The National Council of Churches Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reported a decline in Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist membership for first time in recent experience. The Episcopal Church declined less than United Church of Christ but slightly more than the Evangelical Lutherans.
Conflict is normal in every congregation. Some disagreement and conflict provides energy and generates ideas but it is like Goldilock’s porridge: organizations thrive when conflict is not too hot and not too cold but just right.
The Changing Attitude blog reports that the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs reported to the UN periodic review of human rights in Geneva on February 9, 2009 that they know of no gay and lesbian groups in Nigeria and therefore see no reason to protect their rights. Davis Mac-Iyalla and other leaders of Changing Attitude Nigeria described the statement as a lie.
Over on the blog RevGalBlogPals, Carol Howard Merritt writes about her book Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation.
Christians and Muslim Palestinian-Israelis protested a satiric sketch on Israel television which insulted both religions.
If you are coulrophobic, you may want to pass on the following story, otherwise read on and learn about the the Clowns International Annual Service that took place at Holy Trinity Church in Hackney, in Greater London, England.
The Community of the Holy Spirit has designed a newer, smaller convent that will be both simpler to maintain and significantly reduce their carbon footprint. This comes after a decade of increasing environmental awareness to their ministries of teaching and spiritual direction.
Readers Digest tells the stories of the people who are still, four years after Katrina, rebuilding New Orleans.
Hospital chaplains are involved in almost everything that happens at a hospital, from birth to death and listening to patients and loved ones at times of crisis and transition. Chaplains sit on hospital committees and train nurses and medical students, but they have little voice when it comes to public conversations about religion and medicine in this country.
Neither proponents nor opponents of women in the episcopate will go away, says Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, so we had better agree to disagree. Canon Rosalind Brown suggests that the Bishop is the focus of unity for the church when she or he models reconciliation.