The Church of Scotland’s website last week had 77 properties for sale, including churches, halls, manses and plots. When the asking prices are totalled they are worth well beyond £10 million.   Bargain hunters have been looking at properties ranging from £20,000 for an island church to £500,000 for a city-centre site in the Edinburgh... Continue Reading

Three non-profit religious organizations, including a division of the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention, are suing the federal government over a controversial contraceptives regulation that is a part of the Affordable Care Act. The organizations Monday announced the class-action lawsuit against the federal requirement that employers cover the cost of contraceptives, including drugs that can cause... Continue Reading

At a hearing punctuated with occasional humor from the bench, the Episcopal Church in South Carolina sought to have the order lifted, which forbids them to use the seal and the name of the Diocese of South Carolina. The Diocese departed from The Episcopal Church nearly one year ago after that body once again sought... Continue Reading

It is tempting to conclude from this analysis that conservative churches in the PC(USA), as represented by those seeking departure, are in general larger than moderate or progressive churches. This does not immediately follow since it can be argued that larger churches would leave preferentially because they are in a position to better support themselves... Continue Reading

“Pastors who are participating are recruiting other pastors,” Stanley said. “I believe this really is becoming a nationwide movement of pastors who are saying, ‘You have no constitutional right to in any way interfere with what I preach from the pulpit to my congregation.’”   Bishop Aubrey Shines believes it’s important to present his Tampa,... Continue Reading

Similarly, almost all of the original 12 complainants are friends that I have worked with over many years in this presbytery and synod. This was for me very much a family struggle and while I am glad that I could be part of the resolution, I am saddened by how this originally developed and the... Continue Reading

Pierpont’s session retained an attorney for representation if there was a legal challenge, an act they did not think went over well with the presbytery. They were advised that under Ohio law, there were no legal mandatory conditions they had to fulfill to leave the denomination. Also, they were advised that they would win a... Continue Reading

These days many churches are struggling to detect God’s direction. Many congregations are mired in debt, saddled with large mortgages as they lose longtime elderly members and scramble to woo young families that will place checks in collection plates. The recession took the most vulnerable. Nearly 350 churches have been sold in the last seven... Continue Reading

Calvin offered a few guesses as to why religious participation has remained steady in Black communities. First, using statistics on prayer, church attendance and the importance of church, Calvin concluded, “it seems blacks are more invested in the practices and rituals associated with church life.” Second, Calvin opined that “whites and blacks view the institution... Continue Reading

Kirk’s lack of clarity on marriage have contributed to the decisions of the latest ministers to join the Free Church. A Free Church spokesman said: “It is clear from last week’s census figures that many people go about their everyday lives without any thought of God or spiritual things. “The need for preaching and sharing... Continue Reading