RELIGION TODAY

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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 8, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff


Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Why Americans Prefer Sundays Segregated
    * Homosexual Activist Admits There is No 'Gay Gene'
    * Warren Graces TIME Cover
    * Pakistani Christian Allegedly Murdered

Why Americans Prefer Sundays Segregated

According to a report on CNN.com, many American blacks as well as whites prefer segregated Sundays, religious scholars and members of interracial churches say. The story cites an example where the senior pastor of a suburban church in California was approached by parishioners worried that the racial makeup of their small church was changing. They warned that the church's newest members would try to seize control because members of their race were inherently aggressive. "One man asked me if I was prepared for a hostile takeover," says Rev. Paul Earl Sheppard, who believes the experience demonstrated why racially integrated churches are difficult to create and even harder to sustain. According to the CNN story, only about 5 percent of U.S. churches are racially integrated, and half of those are near to becoming all-black or all-white. Researchers have found that just like in society, racial tensions in the church can erupt over everything from sharing power to interracial dating. On the flip side is the Rev. Rodney Woo, half-white, half-Chinese, senior pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church in Houston. Woo's congregation consists of blacks, whites and Latinos. When he assumed the pastorate, "white flight" was already taking place in the church, and some suggested he add a 'd' to the end of his last name. "The fear there was people would think I was Chinese. There would be a flood of all these Asians coming in, and what would we do then?" Instead, Woo made racial diversity part of the church's mission statement, preaching it and living it. Wilcrest now has about 500 members, and is evenly divided among tri-racial lines. But that doesn't mean Wilcrest has resolved all of its racial tensions."If there's not any tension, we probably haven't done too well," Woo says. "If one group feels too comfortable, we've probably neglected another group."

Homosexual Activist Admits There is No 'Gay Gene'

OneNewsNow.com reports that at least one prominent campaigner in the British homosexual movement has admitted that no genetic marker for homosexual behavior has been found. Peter Tatchell, founder of the "direct action" group OutRage!, wrote on Spiked Online that he agrees with the scientific consensus that there is no such thing as a "gay gene." Tatchell wrote, "Genes and hormones may predispose a person to one sexuality rather than another. But that's all. Predisposition and determination are two different things." Those who adhere to "born gay" theory commonly accuse Christians and others who object to the homosexual movement of being racists and bigots. Tatchell even acknowledged the existence of some who have changed their "sexual orientation."

Warren Graces TIME Cover

In this week's issue, TIME's David Van Biema profiles Rick Warren, the founding pastor of one of the country's largest churches and the host of the upcoming "civil forum," which will feature the two presumptive Presidential nominees on August 16. Also in the issue, John McCain and Barack Obama write about their own views of faith, and a new TIME poll shows that 70% of white Evangelical voters support McCain. In his profile of Warren, Van Biema writes that the pastor "is unquestionably the U.S.'s most influential and highest-profile churchman. He is a natural leader, a pathological schmoozer, insatiably curious and often the smartest person in the room. Like Graham, he projects an authenticity that has helped him forge an exquisite set of political connections -- in the White House, on both sides of the legislative aisle and abroad. And he is both leading and riding the newest wave of change in the Evangelical community: an expansion beyond social conservatism to causes such as battling poverty, opposing torture and combating global warming." Warren tells TIME that he will not give the candidates "a religion test" during the civil forum.

Pakistani Christian Allegedly Murdered

Compass Direct News reports that Pakistani police declared the death of a young Christian man in May to be a suicide requiring no investigation, but a high inspector has reopened the case and taken two Muslim suspects into custody. Adeel Masih, 19, was found dead on May 4 in Hafizabad, Pakistan. His family and human rights lawyers believe the relatives of a 19-year-old Muslim woman, Kiran Irfan, with whom Masih had a one-year relationship, tortured and killed him. Members of the Masih family said that when they first tried to register the case with local police three months ago, officers did not cooperate because the suspects were Muslim and the victim was a Christian, according to the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS). "The police said, 'We will first inquire whether Adeel has committed suicide,' because the culprits told the police about the fact that their daughter wanted to embrace Christianity because of Adeel," said Aneeqa Maria, a case worker for CLAAS. "[In] this way the police were biased and lingered on the matter, because if there is a long delay in the lodging of a first incidence report, the case becomes weak."
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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 11, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Authorities in Laos Detain 90 Christians
    * Christian Broadcasters Nervous about Fairness Doctrine
    * Chinese House Church Pastor Detained
    * Christian Rights Group Wants U.N. to Intervene in Burma Crisis

Authorities in Laos Detain 90 Christians

Compass Direct News reports that authorities in Laos have detained or arrested at least 90 Christians in three provinces in recent weeks, including an arrest Aug. 3 of a pastor and two other believers from a house church in Boukham village. Arrests were reported in the southern provinces of Saravan and Savannakhet and in Luang Prabang province in the north. In one incident on July 21, Compass sources said officials detained 80 Christians in Katin village, Saravan province, after residents seized a Christian neighbor identified only as Pew and poured rice wine down his throat, killing him by asphyxiation. When mourning family members buried the Christian and put a wooden cross on the grave, village officials accused them of "practicing the rituals of the enemy of the state" and seized a buffalo and pig from the family as a fine. On July 25, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom, officials rounded up 17 of the 20 Christian families in the village -- a total of 80 men, women and children -- and detained them in a local school compound, denying them food for three days in an attempt to force the adults to sign documents renouncing their faith.

Christian Broadcasters Nervous about Fairness Doctrine

Religion News Service reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making Christian broadcasters nervous. Pelosi, D-Calif., recently said she supports resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine, a 1949 Federal Communications Commission policy that required broadcasters who sent out specific messages to set aside time for opposing views. Such a move would "really make it impossible to preach the whole counsel of God," said Rich Bott, the owner of Kansas-based Bott Radio Network, which broadcasts Christian programming across 10 states. It would also, he said, likely put him out of business. Put in place nearly 50 years ago, the doctrine was an FCC regulation that policed the airwaves at a time when there were few other sources of information. It never carried the full weight of the law. By the 1980s, with the advent of cable television and multiple opportunities to air differing opinions, the policy fell out of favor and was finally ditched by the FCC in 1987. While Pelosi hasn't offered legislation to reinstate the policy, she has signaled that she supports its revival, and said a bill introduced by Rep. Mike Spence, R-Ind., to permanently kill it will not be considered by the Democratic-controlled House. If the Fairness Doctrine were to be reinstated by Congress, broadcasters would be legally forced to follow the old protocol: one-third of the airtime given to one opinion must be offered free-of-charge to opponents.

Chinese House Church Pastor Detained

Compass Direct News reporrts that Chinese police detained house church leader Zhang Mingxuan, along with his wife Xie Fenlang and co-pastor Wu Jiang He, at a police station in Hebei after a BBC journalist attempted to interview him on Monday (August 4). International affairs journalist John Simpson phoned Zhang to request an interview, as required in a handbook given to journalists reporting on the Olympic Games in Beijing. Zhang agreed to the interview, but as Simpson traveled to meet him, police seized Zhang and his companions and moved them to a local police station. Public Security Bureau officials had banished Zhang and his wife from Beijing for the duration of the Games, fearing they would try to meet with visiting foreign officials. After forcing Zhang and Xie to leave their home, police on July 18 entered a guesthouse where they were staying and drove them to Yanjiao in neighboring Hebei province. Zhang and Xie had moved to another, more remote town to await the completion of the Games.

Christian Rights Group Wants U.N. to Intervene in Burma Crisis

The Christian Post reports that Christian Solidarity Worldwide is calling for "urgent, specific and meaningful action" from the United Nations to address Burma's ongoing political and humanitarian crisis. CSW wants the U.N. to present Burma's regime with a list of demands, including the release of political prisoners before U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon visits in December. CSW also wants key members of the military junta to be brought before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. "Hundreds of thousands of people have needlessly died as a result of the junta's military offensives, torture, brutality, and deliberate criminal neglect," said CSW national director Stuart Windsor. "We cannot afford to wait another 20 years before the international community acts decisively in response to this political and humanitarian crisis."
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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 12, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Chinese Authorities Detain Christian Activist
    * India: Gospel for Asia Missionaries Released
    * Eritrea Shuts Christian Students into Shipping Containers
    * Episcopal Church to Apologize for Slavery



Chinese Authorities Detain Christian Activist

Security agents yesterday seized Christian activist and house church pastor Hua Huiqi on his way to a service at the government-approved Kuanjie Protestant Church in Beijing, where U.S. President George Bush was scheduled to appear, says Compass Direct News. Bush later attended the service before meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao to discuss human rights concerns, including religious freedom. Hua reportedly escaped. According to a report from The Associated Press, authorities have arrested and beaten Hua several times in recent years because of his religious activities. Hua also gained a reputation as an activist when he fought against a development project that led to the demolition of his home in 2001. In recent months, as part of a "clean-up" operation in Beijing, authorities forced him to attend services at the Kuanjie church instead, which is registered with the official Three Self Patriotic Movement.

India: Gospel for Asia Missionaries Released

Assist News reports that four Gospel for Asia missionaries being held in a Karnataka, India, jail were released Friday after spending more than a week there. They are now being taken to a hospital for medical treatment. The missionaries, Yohan Samuel, Raj Lohra, Nanji Bir and Shobha Joshi*, were arrested July 31 and charged with attempting to force people to convert to Christianity and with "offending the sentiments of the people." They were granted bail on Tuesday after several days of negotiations between GFA leaders and the court. Being arrested for sharing the Gospel is not uncommon for Gospel for Asia missionaries. Several Indian states have anti-conversion laws aimed specifically at Christians and Muslims. In other places, missionaries are charged with crimes unrelated to their work in sharing the Gospel. At least two GFA missionaries are serving long-term prison sentences after being charged with crimes they did not commit.

Eritrea Shuts Christian Students into Shipping Containers

Authorities on Tuesday (August 5) locked up eight high school students at a military training school in metal shipping containers for objecting to the burning of hundreds of Bibles, sources told Compass Direct News. The eight male students from the Sawa Defense Training Centre in Sawa were incarcerated after military authorities confiscated more than 1,500 personal Bibles from new students arriving for the academic year. "During the time that the Bibles were set on fire, the chief commander of Sawa, Col. Debesai Ghide, gave a warning to all the students by telling them that Sawa is a place of patriotism, not a place for 'Pentes' [Pentecostals],'" said one source. Reading the Bible privately, discussing the Christian faith with other students and praying before or after meals alone or in groups is forbidden at the center, the source said.

Episcopal Church to Apologize for Slavery

Continuing its efforts to address a practice some members call "a stain on the church," the Episcopal Church will hold a "Day of Repentance" to publicly apologize for its involvement in the slave trade. Religion News Service reports the ceremony, mandated by a 2006 resolution at the church's General Convention, will take place Oct. 3-4 in Philadelphia. "We hope to set a model for other denominations about how to face this dark, tragic part of our history because we believe that only when you repent can you move on," said Jayne Oasin, program officer for the church's Anti-Racism and Gender Equality program.
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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 13, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Georgian Conflict: Aid Groups Begin Relief Efforts
    * Court: Univ. of California Can Reject Christian School Classes
    * Arab Ministry Hopes to Spark 'Upper Room' Revival in Israel
    * Poll: Homeschooling a Constitutional Right

Georgian Conflict: Aid Groups Begin Relief Efforts

The Christian Post reports that World Vision has begun providing emergency assistance in the form of food, soap, blankets and other essentials to civilians displaced by the conflict in Georgia. The United Nations' World Food Program has also started providing food rations to some 2,000 people. The U.N. agencies and NGOs are working closely together to coordinate an effective response. Since Friday, more than 2,000 people had been killed, according to a Russian official. "I have seen war, but what I saw today was terrible," one 36-year-old mother told World Vision staff.

Court: Univ. of California Can Reject Christian School Classes

Religion News Service reports that a California federal judge has ruled that the University of California had a "rational basis" for rejecting science and history courses taught at Christian high schools. Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta, Calif., and the Association of Christian Schools International had charged that the university had an unconstitutional admissions process because it refused to certify courses that taught creationism and other beliefs. Private school students are required to meet certain high-school requirements before they can be eligible to apply to one of the undergraduate campuses of the University of California. U.S. District Court Judge S. James Otero ruled Friday (Aug. 8 ) that concerns about a course whose primary text was called "Biology: God's Living Creation" was deemed by UC experts to have failed at teaching critical thinking or the theory of evolution in an adequate manner. The judge also said UC reviewers found that a text published by Bob Jones University titled "United States History for Christian Schools" taught that "the Bible is the unerring source for analysis of historical events" and did not include modern methods for historical analysis. In these cases, Otero said the Christian school defendants did not adequately refute the findings of UC's reviewers. The judge also found that the university system did not reject the courses out of animosity.

Arab Ministry Hopes to Spark 'Upper Room' Revival in Israel

A set of upcoming meetings aims to ignite a 1st century-style revival in Jerusalem with a gathering of Jews and Gentiles later this month, ASSIST News Service reports. "We are praying that revival will come down and that Jews and Arabs will worship together," said Jeries Kawash of Jerusalem-based Upper Room Ministries. "Jesus prayed for unity of believers and we are hoping this will bring believers of all backgrounds who are coming together to worship." "The message has gone out to the world," notes Andre Mubarak, another of Upper Room Ministries' elders, but "is far away from this city. Jerusalem is far away from revival." According to Nicole Jansezian writing for www.israeltoday.co.il , the meetings will take place Aug. 23 to 25 and will feature Andres Bisonni, a young revivalist from the United States.

Poll: Homeschooling a Constitutional Right

Baptist Press reports that more than eight in 10 Americans were at odds with a California appeals court that ruled in February that parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children, according to just-released data from LifeWay Research. It seems the California appeals court now agrees. In a stunning move Aug. 8, a three-judge panel of the court reversed itself, saying the state legislature has implicitly accepted homeschooling as legal. "We... conclude that California statutes permit homeschooling as a species of private school education," the justices wrote in their unanimous decision. LifeWay Research, in an April telephone survey, found that 86 percent of the respondents agreed that, "Parents have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."
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Chinese Christians Plead for Relief as Olympics Continue
Sarah Page


August 13, 2008

Hua Huiqi writes to President Bush; seminary staff to face trial after Games.

DUBLIN (Compass Direct News) -- Christian activist and house church pastor Hua Huiqi wrote an open letter to U.S. President George Bush on Sunday (August 10), asking for prayer for his personal safety and for freedom of belief for all Chinese people.

Earlier that day, plainclothes policemen detained Hua to prevent him participating in a service at the government-approved Kuanjie Protestant church in Beijing, where Bush was scheduled to attend.

Hua slipped away from police officers when they fell asleep; at press time he was still in hiding.

Several other Christians also remain in detention or under house arrest as the Games continue this week.

In Hua's letter, published by the China Aid Association (CAA), he thanked Bush for his "concern for the Chinese house churches" and expressed disappointment at not being able to attend the Sunday service. He also described his detention, saying that seven or eight policemen had kicked and punched him before seizing him and his brother, Hua Huilin.

"At the place where they detained us, they conducted an interrogation," Hua wrote. "They threatened me: 'We simply won't allow you to go to Kuanjie Church today. If you say you will go there again, we will break your legs.'"

Hua managed to escape but was fearful of the consequences. "Now I'm wandering outside and dare not go back home," he wrote. "I am writing this letter to implore you to pray for my personal safety and for the freedom of belief of us Chinese people."

'Dangerous Religious Element'

Also in Beijing, Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan remains in custody at the Beijing Municipal Detention Center.

Police initially arrested Shi on November 28, 2007, charging him with "illegal business practices" after he allegedly published Christian literature without authorization for distribution to house churches; but court officials ordered his release on January 4, citing insufficient evidence. Police, who have labeled Shi a "dangerous religious element," arrested him again on March 19.

Prison authorities have prevented family members from visiting Shi or bringing food and clothing to the detention center. Shi's lawyer, permitted to visit just once in recent weeks, confirmed that Shi's health was deteriorating and he was in need of urgent medical attention, according to CAA.

USA Today reported on Monday (August 11) that Shi's wife, Zhang Jing, said, "It is good that the president can worship here, but it's not likely that we will have more freedom or be able to register our churches."

Authorities forced Shi's Antioch Eternal Life Church to close in June.

"Several house churches have been closed before the Olympics," Zhang added. "The police say we are threatening national security and demand that my husband give up his faith."

In the same report, Dennis Wilder, U. S. National Security Council's director for Asian Affairs, said after a meeting between Bush and President Hu Jintao on Sunday (August 10) that, "Hu seemed to indicate that the door is opening on religious freedom in China and that in the future there will be more room for religious believers."

Seminary Staff Detained

Elsewhere, in Shandong province, two staff members from a house church seminary in Weifang city await trial for running an "illegal business operation" after they attempted to purchase Bibles from Amity Press, China's official Bible printing facility.

Police briefly detained teacher Jin Xiuxiang on May 20, before asking her to return home. On May 29, police and officials from the State Administration of Religious Affairs raided the seminary, arresting Jin and another teacher, Zhang Yage, along with Principal Lu Zhaojun, for "running a school without a license." They also seized seminary property, including Bibles and other Christian literature, a minivan and a bank card, according to CAA.

All three were released on May 28, after CAA reported the raid. When Lu and Jin returned to the police station on June 2 to inquire about confiscated goods, however, officials detained them again and sentenced them to one month of criminal detention for carrying out an "illegal business operation." The goods were not returned.

Authorities then released Lu and Jin on bail on July 12, informing them that they would face trial after the Games. Compass sources yesterday confirmed that Lu and Jin are under close surveillance.

House church pastor Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan, detained last week after they agreed to an interview with a BBC journalist, are still in police custody, according to Compass sources.

Police had repeatedly asked Zhang and Xie to leave Beijing for the duration of the Games and eventually expelled them from their apartment. Finally, on July 18 police forcibly took them from a guesthouse in Beijing and drove them to Yanjiao in neighboring Hebei province. The couple then moved to a more remote town to await the completion of the Games, CAA reported.
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More Controversy Surrounds ?Florida Outpouring? Revivals
Ginny McCabe

August 15, 2008

In the midst of controversy over "The Florida Outpouring" revivals, faith healer and leader Todd Bentley has unexpectedly left the revival meetings due to "personal difficulties."

According to a Bentley media representative on August 12, "He has turned the revival over to Pastor Stephen Strader of Ignited Church."

By mid-afternoon on August 12, Bentley's ministry, the Fresh Fire Ministries Board of Directors issued a message as special prayer request addressed to "partners and friends" on the ministry Web site's homepage about the nature of the personal difficulties--Bentley and his wife, Shonnah are now separated.

An excerpt from the statement said, "The Lord's blessings and abundance have been so evident on the ministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice in seeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only the beginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship."

In spite of the controversy and personal difficulties, Fresh Fire Ministries has reported that this is the first revival in history to be broadcast live into literally millions of homes and churches across all five continents and into more than 200 countries. The "Outpourings," as they have come to be called, are now continuing in many cities worldwide. The revivals began in the spring and are scheduled to continue until August 23.

"These 'Outpourings' in Lakeland reached a peak attendance of 10,000 during the tent meetings, and they are currently averaging about 600 to 700 attendees each evening," said Bruce Merz, Fresh Fire Ministries' assistant to the media director.

Merz also said that the ministry has received as many as 6 million hits per month on its Web site. They have also been equally overwhelmed with phone calls and emails at their office based in Abbotsford, B.C.

While the events are free for attendees, Fresh Fire Ministries reported that the average daily cost to put on the revival at the tent was $35,000 per day, not including television and broadcast costs, which are paid for by GodTV. An offering is taken at each service.

Additionally, there is another revival slated to take place in Uganda, Africa later this month.

"We are still fully committed to our crusade in Uganda, Africa later this month, and though Todd will not be in attendance, our Fresh Fire Team and Associate Ministries will lead a team of almost one hundred people from around the world to share the love of God, the power of the gospel, and humanitarian aid with the people of Uganda," continued the Board of Directors in its message.

Bentley, a Canadian who has been labeled as "a new faith healer," has become known for his claims of supernatural powers, violent healing techniques and angelic visions. He also suggests that he has raised people from the dead.

In one YouTube video, Bentley can be seen kneeing in the stomach a man with stage 4-colon cancer. As the man bends over in extreme pain from the blow, Bentley said, "I had to be obedient to the Lord, sir, but I believe that colon cancer is coming right out of your body now."

While the revivals seem to be impacting millions, some evangelical leaders are opposed, and even pastors from Lakeland area churches are warning that Todd Bentley "is doing more harm than good."

Senior Pastor Shane Skelton, Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida said he briefly attended one of the nightly meetings. He has also been following the nightly broadcasts so that he can know what's going on in the community and with his church members.

When describing his experience, Skelton said, "I am going to have to come down on the side of the negative, I am against what he [Bentley] is doing for several reasons."

"I believe it threw more light to emotion than it did to doctrinal standards," Skelton said. "I looked at it very closely because I actually had some folks who went to it, and I had to deal with them going up on the stage, and they didn't get healed for whatever reason, and it created a lot of stir and controversy within my church.

"One of the biggest issues I have with it, is that it makes God a means to an end and not the end. People come from all around the world to receive healing, and they come from all around the world to get what they wanted, which was healing or a better life, and God became a means to that end, instead of God being the end. God should be the end of everything, whether we have good health, a good marriage and so on," said Skelton. "God is not a link in the chain to get you what you want. He's not a lucky rabbit's foot. He's not magic genie in a lamp. He is God, whether we have good health or not."

Skelton also expressed concern that "revivals" were not actually calling people back to God. "[Bentley] lot of the things I watched on the broadcasts were nothing more than pumping up people's emotions," he said. "There is no revival to it. Revival is returning to the holiness of God. I don't see any bars being shut down in Lakeland. I don't see any fruit from it as far as the town turning back to holiness and righteousness."

Hank Hanegraaff, author and host of the popular "Bible Answer Man" radio program, said what's going on in Lakeland is a "counterfeit revival."

"I think what you have in genuine revival, is you have powerful, expositional preaching, and the preaching emphasizes an esteem for Christ, an eternal perspective, and a focus on essential Christian doctrine, as opposed to what you find in 'counterfeit revivals,' with its excesses, airs, and extremes, which are I suppose personified in Todd Bentley, as much as anyone I've seen in recent history."

Hanegraaff said he believes that the term "revival" is often misused in our culture. He believes people need to get back to basics, into the Word of God, and get the Word of God into them.

"I think we have a misplaced sense of revival, in that we are looking for revival in all the wrong places," Hanegraaff said.

Martha Hollowell, a graduate from Fuller Seminary, who holds a degree in Cross Cultural Studies and serves as the prayer coordinator for her church Messiah Christian Church in Richmond, Va., attended several evenings of the Florida Outpouring revivals at the beginning of July with a group from her church. Although she said she did not go expecting physical healing, she said her experience was a positive one. On July 4, she saw Bentley speak.

"Todd Bentley was there only one of the four nights that I was there," said Hollowell. "That service was a slightly different evening. They had planned on having a baptismal service, and 3,000 people lined up to be baptized. It was amazing. The focus that night really was, not so much on physical healing, but on healing from drug and alcohol abuse."

She described the Florida Outpouring as "a revival for the church." She said a huge number of people who are attending are Christians, not non-believers.

"I know I've been praying for a revival for a long time. What I mean by revival is seeing people coming to Christ in large quantities. I've studied about revivals, so I understand that is not all there is, and that a lot of times, revival was first about reviving the church so the church can then go out and win people," Hollowell said.

"What I went for, and what I feel like I came back with, was a renewed sense of purpose and an excitement that God is going to move, not only in the church, but in reviving the church so that we can reach out to society," Hollowell said.
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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 14, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Some Evangelicals, Catholics Applaud DNC's Abortion Language Change
    * Death Threats, Damages Hit Churches in Ecuador
    * Iran: Christian Couple Dies after Police Raid
    * Chicago Archdiocese Agrees to $12.7M Settlement



Some Evangelicals, Catholics Applaud DNC's Abortion Language Change

Religion News Service reports that progressive evangelical and Catholic leaders voiced their support for the Democratic Party's platform on abortion, citing new provisions that emphasize measures intended to reduce the number of abortions in the U.S. such as women's health care, adoption services and income support programs. A draft 51-page platform was approved Sunday, and will be voted on at the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25-28. While the platform again affirms a woman's right to choose, it differs from previous years by offering more tangible support for addressing the issue of abortion. The platform calls for programs to "reduce the number of unintended pregnancies" and stresses the need for income support and adoption programs. "We worked hard to give language that gives evangelicals and Roman Catholics the sense that they can participate in the Democratic Party without compromising their convictions," said the Rev. Tony Campolo, who served on the party's platform committee. Rev. Jim Wallis, head of the evangelical group Sojourners, Orlando megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, and several other pastors praised the changes.

Death Threats, Damages Hit Churches in Ecuador

Catholic authorities report death threats and several acts of vandalism of church property in response to church opposition to several articles in Ecuador's proposed new constitution, according to Compass Direct News. In the port city of Guayaquil, a group of people were reported to have entered a chapel, grabbed the Eucharistic host, tore, spat and stepped on it. That vandalism was reportedly the third that has occurred in recent weeks as frustrated supporters of ruling socialist party Alianza PAIS lash out at the Catholic Church for criticizing their newly-proposed constitution. Similar desecrations were reported in recent weeks at two other churches. Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Guayaquil has received numerous death threats, as has pro-life leader Amparo Medina, who recently received a dead rat inside of a shoebox with a note attached that read "death to pro-lifers." In addition, the president of the Never Impunity Movement (Movimiento Impunidad Jamás) has called for the archbishop's arrest and "preventative imprisonment" because of the church's opposition to the constitution.

Iran: Christian Couple Dies after Police Raid

ASSIST New Service reports that a church leader and his wife have died as a result of injuries sustained from a police raid on their home in Isfehan, Iran. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), citing the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), says Abbas Amiri, 62, died in hospital on July 30, 2008, in Isfehan, Iran.  His wife died of similar injuries on Aug. 3. Amiri was one of a number of church members who was physically assaulted by police officers who raided his home in Malek Shahr on July 27 during a Sunday gathering of the house church. The human rights group says 2008 has seen a serious increase in the number of detentions and physical mistreatment of non-Muslims in Iran. Two church leaders who were arrested in Shiraz in May 2008 are still being kept in poor conditions, with no charges brought against them.

Chicago archdiocese agrees to $12.7 million settlement

Reuters reports that the Chicago diocese of the Catholic church has reached a $12.7 million settlement with 16 sexual abuse victims. "My hope is that these settlements will help the survivors and their families begin to heal and move forward," Chicago Cardinal Francis George, head of the second-largest U.S. archdiocese, said in a statement. "I apologize again today to the survivors and their families and to the whole Catholic community. We must continue to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the children in our care," said George, who became the highest-ranking church official to give a legal deposition when he was questioned in this case. U.S. archdioceses have paid almost $2 billion in settlements pertaining to sexual abuse by priests and potential knowledge of dioceses.
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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 15, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Baptist World Aid Support Relief Programs in Georgia Conflict
    * Jury Begins Deliberating in Osteen Lawsuit
    * Nepal: Terrorists Target Indian Priests
    * Episcopal Priests Propose Aligning with Catholic Church

 

Baptist World Aid Support Relief Programs in Georgia Conflict

ASSIST News Service reports that the conflict between Georgia and Russia continues without a cease-fire, Baptist leaders are working toward aid and support. Malkhaz Songulashvili, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, in an email report to Ethics Daily, said "We pray that the conflict is peacefully resolved and opposing sides reconciled, mutual forgiveness and acceptance exercised. We mourn the deaths ... from both sides." Paul Montacute, director of Baptist World Aid (BWAid) said: "We condemn this wanton taking of human life, and mourn the death and suffering of all the peoples of this region." Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, is responding to cries for help from those caught up in the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia. An initial grant of $10,000 has been made available to Georgian Baptists so that they can help those in need. Donations to assist Georgian Baptists in their relief programs can be made to Baptist World Aid (www.bwanet.org/bwaid).

Jury Begins Deliberating in Osteen Lawsuit

Although Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch pastor Joel Osteen, allegedly physically and verbally abused a flight attendant in 2005, fellow passengers say the exchange never went that far, Fox News reports. As deliberations began yesterday, Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown claims Osteen became violent when a spill on her first-class seat armrest was not cleaned up quickly enough, and assaulted Brown when she blocked Osteen's way to the cockpit. Brown claims physical and mental pain from the attack, and is asking $405,000 in damages. Osteen denied ever touching Brown or trying to get into the cockpit, and her attorney maintains the incident is highly exaggerated. The Osteens paid a $3,000 fine the Federal Aviation Administration levied against Victoria Osteen for interfering with a crew member but testified they did so to put the incident behind them.

Nepal: Terrorists Target Indian Priests

Compass Direct News reports that Father John Prakash Moyalan, the 62-year-old Catholic priest killed on July 1 by an underground militant Hindu organization in Nepal, might have been alive today -- had he not been an Indian, according to the Himalayan republic's Christian community. With the law-and-order situation in the new republic plummeting since elections in April and relations with southern neighbor India becoming increasingly acrimonious, Christian leaders here said Indian Catholics in Nepal are facing a greater threat from Hindu extremists. The extremists blame New Delhi for the May 28 ouster of Nepal's Hindu king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and the transformation of the world's only Hindu kingdom into a secular state. Father John Vianney, head of the Pastoral Animation Centre (PAC) in Lalitpur, said PAC received five to six calls after the gunning down of Fr. Moyalan in Sirsiya town in south Nepal, the most volatile region in the country since the abolition of the monarchy. "Fr. Prakash's attackers took away his cellular phone," Fr. Vianney told Compass. "Then they began calling the numbers stored in it, demanding money."

Episcopal Priests Propose Aligning with Catholic Church

Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that four Episcopal priests in Fort Worth have had enough with the Episcopal church in the United States - and say the majority of clergy in their diocese are ready to realign with the Catholic church, citing similar positions on opposing same-sex marriage and ordination of women and homosexuals. The four priests spoke privately with Bishop Kevil Vann of the Forth Worth Catholic Diocese in June, meeting with the permission and support of Forth Worth Episcopal Diocese Bishop Jack Iker. Iker, however, maintains they do not speak on behalf of him or the entire diocese and "there is no proposal under consideration, either publicly or privately, for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to become part of the Roman Catholic Church," he said in the statement.
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Slavic Churches Extend Help to Georgian Refugees
Michael Ireland


August 18, 2008

LOVES PARK, ILLINOIS (ANS) -- Refugee families from South Ossetia have flooded north across the Russian border into the cities of North Ossetia, and into the southern Russian regions of Kabardino-Balkaria, Rostov, Stavropol, and Krasnodar.

The movement of families follows the new and bloody armed conflict between Russia, the disputed territory of South Ossetia, and the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

The fighting began last Thursday in South Ossetia, which is located on Russia's southern border in the Caucasus Mountains region of the former Soviet Union.

The hostilities between the Georgian and Russian armies have already resulted in several thousand civilians being killed and an estimated 100,000 people having lost their homes.

In all of these regions, the Loves Park, Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) sponsors church planters and partner Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) churches, including Pastors Sergei and Taimuraz Totiev of Beslan.

According to SGA president Dr. Robert Provost, the city of Beslan is no stranger to bloodshed.

He said: "Beslan was the scene of the horrific 2004 attack on a school where terrorists slaughtered 330 children and adults. Both Totiev families lost several children in the attacks. In the months and years that followed, Pastor Sergei led the Beslan Baptist Church's wonderfully fruitful ministry to the entire grieving city."

Provost added: "Concerning the current crisis, Pastor Sergei told us yesterday that 'wounded survivors and homeless refugees are everywhere. It is really difficult to comfort people whose relatives were killed in front of them'

"All of the UECB churches in North Ossetia are sending people to visit the suffering injured in the area hospitals. They are trying to help the refugees with food and clothing. And you can be sure that they are seizing every opportunity to share the Gospel with them."

According to SGA, the churches say that the refugees are coming in with heartbreaking stories.

A media advisory says: "They tell of bombings, people crushed by tanks, and others being burned alive. Many of them are from the city of Tskhinvali, where reportedly not one house is still standing. And some of these refugees from Tskhinvali are Baptist believers.

"Temporary shelters have been set up in government buildings, but many of the families of Beslan -- people who are well acquainted with grief -- have taken refugees into their homes. But they cannot provide all of the food and necessities that the displaced people need. A great deal of help is needed, especially for the purchase of food and everything for children, baby foods, and hygiene items."

SGA says the US Government has pledged to provide humanitarian relief to the war victims in Georgia. And the Russian Christians are accepting responsibility for humanitarian relief to the South Ossetian war victims who have fled to southern Russia.

SGA is an interdenominational mission, which has been working in the former Soviet Union since 1934 and has served churches in Russia through pastor and lay leader training, sponsorship of national church planters and provision of Christian literature. SGA represents the Russian UECB and is a sponsor of the Eurasian Federation of Evangelical Christians-Baptists.

SGA is asking for prayer in this crisis situation, in addition to financial contributions to help the churches with their relief efforts.
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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 18, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Malaysia: Court Denies Woman's Appeal to Leave Islam
    * Presidential Race Tightens As Faith Voters Rethink
    * Sudan: Relative Peace Allows Outdoor Worship Event
    * Settlement Brings End to 9-Year 'Left Behind' Dispute

 

Malaysia: Court Denies Woman's Appeal to Leave Islam

Compass Direct News reports that a civil court on Aug. 5 denied a woman's appeal to renounce Islam in favor of Christianity, highlighting the jurisdictional disputes in Malaysia's dual legal system. Lim Yoke Khoon had filed a suit in her original ethnic Chinese name to renounce Islam and embrace Christianity. In a 2-1 majority ruling, the Shah Alam Court of Appeal denied her case on a technicality: According to judges Tengku Baharudin Shah Tengku Mahmud and Sulong Mat Jeraie, Lim had ceased to exist under her original name when she converted to Islam and assumed a new name, Noorashikin Lim binti Abdullah. The 35-year-old Lim is reportedly expected to appeal to the country's top civil court. A public forum to discuss such jurisdictional disputes, in this case the dual court system's effect on families of people who convert to Islam, was scheduled for Saturday (Aug. 9), but Muslim protestors succeeded in halting it after only one hour.

Presidential Race Tightens As Faith Voters Rethink

A new study by The Barna Group shows that while faith voters are waffling more on their candidate decisions, but Barack Obama's slight fall in popularity hasn't translated decided voters for John McCain. According to the nationwide study, Obama still leads 43 percent to McCain's 34 percent, and is still favored by 18 of 19 faith communities surveyed. In June, Obama led by 50 percent to McCain's 35 percent. The survey noted that McCain still holds the evangelical community 61 percent to 17 percent, but that level of support is significantly down from June, when he was favored with 78 percent. "While some Christian voters seem to be questioning their early support for Obama, the McCain candidacy does not seem to be gaining momentum among evangelicals," the report said.

Sudan: Relative Peace Allows Outdoor Worship Event

A break in fighting - perhaps even a tentative peace - has come to southern Sudan, allowing planning for an large, outdoor evangelistic meeting for the first time in years, according to Mission News Network. American evangelist Sammy Tippit will join the event as a keynote speaker. Tippit believes the people are Southern Sudan are uniquely ready for the Gospel. "When I go into an area that's been torn apart, the people are ready; they're open; they're hungry for the good news of the Gospel. So it'll be interesting to see," he said. According to Tippit, many of his initial contact were refugees living in northern Sudan who have now been able to return home.

Settlement Brings End to 9-Year 'Left Behind' Dispute

The Christian Post reports that a legal dispute between the "Left Behind" film series and the series authors has finally ended after almost a decade. Co-author Timothy LaHaye sued filmmaker Cloud Ten Pictures and co-producer Namesake Entertainment after the first three films' video release in 2000, claiming the producers skimped on film quality and breached contract. The authors were also frustrated by the film's video release and distribution through mainly Christian venues, saying they hoped to reach a wider audience. "We are thrilled to finally have this behind us," announced André van Heerden, CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures Inc. "While we received repeated judgments from the Courts that validated our rights, we were unable until now to finally put this lawsuit behind us."
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Chinese Airport Officials Seize 300 Bibles from Christians
Jeremy Reynalds


August 19, 2008

KUNMING, YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA (ANS) -- A group of American Christians who had more than 300 Chinese Bibles confiscated by officials when they arrived in China is refusing to leave Kunming International Airport until they get the books back.

According to a news release from the China Aid Association (CAA), the four American Christians arrived at 3 p.m. Beijing Time from the U.S. via Thailand. Each carried about 75 to 80 study Bibles for Chinese pastors.

The names of the four are Pat Klein, 46, from Wyoming, Forrest Higginbotham, 78, from Indiana), Higginbotham's grandson Stephen Constantinou, 15, from New Jersey and Steve Nichols, 60, from New York.

According to Klein, each of them was fined for 400 U.S. dollars for the overweight luggage with the Bibles. The Chinese customs officials told the four Americans that their all of their Bibles were confiscated as "illegal religious literature."

"The Chinese leaders keep telling the world the Chinese people have religious freedom. To even prevent them from receiving Bibles certainly contradicts that claim," the news release said Klein told CAA President Bob Fu in a telephone interview.

Klein's Sheridan, Wyoming-based group Vision Beyond Borders distributes Bibles and Christian teaching materials around the world.

Chinese authority allows limited numbers of Bibles, and they are only available at officially sanctioned churches. The sale of Bibles is forbidden in public bookstores.

"I appeal to the Chinese government to release those confiscated Bibles to the four individuals who deeply care about the Chinese believers," Fu said in the news release. "I urge the international Christian community to pray for the four courageous fellow brothers for their safety in China."
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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 19, 2008

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Church-Hosted Forum Gets Personal, Practical
    * Relief Orgs Make Their Way to Georgian Refugees
    * Nigeria: Islamist Group Attacking Christians in Kwara State
    * Evangelicals Warn McCain on Running Mate Choice

 

Church-Hosted Forum Gets Personal, Practical

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church helped Americans compare "apples-to-apples" in a Civil Forum with presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain on Saturday, the Christian Post reported. Warren asked the two candidates the same set of questions on stewardship, leadership, worldview and America's role in the world. "Now, we believe in the separation of church and state," Warren said in his introduction before heading into the first round of questions with Obama, "but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics because faith is just a world view and everybody has some kind of world view." Questions were contributed by pastors, church leaders and issue experts, and included the topics of abortion and same-sex marriage.

Relief Orgs Make Their Way to Georgian Refugees

Mission News Network reports that at least 100,000 people have fled the South Ossetia conflict north into Russia and south into Georgia proper. Relief organization World Vision is in both refugee destinations, providing medical relief, shelter and food to those who have fled. World Vision's Rachel Wolfe also noted that many families have been separated, creating a huge child-care need. In a press release, Medical Teams International also announced preparations to airship more than $100,000 in medical supplies to families in the conflict, partnering with Project Hope and the U.S. State Department. Southern Baptists are also organizing an assessment team to evaluate the situation after fighting stop, Baptist Press reports. "The humanitarian needs here are growing exponentially, faster than the combined agencies can keep up," warned David Womble, national director of World Vision in Georgia told MNN. "We continue to look at the tip of the iceberg."

Nigeria: Islamist Group Attacking Christians in Kwara State

Blaming the death of their leader on Christian prayers, an Islamist group that launched a hate campaign in response to an evangelistic event in 2004 is reportedly attacking Christians in this Kwara state capital with renewed virulence, area Christians told Compass Direct News. At least three Christians have died and several others have been injured in attacks with machetes and other weapons since June, clergymen said. They said the attacks began after the May death from car crash injuries of Dr. Ali Olukade, head of a local group of Islamists called Tibliq, possibly patterned after the worldwide Tablighi Jamaat missionary movement. The Kwara chapter of CAN has received 10 reports of Christians attacked by the Muslim extremists in the past two months, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, secretary of the Kwara chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, adding that he believes unreported assaults on Christians average about four daily.

Evangelicals Warn McCain on Running Mate Choice

Conservative evangelical leaders warned Friday that Sen. John McCain risks losing the election if he chooses a running mate who supports abortion rights, according to Religion News Service. A panel of prominent anti-abortion advocates, including former presidential candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee, urged voters to make an abortion and other "life issues" a priority this November. "I believe that if Sen. McCain chooses a pro-abortion (running mate), he will give the election to Sen. Obama," said Bishop Harry Jackson, chairman of the Maryland-based High Impact Leadership Coalition. "It would be tantamount to political suicide." Earlier this week, McCain told The Weekly Standard that he would consider selecting a running mate, such as former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge or Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., who supports abortion rights.
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Megachurch Reflects on Presidential Event
David Finnigan


LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- A day after hosting presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, megachurch pastor Rick Warren said Sunday (Aug. 17) that a politician's soul is as important as his solutions.

"Don't just look at issues, look at character," Warren sermonized here at his Saddleback Church. "Issues are important but you also have to look at character."

The megachurch pastor made only a passing reference to his "buddies named Barack and John," but he made clear what he looks for in a leader.

"Our leaders used to be known for the integrity ... `Honest Abe' or George Washington," Warren said. "Does the private life of a leader matter? Absolutely it matters. Because what you do affects everybody else, even in your private life."

On Saturday night Warren and Saddleback hosted a "civil forum" with Republican presumptive nominee McCain and Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee. It was this presidential campaign's third faith-focused forum

-- the first two included only Democratic nominees -- highlighting the importance religion has assumed in recent elections.

Warren, founder of the 20,000-member Saddleback Church and author of the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life," calls himself a friend of both candidates.

That didn't stop Warren from grilling Obama and McCain on hot-button issues such as abortion and gay marriage, though.

Asked about abortion, McCain said human rights start at the moment of conception.

Obama emphasized his abortion-rights position but also discussed the complexity of the debate and said his party is committed to reducing abortion through anti-poverty initiatives.

Saddleback congregant Robert MacHale, a 39-year-old software engineer, said he was supporting Obama, but that neither candidate may be able to resolve such difficult issues.

"I guess the better question to ask is will either John McCain or Obama do anything about abortion," he said.

Evangelical pastor Rev. Jim Gilbreth of Riverside, Calif., said the Saddleback forum was unlikely to dampen his McCain support. "On several key issues I am in complete disagreement with Sen. Obama," Gilbreth said. "But I am very interested in what he has to say."

Both candidates discussed their personal religious views, with Obama saying, "I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I am redeemed through him."

McCain said his faith "means I'm saved and forgiven." He also told a story about celebrating Christmas with a prison guard when he was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

When Warren asked Obama if evil existed, the Illinois senator said it did, adding that people should have "some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil ... you know a lot of evil has been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil."

In response to a question about wealth, McCain said, "Some of the richest people I've ever known are the most unhappy ... I think that rich is defined by, should be defined by a home, a good job and education and the ability to hand our children a more prosperous and safer world than the one that we inherited."

Hundreds of audience members waited in lines Saturday snaking up Saddleback's hilly suburban compound. On a nearby boulevard about 1,000 demonstrators from anti-immigration, anti-war, anti-abortion movements protested both candidates.

Warren did not endorse either candidate but he did mention the kind of presidential candidate he won't support.

"I could not vote for an atheist ... because an atheist says, `I don't need God.' And nobody is self-sufficient (enough) to be a president by themselves."
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Christian Persecution Surged during Musharraf's Rule?
Sheraz Khurram Khan


August 21, 2008

PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Joseph Francis, the National Director of Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) has said that Christian persecution and discrimination with minorities surged during former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's rule.

Francis said that the Christians of Pakistan suffered enormous injustices, discrimination and persecution during Musharraf's rule.

"Christians were not immune from persecution and raw treatment during the tenure of Presidents that preceded Musharraf, but the scale of Christian persecution was worst during Musharraf's rule," said Francis.

Francis put forward statistics of Christian persecution during Musharraf's rule. He claimed that over 55 churches were attacked and maintained that 58 Christians were murdered while 275 were wounded. Pointing to the misuse of Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws, Francis said that 212 blasphemy cases were registered from October 12, 1999 to August 18, 2008.

He said that some 10 blasphemy-accused had been killed extra-judicially during Musharraf's stint as President. Among the victims of blasphemy-related extra-judicial killings, he said four of them were Christians while the rest were Muslims.

Musharraf's popularity plummeted when he sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 9, 2007. The President's move of seizing emergency powers on November 3, 2007 further dented his popularity. The President made frequent promises on shedding his military uniform but he did not deliver on them. He took off his military uniform after coming under intense international pressure. The victory of Musharraf's opponents on February 18, 2008 elections proved to be the last nail in Musharraf's coffin.

Calls for Musharraf to quit from president's office became strident two weeks ago, culminating at the decision of the ruling coalition to impeach president Musharraf if he did not resign. Musharraf resigned from the office of President on August 18 to avoid impeachment turmoil.

Mr. Joseph Francis said that Pervez Musharraf should have resigned way earlier than August 18 when he had started becoming unpopular with people of Pakistan.

Disputing former Pakistani President Musharraf's claim that he had empowered Pakistani minorities, Francis said minorities on the contrary were discriminated against during President Musharraf's rule.

He criticized Musharraf for introducing a host of constitutional amendments to prolong his rule. How the former President could justify his claim of empowering minorities when he did not even institute a single constitutional amendment to bring minorities at par with majority, he argued.

"Our Personal Laws continue to be violated," he said. "No amendment has been made in Minorities Personal Laws including Marriage Act, Divorce Act and Inheritance Act during former the President's rule."

He also slammed Pervez Musharraf for not heeding to Pakistan National Christian Party's demand of amending article 41 of the constitution of Pakistan which he stated says, "A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly."

Francis has submitted a written petition to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He says that he expects a hearing on the petition after the "restoration of judges."

Francis said that the former Pakistan President Musharraf announced that there would be 33 percent of the seats for women before 2002 elections. "However, no seats were reserved for minority women," he lamented.

He said that the minorities' councilors were worst hit under Musharraf's Devolution Plan. "They (the minority councilors) neither have power nor any funds," he said. "They are at the mercy of their respective Nazims (Mayors)."

Francis said that if Musharraf ever wanted to empower minorities he could have enacted a law under which each political party of the country was supposed to award at least 10 percent direct party tickets to minorities.

"Reserved seats for minorities have not increased since the creation of Pakistan and Musharraf's rule was no exception," he said.

Francis was of the view that the former President should not be credited for replacing Separate Electorate System for minorities with a Joint Electorate System.

"Musharraf introduced the Joint Electorate System for minorities after knuckling under international pressure," he alleged.

Following Musharraf's resignation on August 18, Chairman Senate Muhammad Mian Soomro has taken over as acting President. According to Pakistan's constitution the new President has to be elected within 30 days.

Asked which party's presidential candidate should become next President, Francis said, "Whoever becomes next President, he is likely to remain indifferent toward Pakistani Christians."

Francis dubbed the next 30 days "very critical" for Pakistan. Asked if Islamic fundamentalism would surge in Pakistan after Musharraf's disappearance from the political scene, Francis feared that Islamists would become "more detrimental" for the country in the absence of President Musharraf.

He dispelled the impression that Pervez Musharraf had employed steps to ameliorate the lot of Pakistani minorities. Musharraf confronted radical Islamists because this is what the U.S had expected of him. "He had thrown his lot with the U.S President George W. Bush in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks in USA," said Francis. "Musharraf's role in war on terror did not improve minorities' situation."

Bishop Samuel Azariah of the Diocese of Riwand, Church of Pakistan, said that Musharraf made the right decision to resign. "He had lost popularity with masses. There was a general opinion in the country that he should go," said Bishop Samuel.

Asked how he rated Musharraf as President vis-à-vis Pakistani Christians, the Bishop said, "He did a few things which benefited Pakistani Christians."

He hailed Musharraf for introducing Joint Electorate System for Pakistani minorities.

Asked if he backed constitutional amendment in article 41 of the constitution of Pakistan, so that every Pakistani could run for presidential elections, the Bishop said there was no reason why he would not back such a proposal.

"Every Pakistani irrespective of his faith should be entitled to run in the Presidential elections. This issue is not religious, but that of equality for all," he said.

In reply to a question, he said that next 30 days would see "tough negotiations between coalition partners." The Bishop stated that it would not be easy for them to forge consensus on a Presidential candidate.

"The political parties' leadership has become mature over the years. I hope they can agree on a consensus candidate," said Bishop Samuel.

Asked how Musharraf's resignation would affect Islamic militancy, he said that Musharraf's departure would make "no difference to Islamic fundamentalism."

When asked if he was in favor of a repeal of article 58-2 (b) that empowers Pakistani president to dissolve assemblies, the Bishop said that the article was meant to put check and balance in place, but the article had been "frequently abused and misused" by some of Musharraf's predecessors.

A renowned Christian professor, Anjum James Paul, who also happens to be chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association while talking to ANS said he and his like-minded friends had agitated when Pervez Musharraf had taken over in a bloodless military coup on October 12, 1999. He said they had protested since Musharraf had violated constitution of Pakistan by seizing power and his action was undemocratic and unconstitutional.

He appreciated Musharraf for giving Pakistani minorities the Joint Electorate System. Reciprocating a question, Anjum Paul said he would like next President to come from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

"It is in the spirit of democracy that the next President comes from the PPP," he said.

Professor Anjum also called for repeal of article 58 2 (b) of the constitution of Pakistan.
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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 20, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Many Americans Put Trust in Miracles over Medicine
    * Churches Pay Average Senior Pastor $80,000 a Year
    * Indonesia: Muslim Mob Storms Church, Call for Ban
    * UN Demands Russia Withdraw from Georgia

 

Many Americans Put Trust in Miracles over Medicine

The Associated Press reports that a new survey shows that more than half of American adults believe in divine intervention at the hospital, and doctors need to be sensitive to those expecting miracles. Fifty-seven percent said divine intervention could save even when medical treatment appears hopeless, and almost 20 percent of doctors and medical workers surveyed agreed. Almost 75 percent said patients have a right to such treatment. One thousand adults were surveyed on end-of-life medical care, along with 774 doctors and other medical workers. The study noted that doctors shouldn't belittle this belief. "Sensitivity to this belief will promote development of a trusting relationship" with patients and their families, according to researchers.

Churches Pay Average Senior Pastor $80,000 a Year

According to ChristianNewsWire, the average senior pastor earns $81,113 a year in pay and benefits, according to an annual survey by the Your Church Media Group. The survey also showed benefits significantly increased with education levels in all church staffing position; those with a doctorate earn $14,000-$24,000 more per year than those who hold only a Bachelor's degree, and almost $30,000 more than those without any post-secondary education. Location and setting of a church also factored into pastor's pay, as suburban senior pastors average 50 percent more earnings than those in more rural settings.

Indonesia: Muslim Mob Storms Church, Call for Ban

Compass Direct News reports that on Sunday (August 17) a Muslim mob stormed a church service in Cipayung, East Jakarta, forcing Christians to flee and then erecting banners in the street declaring a ban on "churches and religious services." As about 20 church members were celebrating the nation's Independence Day at the service, the angry assailants arrived at the Pentecostal Church of Indonesia in Pondok Rangon village, Cipayung, at 9:30 a.m. shouting "Allahu Akbar!" or "God is greater!" Some in the mob were neighbors, but the majority were not local residents, according to pastor Chris Ambessa. Local officials made no effort to intervene or prohibit the illegal banners. Ambessa has been in the middle of a dispute over his house church. Previously Cipayung officials had ordered him to dismantle the second floor of his home, and on July 13 it ordered him to cease religious activity for an indefinite period following neighborhood protests against his house church. Neighbors had demanded that Ambessa completely demolish the building.

UN Demands Russia Withdraw from Georgia

Although the UN Security Council has drafted a resolution demanding cease-fire, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman says there appears to be no significant changes to Russia's military occupation of Georgia despite promises to mostly withdraw, according to Fox News. The conflict began Aug. 7 when Georgia launched heavy artillery against rogue province South Ossetia. Russian troops drove back Georgian forces from the ethnically Russian province. Meanwhile, Bible Mission International's Paul Hagelgans told Mission News Network that people need to ignore the spin from both countries and focus on the humanitarian crisis. "We care about who's right and who's wrong. We only care about the more than 35,000 people," he said.

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