Briefs: The World

Church Growth: Adventists Multiply in Asia
At General Conference, denomination reports 10 percent growth in 1999
By Mark A. Kellner

Briefs: The World

A Preaching Woman
The remarkable story of a former slave sheds light on the origins of African American Christianity.
Jonathon Kahn

You Have the Right to Be Rich
But you have to earn it.
Patton Dodd

The Sweet Torture of Sunday Morning
Gardner C. Taylor

When Backward Is Forward
Christmas may be the best argument against genetic enhancement.
by Andy Crouch

Shaken Up by the Peace-Lovers
A trip through Pennsylvania's Lancaster County.
Chris Armstrong

Gen. Boykin Broke Rules, Says Pentagon Report
Plus: Crisis editor Deal Hudson withdraws from Bush campaign as exposé approaches, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Cloning Ban Bill Reintroduced in House
Muslims blame Christians for church attack, the church goes Amish, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Ted Olsen

The Agony of the Families
"As aid workers in Afghanistan went from defendants under draconian law to hostages in a war, their loved ones at home also underwent a trial"
Jeff M. Sellers

Still Somebody
"Despite an embarrassing scandal and widespread irritation with his methods, Jesse Jackson continues to be an influential voice in the church. Should evangelicals listen?"
Edward Gilbreath

Atheist No More, Flew Still Rejects Revelation
Plus: LA Times praises Jesus, Eames says ECUSA won't be disciplined, China's Craze Mass, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Canterbury Crackup
Eschewing church discipline has come back to haunt Anglicans.
A Christianity Today editorial

IRS Investigating 20 Churches, 40 Other Non-Profits for Illegal Campaigning
Plus: Terri Schiavo will be fed indefinitely, Buttiglione withdraws, and many other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Jesus and Mama
The intercessor par excellence in country music
by Sam Torode

Salvation Inflation?
A conversation with Alan Wolfe.
Interview by Michael Cromartie

News Wrap
"Deaths, promotions, and other tidbits from the religion world"
CT Staff

Episcopal Priests Repent of Druidism
Plus: The shortest political honeymoon ever, Bush on America's religious divide, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Catholic Bishops Embrace Ecumenical Group, Reject Bible Measure
Plus: The most inaccurate Christmas song ever, protecting kids from their evil, murderous parents, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Scalia Says State Should Not Be Neutral to Religion
Plus: Flying Anglican bishops, Kristof at it again, clergy in Canada turn to the union, the Air Force and Christianity, Thanksgiving ministry, and more articles from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

7 Habits of Racially Mixed Churches
How to achieve ethnic diversity—and die (to self) trying.
Reviewed by Douglas R. Sharp

Bill Cosby Was (Mostly) Right
But he overlooks the redemptive role of the church.
By Stan Guthrie

The Sweet Torture of Sunday Morning
Gardner C. Taylor

The Reformation Question
What does Catholic mean?
By Mary Noll Venables

David Martin: Sociologist as Servant of the Church
A faithful witness at the intersection of sociology and theology.
By John G. Stackhouse, Jr.

Why the Reformers Read the Fathers

Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley and 300-A Plentiful Harvest
Douglas Sweeney

Be Always Ready
Mark Noll

Reformed, Reforming
Michael S. Horton

Church as Civics 101
The robust civic engagement of Protestant clergy
John Schmalzbauer

Homosexuality: Reformed church in Toronto welcomes active gay leaders.
Toronto church's stance sharply at odds with denomination
Stan Guthrie Carol Lowes

Exit Strategy
Amidst church conflicts and a devastating hurricane, missionaries John and Shirley Wind answered the call to leave Honduras.
Wendy Murray Zoba

New Kids on the Blog
Plus: Links to a record-breaking 429 religion stories on gay marriage in Massachusetts, San Francisco, and the Church of England, a Ten Commandments resurgence, The Passion of The Christ, and even a few topics Weblog hasn't beat to death already.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

"Christian History Corner: Our Brothers and Sisters, the Episcopalians"
The Episcopal Church needs our help. Here's why we should give it
Chris Armstrong

Weblog Bonus: 'Difficult Days Ahead' For Anglican Communion
"As some Episcopalian conservatives walk out, leaders abroad condemn the church's first openly homosexual bishop"
Ted Olsen

Mining Controversy: Robertson Takes Flak for Gold-Mining Venture
"Freedom Gold has not yet mined much in Liberia, but it is already producing critical media attention for its founder."
Chuck Fager

Raiders of the Lost Ark
An Ethiopian tabot lost for 130 years is found in a cathedral cupboard
Ted Olsen

The Marriage Mystery
Steve Tracy

Acrobat Theologian
It's not easy to take a balanced view of doctrines like predestination and Communion—but Cranmer did.
Gerald Bray is Anglican professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, Alabama. He is editor of Documents of the English Reformation (Fortress, 1994).

Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: Did You Know?
Little-known and remarkable facts about Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation.
the Editors

Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: From the Editor - Ordinary Hero
Mark Galli

At Least Ten Christians Killed as Indonesian Violence Reignites
"Disciples of Christ leader takes leave of absence after sermon plagiarism exposure, and many more articles from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

Valparaiso Repents For Holding Interfaith 9/11 Service
"Book pulled for pilfered preaching, Griswold says homosexuality as we understand it not mentioned in Bible, and other stories from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

Disciples of Christ Board Apologizes For Not Doing More to Oppose Slavery
"Suing over the golden rule, and Jabez's territory continues to expand."
Ted Olsen

An Alternative Africa
The world of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
By Susan VanZanten Gallagher

Being Here
Why we should sink our roots in the places we call home
Charles Colson with Anne Morse

Being Here
Why we should sink our roots in the places we call home
Charles Colson with Anne Morse

Episcopal Priests Repent of Druidism
Plus: The shortest political honeymoon ever, Bush on America's religious divide, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Anglican Report Treats Conservatives Harsher than Liberals
News, predictions that commission would sanction Episcopal Church were greatly exaggerated.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Report Rebukes Episcopalians for Disunity but Declines Sanctions
U.S. church in limbo as conservative dissidents mull their options.
By Kevin Eckstrom and Robert Nowell in London, Religion News Service

Does the Gallup Poll Have an Evangelical Bias?
Plus: More on religion in the election, cleanup after Hurricane Jeanne, Anglicans offer chocolate to boost church attendance, human trafficking, and more articles from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

Lutheran Church Abuse Victims Receive $69 Million Settlement
Plus: Former Archbishop of Canterbury says Anglican Communion in danger, Pope says to ban pro-abortion politicians from communion, mouse gives virgin birth, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

Not a Mercy but a Sin
The modern push for euthanasia is a push against a two-millenniums-old Christian tradition
Chris Armstrong

Admen for Heaven
"Opening up minds is the first step to regular church attendance, Episcopal Ad Project says"
David Neff

Kenyan President Suggests Hanging for 'Knowingly' Infecting Others with AIDS
Church organizations criticize use of capital punishment as solution to epidemic
Sam Gonza

Shelling the Salvation Army
"If William Booth's church could handle sticks and stones in the 1880s, it should withstand the recent barrage of hateful words"
Elesha Coffman

Huguenots and the Wars of Religion: The Gallery - The Inner Circle
Huguenot intrigues swirled around a handful of key figures.
Emily Alger; Matt Donnelly

Huguenots and the Wars of Religion: Did You Know?
Interesting & unusual facts about the Huguenots—and their enemies.

Huguenots and the Wars of Religion: From the Editor - Fracas Francais
Elesha Coffman

The Reformation Question
What does Catholic mean?
By Mary Noll Venables

Hopeful Pessimism
The lessons of the civil rights movement turn out to be quite alien to liberal pieties.
by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

When Sin Won't Let Go
Mark Galli

Yankee Stadium Strike Out
Latest Benke ruling reveals deep fissures among Missouri Synod Lutherans
Todd Hertz

Benke Case Closed, but Tensions Remain
LCMS appeals panel rejects arguments of critics in 9/11 prayer debate
Todd Hertz

The Interfaith Public Square
"Stand up, stand up for Jesus at civic events."
A Christianity Today editorial

Fighting Engulfs a Christian Hospital in Jerusalem
Lutherans call conflict on their hospital grounds an affront to humanitarian purposes.
Ross Dunn

Dominus Iesus a 'Public Relations Disaster' for Ecumenism Say Critics
Vatican's statement reasserting itself as the one true church lamented inside and outside Catholicism.
By Edmund Doogue and Stephen Brown

Christians Protest Chicago's $2.2 Million Video Game Gift
Recent reports about Christians and Christianity from the world's media sources

Luther
A high-caliber film shows how messy it was when Luther helped change the course of history
Chris Armstrong

Valparaiso Repents For Holding Interfaith 9/11 Service
"Book pulled for pilfered preaching, Griswold says homosexuality as we understand it not mentioned in Bible, and other stories from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

Rape Charges at ELCA Youth Conference
"Previews of today's Episcopal Church gay bishop vote, and many other stories from online sources around the world."
Ted Olsen

Heavy Lifting During a Busy Religion News Week
"Oodles of religion news stories, on topics from Joyce Meyer to Franklin Graham, from gay marriage to The Passion of the Christ"
Ted Olsen with Rob Moll

Redeeming Fire
The ambition and avarice of Henry Lyons could save the National Baptists
by Edward Gilbreath

In Brief

Are Mainline Churches Anti-Semitic?
Plus: Former Bishop indicted on rape charges, Iraq's Christians fight for survival, priests duke it out at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and more articles from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

Road-Test
Andrw Jones

NYT's Nicholas Kristof Pits Religious Belief Against 'Intellect'
"Church leaders who aren't even Christians, Roy Moore's Commandments vow, and other stories from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

Christian University Under Fire for Firing Gay Professors
Plus: African Anglicans reject U.S. funds, no news is much news for Kerry's meeting with the cardinal, American missionaries shot in Guatemala and other stories (not all of them about homosexuality, we promise) from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Alleged Mastermind Behind Attacks on Pakistani Christians Nabbed
"Bush says maybe to marriage amendment, and maybe says something about God and Iraq. Also many other links to religion news from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

The Agony of the Families
"As aid workers in Afghanistan went from defendants under draconian law to hostages in a war, their loved ones at home also underwent a trial"
Jeff M. Sellers

Heart of Truthfulness
African Methodists provide hope to a troubled church.
By Kathleen K. Rutledge in Pittsburgh

Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley and 300-A Plentiful Harvest
Douglas Sweeney

Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley and 300-Revival Reconsidered
David Bebbington

The Best of History
Selected by our editorial advisers

American Adventism: The Great Disappointment
When a New York farmer announced the date of Christ's return, thousands believed him.
Bruce Shelley

The Time for Prayer: The Third Great Awakening
During the Third Great Awakening of 1857 to 1859, 10,000 people in New York City alone gathered together daily—even left work—to pray. The same thing was taking place all over the country, in small towns as well as in great cities.

Human Rights Groups Criticize Beijing as Choice for 2008 Olympics
"The challenge now is to use the games to press for improvements, advocates said."
Newsroom News Service

The Lord's Watch: the Moravians
A. Skevington Wood

Zinzendorf's Chronology

The Rev. E.V. Hill, 69, Dies
Gujarat to ban religious conversion and other stories from online sources around the world
Todd Hertz

Shorter College Splits From Baptist Convention Over Trustee Dispute
L. Venchael Booth, founder of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, dies
Ted Olsen

The Race for Priest-ident Continues
Plus: The death penalty, World Youth Day, singleness in church, and other stories from mainstream news media around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Ecumenical Downsizing: Deficit Forces NCC to Trim Staff Again
Largest contributing churches are reassessing their contributions
CT Wire Services

Taliban Claims Holy Duty to Postpone Shelter Now Verdict
Is the Philippine military getting closer to freeing the Burnhams? The NCC meets—maybe for the last time, and other stories from around the world.
Ted Olsen

Australia's Churches Call On Nation to Acknowledge 'Stolen Generations'
"Country's National Council of Churches demands apology, compensation to Aboriginals"
Margaret Simons

Mercy in Baghdad
North Americans endure bombing to chronicle the war's effects on civilians
Carol Lowes

Peacemakers Seek to Show War from Point of View of Iraqi Civilians
Six Christian Peacemaker Team members remain in Iraq as bombs drop
Carol Lowes

Standing for Peace on the Eve of War
Christian group seeks nonviolent solution in Iraq.
Carol Lowes

The Groves of Academe
A Pietist with a Ph.D.: Remembering Stanley J. Grenz
Roger E. Olson

Reformed, Reforming
Michael S. Horton

Breaking Down the Faith/Learning Wall
How the history of Christians in higher education has stacked the deck against Robert Sloan's new Baylor.
Collin Hansen

Plymouth Brethren Ministry Feud Ends

THE WOBEGON PREACHER
An interview with Garrison Keillor.
Marshall Shelley and Gordon MacDonald

Back to the New Testament: the Plymouth Brethren
Philip McNair

Presbyterian Church (USA): No Actively Gay Pastors
Close vote at July General Assembly maintains sexuality standards.
By Kevin Eckstrom, Religion News Service, in Richmond

Activist Presbyterian May Lose Credentials
Denomination concerned about character and conduct of church criticism
By Kevin Eckstrom, RNS, with Presbyterian News Service

Resolved: Conventions Are Hell
Ten truths that can help reformers survive (and thrive) at annual denominational meetings
Douglas LeBlanc

"Presbyterians Reject Ban on Same-Sex Unions, But More Over Government than Sexual Ethics"
"Anglican leaders don't do much in North Carolina, Raze cancels its tour, and more stories from other media."
Ted Olsen

Seminary President Steps Down
Donald McCullough found guilty of sexual abuse

McIntire at Center of New Feud
By John P. Elliott.

What Else Pat Robertson Said
Plus: World Vision teams with Ricky Martin, Halloween hit from both sides, TBN update, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

The Reformation Question
What does Catholic mean?
By Mary Noll Venables

Senate Passes North Korea Human Rights Bill
Plus: The lead attorney drops out of Terri Schiavo's defense team, Sudan blames U.S. for arming Darfur rebels, Presbyterians and Jews try to heal rift, Chicago Tribune visits Bob Jones University, and other articles from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

A Mapping Mission
Moral geography.
David N. Livingstone

Whose Good Book?
Rival approaches to Scripture
Mark Noll

The Most Religious Kerry Speech Ever
Plus: The Bush Code, prominent Haitian pastor murdered, Remembering Patriarch of Alexandria Petros VII, and too many other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Durable Contempt
Why anti-Americanism thrives.
by Allen C. Guelzo

Resolutions Worth Keeping
"The origins of new years' resolutions, and one famous list"
Chris Armstrong

Reformed, Reforming
Michael S. Horton

When Pacifists Attack
"350 years ago, George Fox launched a powerful, peace-loving movement with an assault on established Christianity."
Elesha Coffman

Still Somebody
"Despite an embarrassing scandal and widespread irritation with his methods, Jesse Jackson continues to be an influential voice in the church. Should evangelicals listen?"
Edward Gilbreath

Bible Translation: Revised NIV Makes Its Debut
Translators alter 7 percent of the text to update style and gender issues.
Timothy C. Morgan

"Books & Culture Corner: The Ph.D. Octopus, 100 Years On"
How Christians can make a difference in the upside-down world of graduate school.
Wilfred M. McClay

Turning the Mainline Around
New sociological studies show that evangelicals may well succeed at renewing wayward Protestantism
Michael S. Hamilton and Jennifer McKinney

A Holy Nuisance
J.I. Packer has strong words for those who don't feel called to agitate for reform
David Neff

Vatican City: Catholic, Reformed, and Lutheran Leaders Discuss Indulgences
Understanding, not agreement, sought on historical, theological, and pastoral issues
Peggy Polk

Four Bodies Achieve 'Full Communion'
Religion News Service

News Briefs

Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley and 300-A Plentiful Harvest
Douglas Sweeney

Reformed, Reforming
Michael S. Horton

Books & Culture's Book of the Week: A New View of Worldview
"Some critics want to retire the concept. Not so fast, says David Naugle"
Daniel Siedell

A Preaching Woman
The remarkable story of a former slave sheds light on the origins of African American Christianity.
Jonathon Kahn

The News from Rhosllanerchrugog
On the exemplary fate of Nonconformity in Wales.
David Bebbington

Reports of the Revival
The Confederate camp became a school of Christ.
By Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr.

A Slow Exodus
Disaffected orthodox Episcopalians start new ministries.
By Frank E. Lockwood in Versailles, Kentucky

Top 10 News Stories, 2003
The events, people, and ideas of the past year that Christianity Today's news editors believe have shaped, or will significantly shape, evangelical life, thought, or mission.

"Top 10 News Stories, 2003"
"The events, people, and ideas of the past year that Christianity Today's news editors believe have shaped, or will significantly shape, evangelical life, thought, or mission"

Christianity Today News Briefs
Booting the Salvation Army, falling giving, and suing for rights.
By CT staff

Separation of Church and Store
Plus: Bulldozing a church, murdering an atheist, Britain's designer babies, and apparently today is Election Day.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Lesbian Methodist Minister Defrocked
Plus: Denver keeps Christmas, pro-life Democrats push for comeback, Adventist leaders die in plane crash, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Q & A: Bobby Welch
President of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), on his five-week national bus tour, which ended October 7, to jump-start evangelism in the 16.3-million-member denomination. The SBC has experienced a four-year decline in baptisms.
Interview by Stan Guthrie

Staying on Course
Southern Baptists reaffirm their conservative positions.
By Adelle M. Banks, RNS, in Indianapolis

Hopeful Pessimism
The lessons of the civil rights movement turn out to be quite alien to liberal pieties.
by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

Q & A: Bobby Welch
President of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), on his five-week national bus tour, which ended October 7, to jump-start evangelism in the 16.3-million-member denomination. The SBC has experienced a four-year decline in baptisms.
Interview by Stan Guthrie

Southern Baptist Surprise!
Why are so many African Americans attracted to a church that was once identified with white racism?
By Amy Green

Staying on Course
Southern Baptists reaffirm their conservative positions.
By Adelle M. Banks, RNS, in Indianapolis

Faithful But Not Flawless

Spurgeon on Jabez
What history's most prolific preacher said, in 1871, about the Prayer of Jabez
Chris Armstrong

Spurgeon's Epiphany
The event he recounted more than 280 times in his sermons first occurred on January 6, 1850.
Mary Ann Jeffreys

Lesbian Methodist Minister Defrocked
Plus: Denver keeps Christmas, pro-life Democrats push for comeback, Adventist leaders die in plane crash, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

An Unusual Church of Christ
Lucado has been making some controversial changes
By Cindy Crosby

"West, Meet East"
Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? examines millions of forgotten believers
Cindy Crosby

Lesbian Methodist Minister Defrocked
Plus: Denver keeps Christmas, pro-life Democrats push for comeback, Adventist leaders die in plane crash, and other stories from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Ted Olsen

Are Mainline Churches Anti-Semitic?
Plus: Former Bishop indicted on rape charges, Iraq's Christians fight for survival, priests duke it out at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and more articles from online sources around the world.
Compiled by Rob Moll

So, Who Owns the Sanctuary?
Dissenting mainline churches struggle to retain their property.
By Kathleen K. Rutledge

Australia's Uniting Church Torn Asunder as Denomination Votes to Ordain Homosexuals
"Coverage of the continuing fights over gay marriage, gay bishops, straight Ten Commandments, and many more articles from online sources around the world"
Ted Olsen

Jesus' Woodstock
"After 20 summers of love, the Cornerstone Festival still opens doors for unknown musicians and unlocks truth for hungry minds"
Todd Hertz

Chicago Tribune Investigates Jesus People USA
"British rector says divorcing parents are child abusers, and other stories from media sources around the world."
Ted Olsen

Jesus' People
Lessons for living in the we decade
Timothy Jones

Quotation marks
"Comments on Christian conversion, praying, and Britney Spears."
Ted Olsen

The Gospel Statement Revisited
an interview with Timothy George

Demanding Faith
The Scots Confession is not for the faint of heart.
Ian Hazlett is senior lecturer in ecclesiastical history at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

Human Rights Groups Criticize Beijing as Choice for 2008 Olympics
"The challenge now is to use the games to press for improvements, advocates said."
Newsroom News Service

The Wesleys: Christian History Timeline
The Christian History Timeline

The History Behind Christian History
The experts said a church-history magazine would never work. On our 10th anniversary, we look back with founder Ken Curtis.