Free Republic

After making his "historic" remarks on same-sex unions last week, President Barack Obama led a conference call with black church pastors to explain his support for gay marriage, the New York Times reported that the call was held with "eight or so African-American ministers. "They were wrestling with their ability to get over his theological position," the Rev. Delman Coates, a Maryland pastor who was on the call, told the NY Times. The title of the article was "Obama calls pastors to explain gay marriage support; black churches ‘conflicted’ "Conflicted"? There really is no reason to be conflicted. They either...

In a recent post, I slammed black pastors for failing to stand up for their Christian faith in the face of attack by Nation of Islam supreme leader Louis Farrakhan. So, in fairness, I must applaud members of the black clergy who have put Biblical principle above racial hegemony in their public criticism of President Obama for his ungodly support of homosexual marriage. “I love the president,” said Rev. Emmitt Burns, pastor of Rising Sun Baptist Church in Baltimore, “but I cannot support what he has done.” He told CNN that the president’s failure to defend traditional marriage between one...

In a recent post, I slammed black pastors for failing to stand up for their Christian faith in the face of attack by Nation of Islam supreme leader Louis Farrakhan. So, in fairness, I must applaud members of the black clergy who have put Biblical principle above racial hegemony in their public criticism of President Obama for his ungodly support of homosexual marriage. “I love the president,” said Rev. Emmitt Burns, pastor of Rising Sun Baptist Church in Baltimore, “but I cannot support what he has done.” He told CNN that the president’s failure to defend traditional marriage between one...

Barney Frank told the panel on ABC’s This Week that “I don’t think anyone’s vote was changed” when Barack Obama endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage — but that might be too optimistic an analysis. The New York Times reports that the White House went on a charm offensive with leaders of faith organizations, including and perhaps especially African-American churches where opposition to gay marriage runs high. So far, the charm offensive has had mixed results: About two hours after declaring his support for same-sex marriage last week, President Obama gathered eight or so African-American ministers on a conference call...

Original title: Obama calls pastors to explain gay marriage support; black churches ‘conflicted’ by president’s decision --------------------------------------------- After making his historic remarks on same-sex unions last week, President Barack Obama led a conference call with black church pastors to explain his support for gay marriage, the New York Times reports. The call, which was held with "eight or so African-American ministers," occurred about two hours after the president's interview with ABC's Robin Roberts. Obama explained to them that he struggled with the decision, pastors on the call told the paper, but several voiced their disapproval. "They were wrestling with their...

Pastors and Christian ministry leaders have a high calling to preach the truth from the Word of God. Speaking the truth is essential all the time but it is especially important to do so when we elect leaders who will make law and policy that affect our faith, our families and our freedom. There is an ongoing struggle for the soul of America. Many people look to pastors and Christian ministry leaders for guidance on important moral and social issues.

Seekers of peace and social justice should take note of today's 100th birthday celebration of the life of German theologian and Nazi resister Dietrich Bonhoeffer. As much as anyone - and as early as anyone - Bonhoeffer spoke out against the wickedness of Adolf Hitler's regime and took some of the most significant actions to thwart it. It was Bonhoeffer and a small circle of Lutheran ministers who first condemned the virulent anti-Semitism and reawakened militarism in Germany. It was Bonhoeffer who most loudly denounced his country's suicidal summons for war. It was Bonhoeffer who attacked the timidity of German...

Pat Robertson, America's longest-serving eschatological bigot and spiritual leader, took to the airwaves of the 700 Club last week and denounced the war on weed, as well as liberals, all of whom write laws in a "punitive spirit." Putting aside the fact that Robertson has, on occasion, invited God to smite people people of abominable politics and preferences, this time he is making (some) sense: We here in America make up 5% of the world's population, but we make up 25% of jailed prisoners... Every time the liberals pass a bill -- I don't care what it involves -- they...

Atlanta, GA – Pastors and faith leaders from throughout Georgia — including from more than a dozen churches — announced Monday they are personally endorsing Newt Gingrich in Tuesday’s Republican primary and joining his Faith Leaders Coalition. The pastors include Dr. Richard Lee, pastor of First Redeemer in Cumming, Dr. Michael Youssef, an Atlanta Christian author and broadcaster, and the Rev. Benny Tate of Rock Springs Methodist in Milner, Ga. Lee, Youssef and Tate are national co-chairs of Gingrich’s Faith Leaders Coalition. They will be working with the new Georgia faith leaders on Gingrich’s advisory coalition. “Our nation sorely needs...

Why are Pastors 'Laying Hands' on Rick Santorum in TX? Santorum may be capturing the attention of Christians and their leaders. WHY WERE PASTORS ‘LAYING HANDS’ ON RICK SANTORUM IN TX? (THE BLAZE) -- Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum stopped in McKinney, Texas, earlier today, where he met with evangelical faith leaders. During their time together, the pastors and congregants “laid hands on” the candidate and prayed for him, as can be seen in the below image: (see image at: http://content.clearchannel.com/cc-common/mlib/2135/02/2135_1328806795.jpg Pastors praying around GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum) The New York Times reports: Santorum, a Catholic, is said to...

The Rev. Harold Mayberry stood before his First African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation Sunday morning in Oakland and outlined how it was time for members to connect with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Nationally, many African American leaders have acknowledged a disconnect between the Occupy Wall Street movement and the larger black community. Mayberry is among nearly two dozen prominent African American Bay Area pastors trying to bridge that gap at the community level through a growing national effort that is ramping up today - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - called Occupy the Dream. Nationally, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons,...

Their sign warns those who are "Drunks, homosexuals, abortionist, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, witches, idolators" that "Hell awaits you." Their hearing will be in Houston Municipal Court, which is run by Barbara E. Hartle, who, according to the Dallas Voice, is listed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund as "one of only a few out members of the Texas judiciary." She was appointed to the position by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, identified by the Los Angeles Times as "the first lesbian to head a major American city." Allen told WND that no matter what happens, the fact that...

© 2011 WND The early church did not have it. None of the apostles ever held the job. In fact, it appears nowhere in the New Testament. Now, author Jon Zens states what undoubtedly has occurred to many Christians: The role of the "pastor" needs to be reconsidered. In his new book, "The Pastor Has No Clothes! Moving from Clergy-Centered Church to Christ Centered Ekklesia, Zens asserts that the unbiblical office of pastor has grown via tradition into a hindrance both to church congregations and the pastors themselves. It surely is not what our Lord had in mind, he contends....

Michele Bachmann, who has been sharing her testimony and views on social issues in churches in Iowa, has received endorsements for her presidential run from over 100 pastors and Christian leaders in advance of the 2011 Iowa Straw Poll. “Michele has a long track record of standing firm on and fighting for conservative issues on the local, state and national level,” Bachmann’s campaign quoted Pastor Brad Sherman’s endorsement as saying Friday. “Her core values are non-negotiable in political storms. She has earned her claim to having a ‘titanium spine’ on the issues we care most about.” “Michele has fearlessly taken...

A group of Omaha pastors has issued a proclamation that states homosexuality is not a sin. More than 100 ordained Christian ministers have signed the proclamation, including leaders from Lutheran, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. David Bydalek is executive director of Family First, the family policy council for the state of Nebraska. He deems this effort troubling for many Nebraskans and contends the ministers involved are from liberal denominations that do not respect the orthodox biblical teaching on homosexuality.

‘Bewildered and betrayed’: DC black pastors challenge mayor over abortion advocacy by Kathleen Gilbert Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:23 EST WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After the mayor of the District of Columbia was arrested for protesting a budget deal that banned taxpayer funds for local abortions, a group of local black pastors have expressed shock at the mayor’s pro-abortion “passion” and announced the planned opening of a new pregnancy center to help D.C. women avoid abortion Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray was arrested Monday on charges of trespassing after he led a group in front of Senate...

A conservative law firm is waiting for a response from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the latest "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." According to the Alliance Defense Fund, the event was a success. Attorney Erik Stanley reports that about 100 pastors from 30 states participated in the firm's third annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday, a legal effort designed to secure pastors' First Amendment rights. (See earlier story) "All of this with the goal of protecting a pastor's right to speak freely from the pulpit without fearing any government censorship or control," Stanley explains. "So it was a great success, and we're looking...

Over 220 pastors in state of Texas have drafted and signed a statement expressing their support behind what they believe to be the best balance between justice and compassion in regards to border security and immigration issues. “In the course of our history as a nation, challenges and crisis moments have arisen that required principled leadership and the laying aside of partisan politics,” the pastors state in the preamble of their Declaration on Border Security and Immigration Reform. “Such is the need before us in our day regarding the escalating illegal immigration crisis and the security of our national borders.“...

A Phoenix-based youth pastor is worried that his ministry could face legal troubles under Arizona’s new immigration law. “We don’t ask people for their documents to come hear about Jesus,” said Ian Danley, youth pastor at Neighborhood Ministries, during a conference call with immigration reform advocates Wednesday afternoon. The evangelical pastor said regular ministry work, such as driving teens to worship events, could be “criminalized” under the new Arizona law if a church worker knowingly transports youths who are illegally residing in the United States. “The local community here feels under attack,” Danley said. “Recent high school graduates in my...

The following is an edited transcript of the audio. Rev. Piper, Having been through PhD studies, would you recommend other pastors pursue this course of education? You mean, already-pastoring pastors or planning-to-be pastors? I'll answer both. If you're already a pastor, I wouldn't get a PhD. It's a lot of work, and the payoff is really small. Really small. When I say really small, I don't mean studying the Bible is small payoff. But the way most PhD programs are set up it is small payoff. Because you have to read so much junk in order to get your PhD....