By Kelly Ledbetter, Christian Examiner BURBANK, Calif. (Christian Examiner) – The former Olympian and reality television star Bruce Jenner, who has asked the media to address him as "Caitlyn," may be seeking to demonstrate a social distance between himself and the LGBT community that previously accepted Jenner as a figurehead. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Jenner said, "I'm a traditionalist." He said he was "okay" with gay marriage, but he was not resoundingly supportive, USA Today reported. Jenner has said he is a republican and a Christian, but he ascribed his views to his age: "I'm older than most people in the audience. I kind of like tradition, and it's always been a man and a woman. I'm thinking, 'I don't quite get it.'" To read more, go to the Christian Examiner website. … [Read more...]
Methodists in England encouraged to broaden definition of family
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner NEW YORK (Christian Examiner) – A new study from the Methodist Church in Britain is encouraging church workers and ministers to adopt a greater level of understanding and inclusion for new types of "families," including those composed of same-sex couples. "What does the word 'family' mean in the twenty-first century?" A summary of the study asks. "This is challenging, as what constitutes 'being a family' eludes being clearly defined. In contemporary society family is found in a variety of places and takes a number of different forms that go beyond blood relationships and relationships established by law. It is vital therefore for us to develop a clear understanding of the kinds of families taking part in family activities and the support offered to them by churches." … [Read more...]
In wake of videos, Louisiana, two other states, defund Planned Parenthood
By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – Louisiana is among three states that have eliminated state funding for Planned Parenthood. After Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the state’s Department of Health and Hospitals was canceling its Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast as of Aug. 3, Alabama and New Hampshire followed just a few days later. New Hampshire’s Executive Council made its decision to terminate the state’s contract on Aug. 5 while Alabama ended its Medicaid agreement with Planned Parenthood on Aug. 6. While some states have canceled contracts with Planned Parenthood, supporters of defunding in the U.S. Senate fell short in their attempt Aug. 3. Senators voted 53-46 to bring to the floor a bill to eliminate federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. While a majority of senators favored consideration of the proposal, the attempt to invoke cloture, as it is known, fell short of the 60 votes needed to begin debate on the legislation and establish a path to its passage. “In recent weeks, it has been shocking to see reports of the alleged activities taking place at Planned Parenthood facilities across the country,” Jindal said in a news release. … [Read more...]
Gospel, politics addressed at ERLC event
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- Political engagement by evangelical Christians calls for a witness shaped by the Gospel of Jesus, Southern Baptists were told at a conference Wednesday (Aug. 5) in Nashville.Speakers at "The Gospel and Politics" -- the second national conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission -- sought to help the more than 630 registrants think about how to approach politics in a changing culture a year before the next presidential election. The conference came a day after interviews of two Republican presidential candidates -- Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- by ERLC President Russell Moore at the Send North America Conference, an event sponsored also in Nashville by Southern Baptist missions entities. The Gospel calls for a different tone than has been demonstrated sometimes in the past by evangelicals, some speakers said. "I say this respectfully, the era of perceived, white, angry evangelicalism is officially over," said Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Impacting culture now "requires a multi-ethnic, kingdom culture canopy that reconciles truth with love," he said during … [Read more...]
Fight to defund Planned Parenthood ‘far from over’
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - The legislative effort to defund Planned Parenthood failed Aug. 3 in the U.S. Senate, but pro-life advocates said they will not give up. The Senate voted 53-46 to bring to the floor a bill to eliminate federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. While a majority of senators favored consideration of the proposal, the attempt to invoke cloture, as it is known, fell short of the 60 votes needed to begin debate on the legislation and establish a path to its passage. The failure to move the bill, S. 1881, to the floor came in spite of the release during the previous three weeks of videos revealing Planned Parenthood's trade in baby body parts. The four undercover videos show PPFA officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted children for research. A fifth video was released Tuesday (Aug. 4). Pro-life leaders expressed their dismay, as well as their devotion to continuing the defunding campaign. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), said he is disappointed the Senate "did not show the moral leadership to stop funding this violence. Now Senators are on record as … [Read more...]
Pro-life Dems see path to defund Planned Parenthood
By David Roach, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - To win enough Democratic support to become law, proposals to defund Planned Parenthood must emphasize the transfer of funds to other women's health care providers rather than the mere removal of money from America's largest abortion provider, according to a pro-life group within the Democratic Party. Democrats for Life of America, a Washington-based group that works to elect pro-life Democrats to public office, also said a push to transfer Planned Parenthood's funding should follow a congressional investigation of the abortion giant and target Democratic House and Senate members in districts with few or no Planned Parenthood clinics. "Planned Parenthood is not the only game in town," said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America. "They're not the only providers of health care for women, especially for low-income women." Some 9,000 government-backed community health centers provide women's health services without performing abortions, "are more readily available" and "are not just focused in big cities" like the 700 U.S. Planned Parenthood clinics, she said. Some Democrats may vote to transfer Planned Parenthood's funding to community health … [Read more...]
Former NFL player and sportscaster Craig James sues Fox Sports for religious discrimination
DALLAS - Former Fox Sports broadcaster Craig James has sued his former employer for religious discrimination. The lawsuit comes nearly two years after Fox Sports fired James for his public expression of his religious views on marriage and civil unions. According to a news release from Liberty Institute which is representing James, the lawsuit alleges that Fox Sports fired him for one reason only – his religious beliefs about marriage. In so doing, Fox Sports violated the law, including the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (“TCHRA”) and Texas contract law. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Fox Sports spokesperson Lou D’Ermilio said, “We just asked ourselves how Craig’s statements would play in our human resources department. He couldn’t say those things here.” In response, Liberty Institute complained to the Texas Workforce Commission on behalf of James and filed a lawsuit against Fox Sports. “This case is much bigger than me," James said. "It affects every person who holds religious beliefs. I will not let Fox Sports trample my religious liberty. Today, many people have lost their jobs because of their faith. Sadly, countless are afraid to let their bosses know they even have a faith. This is America and I … [Read more...]
ERLC endorses bill to defund Planned Parenthood
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission endorsed legislation to defund Planned Parenthood on the same day a fourth video was released showing an official of the abortion organization discussing trade in baby body parts. ERLC President Russell Moore wrote the leaders of both houses of Congress July 30 to announce the entity's support for a bill to eliminate federal funding for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. In his letter, Moore told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House John Boehner the ERLC backs "the swiftest of congressional action possible" to defund Planned Parenthood. McConnell has promised to hold a vote on the ERLC-endorsed bill, S. 1881, before the Senate's August recess, which officially begins Aug. 10. The House of Representatives held no vote on defunding Planned Parenthood before it essentially entered its August recess July 29. Advocates of defunding Planned Parenthood face a difficult task. The Senate must have 60 votes, instead of just a majority, to prevent a filibuster and gain passage of the bill. President Obama opposes the defunding effort and would almost … [Read more...]
Churches may have to cease their BSA sponsorship regarding the new ruling
NASHVILLE (BP) -- The Boy Scouts of America's executive board has voted to lift the Scouts' national ban on gay adult leaders and employees -- a move Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd said may hasten the exodus of Southern Baptists from Scouting. "Sadly and regrettably, I believe churches who stand on the biblical ethic of sexuality will have to cease their sponsorship and involvement in the Boy Scouts of America," Floyd told Baptist Press in written comments. "I also believe it is important that everyone understands that in reality, it is the Boy Scouts of America that is walking away from their historic heritage that has been embraced by the vast majority of Americans." The BSA executive board approved the policy change, which is effective immediately, by a 79-percent majority, the Scouts' website reported. The vote occurred during a July 27 conference call. The BSA will continue to allow troops chartered by religious organizations to exclude gays from volunteer leadership positions if homosexual behavior is incompatible with chartering organizations' religious beliefs. One Baptist leader told The Washington Post that concession may only be temporary, and churches could be forced eventually to accept … [Read more...]
Trail Life USA, alternative to Boy Scouts, warns churches before BSA vote on gay leaders
By Gregory Tomlin Christian Examiner ORLANDO, Fla. – Trail Life USA, the organization founded as an alternative to the Boy Scouts of America after that organization voted to accept gay scouts in 2013 has issued a warning to churches in advance of the BSA's formal vote next Monday to accept gay adult leaders. The warning, in the form of a lengthy legal memorandum describing the legal challenges that will face churches enforcing a conservative Christian membership policy, was sent in an email to Trail Life USA supporters July 23. It was also posted to the group's website. In a note accompanying the memorandum, the organization's CEO Mark Hancock said his organization's board, staff and members have "no desire to dishonor the tremendous legacy of the Boy Scouts of America." "However, our love for God's church and our concern for the welfare of boys compels us to release the following statement and accompanying position paper," Hancock said. The statement Hancock referenced included comment from John Stemberger, Trail Life's chairman of the board and an attorney in Orlando, Fla. Stemberger was instrumental in founding the BSA alternative. He said the organization was greatly saddened by the BSA's resolution, which will be the … [Read more...]
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