Religion Today Summaries – July 9, 2007
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- New Orleans Homebuilding Project Reaches Milestone
- Women of Faith and World Vision: 100,000 Children in Need have been Sponsored
- Taiwanese Ambassador: China Needs the Catholic Church
- Gay Pastor Removed as Atlanta Church's Minister
New Orleans Homebuilding Project Reaches Milestone
Construction on a new home marks the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between New Orleans' Habitat for Humanity and the Baptist Crossroads Foundation, the Baptist Press reports. Senior Pastor David Crosby of First Baptist Church spearheaded the Baptist Crossroads Project in 2004 when he heard New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin say that home ownership is the most effective way of lifting a family out of poverty. The initial project of 40 homes has now grown into plans for an additional 300 houses over the next five years, all built by Baptist Crossroads Project volunteers. In addition to the houses, volunteers with the Project have just begun conducting a 75-block, door-to-door survey of homeowners' needs. “The single most significant commitment that we have gotten to date from any organization [post-Katrina] is the Baptist Crossroads Project. We are honored to be a part of that,” said Jim Pate, executive director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.
Women of Faith and World Vision: 100,000 Children in Need have been Sponsored
At a national conference in Seattle on June 30, World Vision US President Rich Stearns thanked Women of Faith for making a huge statement for children in need around the world by announcing that Women of Faith had reached the 100,000 milestone in child sponsorships, ASSIST News Service reports. At this most recent Women of Faith Conference, held in Seattle's Key Arena, more than 1,200 children were sponsored, resulting in a record 15 percent response rate and helping Women of Faith reach the goal of 100,000 children sponsored. According to the latest numbers released by World Vision, 3 million children benefited from sponsorship worldwide in 2006, including 850,000 who are supported by people in the United States. World Vision works in 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people every year.
Taiwanese Ambassador: China Needs the Catholic Church
Although Pope Benedict XVI’s letter to Chinese Catholics was respectful to political authorities, the foreign ministry’s spokesperson in Bejing responded in “the usual way,” said Tou Chouseng, ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See. The diplomat, who was baptized into the Catholic faith last year in Rome, talked to AsiaNews about the publication of the letter. He said that the first official reactions in the mainland to the Pontiff’s message show Beijing’s usual difficulty of guaranteeing the Church real religious freedom. Taiwan’s ambassador ended on a note of advice: “If Beijing allowed the Church to work in peace and freedom, it could see how good the Church’s services are to the poor, the elderly, the left-out, students,” aiding China in building a “harmonious society.”
Gay Pastor Removed as Atlanta Church's Minister
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America announced Thursday it has removed Rev. Bradley Schmeling from its list of approved ministers because of his long-term relationship with a man. Schmeling and members of St. John's in Druid Hills say they will travel to a national church conference Aug. 6-11 in Chicago to try to change the minds of delegates on gay issues. Schmeling said he will remain St. John's minister. The ELCA, of which St. John's is a member congregation, has taken a middle road among Protestant churches, ordaining celibate gay ministers. Bishop Ronald B. Warren charged Schmeling with violating church regulations last year and a 12-member disciplinary committee recommended Schmeling's removal from the list of approved pastors. Schmeling appealed to a higher committee, which removed him from the clergy roster Monday. Two other Lutheran churches in the United States are in the same situation.
Originally published July 09, 2007.
