Archbishop of Wales: Challenge the status quo

Most Rev John Davies delivered his presidential address to the Church in Wales’ Governing Body on Wednesday.

He told the crowd not to be oblivious to the Church’s challenges or opportunities, and gave the example of Jesus facing opposition when he challenged existing structures.

 

“Those who challenge the status quo, calling on well-established institutions to take a fresh look at the way in which they operate, and who question whether they might have lost something of the focus on their original calling, risk being judged and caricatured in the same way,” Archbishop John said.

However, he said it was essential that such voices be heard in order to “recover and rehabilitate authentic, Christ-like and Christ-centred ministry”.

“Recognise our challenges, and affirm those individuals and groups who, through asking uncomfortable questions and making uncomfortable observations, demand of us, that we pay attention, that we plan, that we pray and that we act to continue to rehabilitate our vision for our life as a church.”

Archbishop John explained that the Church had several opportunities to reach out to the community when they come through church doors for events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

“It requires eyes that are joyfully wide-open to constantly recognise and rejoice in the resources and gifts we have, and the many opportunities which still come our way,…

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Faith institutions divest from fossil fuels

The coalitions of institutions include seven Protestant institutions, among them the United Reformed Church in the UK, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, and the United Reformed Church Synod of Wessex, UK. 

St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh is one of the first cathedrals in the world to divest from fossil fuels.

  

In June this year, the Scottish Episcopal Church General Synod asked the Church’s Investment Committee to divest, recognising the “moral imperative to divest fully from fossil fuels”.

Very Rev John Conway, Provost of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, said: “We need to shape an economy that does not rely on fossil fuels, whose extraction and burning are imperilling the lives and livelihoods of so many, both now and for all generations to come.

“The climate emergency will only be tackled when as individuals, institutions, businesses and governments, we act together, in solidarity with those who suffer now, and with hope for future generations.”

Fifteen new Catholic commitments were also made, among them the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, and Caritas agencies in Italy, Singapore, Australia, and Norway.

This divestment announcement is made as a summit called ‘Financing the Future’ is set to begin in Cape Town, South…

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Understanding the Pain and Hurt Felt By Members of Dying Churches

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Dying churches are filled with members who are experiencing loss—loss of friends, loss of ministry, loss of relevance. Today, we discuss several of these pain points found in dying churches.

Episode Highlights:

  • Church members often like the way a church used to be more than the way the church is currently.
  • Nostalgia is a cul-de-sac. It leads nowhere.
  • When members leave a dying church, those who remain often feel betrayed by those who leave.
  • The change people in their 70s and 80s have endured in their lifetime has left many wanting the church to be a place that never changes.

The eight pain points we discuss are:

  1. Anticipatory grief
  2. Church is connected to major life events
  3. Friendship patterns are being disrupted
  4. Some of feelings of betrayal
  5. The pain of denial
  6. Loss of stability
  7. Great confusion and pain related to cultural change
  8. Often the members respond with anger and resistance to those who try to help.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and…

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

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Florida Georgia Line Invites Chris Tomlin on Stage for Surprise Worship Moment

Florida Georgia Line Invites Chris Tomlin on Stage for Surprise Worship Moment



Country duo Florida Georgia Line has invited internationally renowned worship leader, Chris Tomlin, on stage at one of their concerts.


The country star’s Atlanta, Georgia show took a very unique turn when the pair took a pause between songs before announcing that they would be trying something new.


“We get to do something we’ve been looking forward to a long time now. We’ve never done this before,” vocalist Tyler Hubbard explained, according to Fox News.


“When we were coming up, playing shows… a lot of the time we were leading worship in church and singing songs to Jesus… a lot of those songs were written by this guy we’re about to bring out for you guys tonight,” Hubbard continued. “This is probably one of the coolest moments for us. Truly a full circle God-thing.”


Hubbard added that the Lord was “truly moving in our industry.”


Then came the big announcement: “I mean God’s been moving in our life, in our community, and in our industry and we just want to do something special tonight and bring one of our good buddies, Mr. Chris Tomlin.”


The crowd went absolutely berserk, as the “Our God” singer sauntered out onto the stage.


“This is crazy,” Tomlin exclaimed to the crowds. “I’ve sung this song all over the world and being here tonight with these two brothers…we’re just going to have a moment to give God praise in Atlanta.”…

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Benny Hinn discusses his position on the Prosperity Gospel with Stephen Strang

In this powerful interview with Stephen Strang, Pastor Benny Hinn discusses his position on the Prosperity Gospel and explains why he is speaking out against prosperity teaching.

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For Anxious Young Adults, Religion Can Be a Wellness Tool, Says New Study

For Anxious Young Adults, Religion Can Be a Wellness Tool, Says New Study



(RNS) — Lieryn Barnett sometimes is so depressed, all she wants to do is sleep, she said. 


Other times, she’s so full of energy, she’ll be up in the middle of the night, singing or playing guitar. Or her mind will race at the same time her body won’t have the energy to do anything. 


All are symptoms of the bipolar disorder Barnett was diagnosed with when she was an adolescent.


Medication and therapy have helped her deal with the condition, the 29-year-old said.


So has her faith. 


“Christ gives your life value, purpose, hope and eternal security. Without that hope I probably would not be here today,” said Barnett, a member of Two Cities Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., who has written about her experiences with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.


A new study by the Christian research firm Barna Group suggests that Barnett may not be alone in her anxiety — or in finding that faith can be an asset when dealing with mental health concerns.


“The church and institutions of faith need to be emotionally connected and places that are able to handle the kinds of emotional, mental health, anxiety-oriented questions that this generation is bringing to them,” Barna President David Kinnaman said. 


The study, released Tuesday (Sept. 10), is the research firm’s largest and its first global look at what it calls “the connected…

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Suicide Won’t ‘Get the Last Word,’ Juli Wilson Pledges after Husband Jarrid’s Death

Suicide Won’t ‘Get the Last Word,’ Juli Wilson Pledges after Husband Jarrid’s Death



Jarrid Wilson’s wife says she will continue telling others about the hope found in Christ in light of his suicide.


Wilson, an associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in California and an author and speaker, committed suicide Monday night. He and his wife, Juli, co-founded Anthem of Hope, a non-profit that assists people suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. He was a mental health advocate and spoke out about his battles with depression. 


Juli posted tributes to him on Instagram, including a video of him playing with one of their sons Monday night, about four hours before he killed himself. He left behind two young children.


“I have to say that you being gone has completely ripped my heart out of my chest,” she wrote. “You loved me and our boys relentlessly and I am forever grateful that I had YOU as a husband and a father to our boys. You are my forever and I will continue to let other people know of the hope in Jesus you found and spoke so boldly about.”


But suicide, she wrote. “doesn’t get the last word.”


“I won’t let it,” she wrote. “You always said ‘Hope Gets the last word. Jesus gets the last word’. Your life’s work has led thousands to the feet of Jesus and your boldness to tell other[s] about your struggle with anxiety and depression has helped so many other people feel…

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Jerry Falwell, Jr. Faces Blistering Accusations, Fights Back

Jerry Falwell, Jr. Faces Blistering Accusations, Fights Back



Jerry Falwell, Jr. is facing searing accusations of corruption, manipulation, and deceit, but he’s fighting back with an FBI investigation.


A recent Politico exposé called out the Liberty University president for questionable business deals and even “racy personal photographs,” cleaned up by Michael Cohen, a controversial attorney for Donald Trump.


Former and current board members and employees of the university offered evidence against Falwell, yet none of them agreed to be named in the article. One source even purchased a burner phone to ensure prying ears would not listen.


Among the accusations are allegations of nepotism with his son Trey, who owns a company hired by Liberty University to manage the school’s newly acquired shopping center, as well as awarding university contracts to businesses owned by friends.


The unnamed sources in the article were “reluctant to speak out…but said they see it as necessary to save Liberty University and the values it once stood for.”


The sources, who all signed confidentiality agreements with the University upon employment, claim to live in fear.


“It’s a dictatorship,” one high-level employee claimed. “Nobody craps at the university without Jerry’s approval.”


Another board member commented, “There’s no accountability. Jerry’s got pretty free reign to wheel and deal professionally and personally….

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House Democrats Block Act Designed to Protect Babies Born after Failed Abortions

House Democrats Block Act Designed to Protect Babies Born after Failed Abortions



Earlier this week, House Democrats voted to block the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, designed to provide medical care for babies who survived an abortion and are born alive.


The act, sponsored by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), would also create penalties and jail time for health care practitioners who did not provide medical care after an attempted, botched abortion. Mothers could also file civil lawsuits against health care practitioners who violated the act, according to FactCheck.org.


The act was introduced to the Senate by Sasse earlier this year after Virginia governor Ralph Northam claimed that infanticide still occurs when some abortion survivor babies are denied medical care after birth, according to the National Review.


But many Democrats voted against the act because similar protections are already in place.


“I voted against proceeding to Senator Sasse’s bill because the title, content, and stated motivation for the legislation are extremely misleading,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said in a statement following the vote. “Infanticide is already illegal in every state. Congress reaffirmed that fact with its passage of the bipartisan Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in 2002. I support that law, which is still in effect. There is no need for additional federal legislation on this topic.”


Many doctors also believe that the bill…

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