Unless new charges are filed against her, the last of 10 Southern Baptist mission volunteers jailed in Haiti on suspicion of child kidnapping will have to be released, according to an expert on Haiti’s legal system. The Haitian judge overseeing the case involving the mission team composed mostly of members from two Idaho Southern Baptist congregations released the ninth team member, 24-year-old Charisa Coulter, on March 8.
Read more »Gay marriage in D.C. raises questions about faith, funding
In response to the new gay marriage law in Washington, Catholic Charities closed its adoption and foster care programs and cut spousal benefits to future employees—to avoid providing services to homosexual couples. If a church or other religious charity receives government funding, should it follow all government rules, including those against discrimination based on sexual orientation? Or should government exempt such organizations from requirements that violate particular religious beliefs?
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Outcry builds in wake of Nigeria attack on Christian villagers
An Anglican Archbishop in Nigeria lamented Sunday’s attack on Christians near the city of Jos and pleaded for an end to the bloodshed between Christians and Muslims. “Some of these communities may never again be recognized in history because generations have been wiped out,” said the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican Archbishop of Josin a statement. “Hundreds of corpses of men, women, children and grandchildren littered the burned houses, roads, bush paths, farm areas and hiding places,” he said.
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How to build a church IT presence
Budgeting for information technology resources is a given for many churches. The question becomes how to use computers and the Internet effective and keep its focus on extending the church’s presence and ministries. This may include establishing wireless networks and streamlining operations so everyone from the lead pastor to volunteers is able to use and share information effectively.
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Faith council submits recommendations to White House
The faith council advising the White House on policy prescriptions for a range of social issues submitted its final report Wednesday. Abortion reduction and religious hiring issues, two of the most contentious issues where faith and government intersect, was left off the table. The next council will be named in late spring/early summer, according to Faith Office Director Joshua Dubois. He said he doesn’t expect the next council to address the same issues this one did.
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Baseball a successful ministry in Eastern Europe
Think of baseball hotspots and Eastern Europe does not ordinarily come to mind. However, baseball has been an integral part of the growth experience for some boys in Slovakia, where a sports ministry has helped give a different perspective on friendship and camaraderie in nation still recovering from decades of Communist oppression.
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Habitat for Humanity begins Chile operation
Habitat for Humanity is beginning work at doing its part to help victims of the Chile earthquake recover. The Christian humanitarian organization is clearing ground on the first of 36 homes it plans to build in the country rocked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Only local volunteers are being used at this time because of transportation difficulties.
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Renewed activism by bishops on abortion shaping health care debate
The influence of Catholic bishops in the health care debate has been noticeable and a break from laity who either don’t see abortion as a make-or-break issue or who conversely don’t embrace any reform whatsoever. The stance of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to call for reform with strict limitations on abortion has distanced them from past political deal-making and toward renewed activism.
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National search for historic missing church windows
Calling all history buffs, amateur detectives and people who just like to snoop: An Irish-American benevolent society is looking for help in tracking down stained-glass windows it donated to churches between 1870 and 1920. The Ancient Order of Hibernians gave the windows to Roman Catholic churches, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only place to look. As buildings were sold, torn down or remodeled, Hibernian windows are turning up in all kinds of places—warehouses, garages and even Protestant churches.
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Third suspect arrested in California church shooting
A third suspect has been arrested in the shootings of a man and a boy during a Richmond, Calif., church service on Valentine’s Day. Richmond police this morning took into custody Marcel Buggs, 18, on charges including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm. The Richmond resident had been under surveillance for more than a week, according to Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French.
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