from their birth gender. 


Peace Community Church called Erica Saunders, a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and then held an official welcoming service this month for Saunders, according to Baptist News Global.


The congregation was founded as First Baptist Church of Oberlin in July 1866 and is affiliated with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, the Alliance of Baptists and the American Baptist Churches of the Rochester/Genesee Region. 


The pastoral search committee reviewed 16 candidates and narrowed it down to two, Baptist News Global reported. 


“Both candidates were very strong candidates, but Erica stood out as a candidate with unique strengths,” the search team said in a letter. “Bright, compassionate, faith-filled and spirit-led with a loving presence, she showed as much interest in each of us as we did in her. At the end of our time together on Sunday, when we formed a circle and said a departing prayer, I think we felt and she felt a sense of calling to our church.” 


The letter said Saunders is “one of the first openly trans women ordained in Baptist life.”…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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