With the October vote regarding the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s decision to attempt to leave the Episcopal Church or to stay approaching, the Diocese has agreed to a request to allow a third party to inventory the diocesan assets in anticipation of legal action that might follow the vote.
Jeff Sharlet of The Revealer has written about or rounded up some of the more intriguing coverage of the candidates and their religious beliefs.
“Beverly Hills 90210” fans discover in Tuesday’s episode of the “90210” sequel that Kelly Taylor’s troubled mother, Jackie, hasn’t changed much. The same can’t be said for Ann Gillespie, who plays Jackie: She’s gone from actress to Episcopal priest. Between sermons, weddings and funerals at Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., the Rev. Gillespie squeezed in an appearance on “90210,” CW’s follow-up to the hit Fox series that aired from 1990-2000.
In our Gospel today Jesus only gives the right to confront another member of the church if that member has sinned against you — you personally. He gives no general authority to Christians to judge the behavior of others with whom they disagree about anything. In fact, Jesus teaches exactly the opposite: Do not judge.
The proposed resolution is tantamount to Congress abdicating its war making powers and handing the Commander-in-Chief a blank check to make war if and when the President deems it right. The checks and balances written into the Constitution cohere well with the Christian recognition of pervasive sin. Concentrating power in the hands of one person unnecessarily invites abuses.
Oh sovereign God, in your bountiful creation,
Rain falls on the just and the unjust,
Signifying life’s Infinite Mystery.
I cannot know your ways;
Some people like a little razzle-dazzle with their proclamation. The Fellowship of Christian Magicians attempt to bring together the theatricality of their craft as illusionists with the call to proclaim the Gospel. The results can sometimes be tacky, sometimes moving, often fun, but is it also distracting?
The Alban Institute and the Lily Endowment are beginning a project to assist the newly ordained make the transition from seminary to ordained ministry, as well from the life as a lay person in a congregation to pastoring a congregation.
The Pew Forum writes that just as coverage of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s fiery former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, opened a window into life inside some black churches, Palin’s candidacy is introducing many Americans to the conservative theology of Pentecostalism.
The conservative Alliance Defense Fund is organizing pastors to directly endorse political candidates by name from the pulpits on September 28. The want to provoke the IRS into investigating them so they can sue the agency. Their goal is to remove the ban on direct political activity in churches.