Tag: Religion in America

Part of what theological educators have to do is challenge the churches not to become imprisoned by a marketing culture. Otherwise, we will only plant new ministries in communities with middle class and upper middle class constituencies, where people can afford nice buildings and professionally trained ministers. We may even perpetuate the re-segregation of the church into ethnic and racial isolation.

Tiffany Stanley reports on the experience of straight people who are worshiping in congregations that are predominantly gay or lesbian. The report describes the experience of people in synagogues, main-line congregations and even in the predominantly LBGT Metropolitan Community Church denomination.

The National Catholic Reporter, citing a study by Giving USA Foundation, says that religious organizations reported a 5.5-percent increase in donations last year, a marked contrast from the nationwide 2-percent decline in charitable giving.

There are nine Christian theological graduate schools and seminaries in the Boston area and many of them are exploring mergers and other ways to deal

Some parents in Frisco, Texas, are fuming because their public school district allowed Christian evangelists to provide Bibles to students on school grounds, which administrators say was done to stop even more proselytizing outside the schools.

From NPR: Many know John Danforth as a former three-term U.S. Senator from Missouri, and former Ambassador to the United Nations. But the Midwestern Republican’s interests stretch far beyond politics. Danforth is also an ordained Episcopal priest. The public servant talks openly about his faith and why he believes right-wing evangelicals have done more harm than good for the GOP.