Free Republic

This Father’s Day, one of most popular pastors in America will open his megachurch to homosexual dads, an event that would usually signal an extreme weather alert from old guard Republican evangelical leaders. Rick Warren. (Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images for Meet the Press)But by welcoming gay fathers into his Southern California flock, Rick Warren, author of the “The Purpose Driven Life,” is not just living up to the highest standards of Christian fellowship, he’s turning the page on a particularly embarrassing part of our politics. Just to refresh: it was televangelist Pat Robertson who predicted “earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly even...

Although the conference is normally held every year to train pastors in the Purpose Driven Network, this year the Purpose Driven Summit is being presented a little differently after a 18-month hiatus.Wed, May. 21, 2008 Posted: 12:11:14 PM EST LAKE FOREST, Calif. – The Purpose Driven Summit is back but with a different purpose. Although the conference is normally held every year to train pastors in the Purpose Driven Network, this year it is being presented a little differently after a 18-month hiatus. For the first time in 20 years, instead of teaching his Purpose Driven techniques, Saddleback Church Pastor...

Evangelical Writers Challenged to Avoid Alienating the Unchurched Evangelical writers nearly always alienate non-evangelicals in their works, noted long-time Christian writer and editor Tim McLaughlin. Fri, May. 09, 2008 Posted: 12:04:29 PM EST PORTLAND, Ore. – “I have a bone to pick with you,” a Christian writer told a group of fellow evangelical writers Thursday. Evangelical writers nearly always alienate non-evangelicals in their works, noted long-time Christian writer and editor Tim McLaughlin. While most writers write to impact non-believers, as well as believers, the phrases they use and how they ignore some faith passages are real obstacles to reaching the...

Forty Days of Purpose, a discipleship and evangelism program, has been featured in thousands of North American churches. It's tied to Warren's global best-seller, The Purpose Driven Life. There have been city-wide campaigns before, but this is the first time a nation, including its president and other top leaders, has taken part in the program. In 2005 Warren announced his global PEACE plan, which in its current formulation stands for: Promoting reconciliation, Equipping servant leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation. The Forty Days of Purpose program is to correspond with church-based PEACE-plan projects...

Churches often borrow from business worldTaking care of business (ABP) -- Churches can learn from the business -- for better or for worse. Some best practices in the corporate world translate well to the nonprofit sector, including churches, experts insist. And at the same time, churches can benefit by looking at some lessons failed businesses learned the hard way. Baptists with expertise in both business and congregational life note several areas where churches can discover lessons worth learning: -- Core values and mission: “Start with a core set of values -- an irreducible minimum of non-negotiable basics,” said Chris...

Kirkwood — About 75 protesters gathered Monday outside the world headquarters of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, many holding signs that asked simply, "Why?" The question was directed at church leaders who, during Holy Week last month, pulled the plug on a popular radio program on the denomination's KFUO-AM station called "Issues, Etc." The host, the Rev. Todd Wilken, and producer, Jeff Schwarz, were fired without warning, and all reference to the show was taken off KFUO's website. Fans were left confused and angry. ... In the vacated time slot, the church has launched a new program called "The Afternoon Show,"...

Erica Dean is like the shy but reassuring guy who, before the wedding starts, offers you his arm and graciously steers you to where you belong. Dean, however, ushers people in with her voice and heart. The singer and pianist is a worship leader at Discovery Church in Simi Valley and other Southern California churches. She also leads music at retreats and conferences, and released her second solo CD, "Devoted," in December. She and other contemporary worship leaders are not called to be conductors, choir directors or song leaders. "When I was growing up," Dean said, "worship leaders had titles...

Country to Take On EPA Challenges The Monitor (Kampala) NEWS 11 April 2008 Posted to the web 10 April 2008 By Joseph Olanyo Kampala Rwanda is ready to take on trade challenges arising from Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Rwanda Ambassador to Germany has said. Mr Eugene-Richard Gasana said in an interview at the Rwanda embassy in Germany on April 4 his country will take a focussed and result oriented approach to ensure EPAs are a win-win situation. "We have overcome many challenges in life and we are not going to take anything for granted. We are ready to take on...

Hundreds of pastors and ministry leaders grappled Monday with the basic but difficult to answer question of how to stay plugged in to the culture to gain access and share the Gospel with a younger generation that is 'fundamentally atheistic.' Tue, Apr. 08, 2008 Posted: 10:12:29 AM EST WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Hundreds of pastors and ministry leaders grappled Monday with the basic but difficult to answer question of how to stay plugged in to the culture to gain access and share the Gospel with a younger generation that is “fundamentally atheistic.” Attendees – who range from small-town preachers to world-renown...

Angelina Jolie isn’t the only humanitarian in her family! Not to be outdone, her brother James Haven is set to appear before the Senate on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby about the fight against AIDS and malaria, The Washington Post reports. The 34-year-old will meet with senators Dick Lugar and Barbara Boxer, among others, to discuss the various efforts being employed in this battle. While his sister has had her share of acclaim for her globe-trotting good deeds, James has received less fanfare for his big heart. The actor is on the advisory board of Global Action for Children,...

The New Times (Kigali) NEWS 30 March 2008 Posted to the web 31 March 2008 By Edwin Musoni Kigali Rwanda in the past existed with no purpose which resulted to a shameful history. now the country has chosen to live with a purpose for prosperity and faith, President Paul Kagame has said. The President was speaking at a gathering that brought together thousands of Rwandan Christians during the launch of '40 Days of Purpose' at Amahoro National Stadium last evening. The launch was blessed by among others, the influential evangelical preacher and author of the Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren...

An Exclusive James Hartline Report- On The Frontlines Of The Culture War -December 30, 2007 San Diego Christian Leader Pays Steep Price For Speaking OutAgainst Rick Warren's Unethical Use of Saddleback Church Pulpit: Christian Activist James Hartline Loses Well-Known Media SupportAfter Signing Published Letter That Calls On Rick Warren To StopAllowing Pro-Abortion & Pro-Homosexual Speakers In His Pulpit (JHReport) A nationally recognized Christian activist has learned firsthand that there is a steep price to pay for speaking out against the moral corruption of one of America's most powerful Protestant ministers. Despite the high cost to himself personally, James Hartline has...

Rick Warren's book The Purpose-Driven Life is more than a major bestseller.  It's also the most prominent manifestation of a "seeker-sensitive" movement that's attempting, for all intents and purposes, to redefine evangelical Christianity. The seeker-sensitive movement is a close analogy to the contemporary conservative movement. In both cases, people who ought to be offering timeless truths that can save individuals and societies are instead using market research to craft a product that appeals to consumers, telling them what they want to hear rather than a truth that is initially painful but ultimately liberating.  Even if you are not a Christian,...

FAMED American pastor, Dr Rick Warren has said he supports the decision by Ugandan bishops to boycott the forthcoming Lamebth conference in England, United Kingdom. The conference brings together Bishops of the Anglican Communion from all 38 Provinces of the Communion every 10 years. "The Church of England is wrong and I support the Church of Uganda(CoU) on the boycott,"Dr Warren said on Thursday shortly after arriving in Uganda. The Bishops are protesting the Church of England's tolerance a homosexuality. Announcing the boycott in February, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said that Uganda's action had been prompted by the invitation of...

When Paul Pankhurst first came to Saddleback Church, he hid out in the parking lot. He would drive his family to church and then sit in the car, reading the paper, so he could avoid the "syrupy sweet" worship music. Once the songs ended, he went inside to mull over sermons given by Pastor Rick Warren. ... "You're going to find the greeting ministry is one of the most rewarding, fulfilling and fun ministries you'll ever be a part of," Lazos says, wearing a name badge that says he's been serving since 2002. "The purpose of greeting is not about...

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's Board of Communications suddenly pulled the plug today on our friends @ Issues, Etc. Both Rev. Todd Wilkens and his producer Jeff Schwarz, were both let go without advance notice.

The largest church conference on HIV/AIDS in United Kingdom was held this past weekend, reaffirming the belief that churches worldwide are joining in the battle against the deadliest epidemic in the history of mankind.Tue, Mar. 18, 2008 Posted: 18:35:27 PM EST The largest church conference on HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom was held this past weekend, reaffirming the belief that churches worldwide are joining in the battle against the deadliest epidemic in the history of mankind. More than 300 delegates gathered at Bracknell Family Church in southeast England to not only be informed on the HIV/AIDS issue and what churches...

Easter Sunday is less than a week away and most churches have already laid out their strategies on how to reach the unchurched and non-believers during arguably the most important Christian holiday. Mon, Mar. 17, 2008 Posted: 09:44:22 AM EST Easter Sunday is less than a week away and most churches have already laid out their strategies on how to reach the unchurched and non-believers during arguably the most important Christian holiday. But in case a little help is still needed, C. Michael Johnson, president of Breakthrough Media, suggests 18 factors that can “really” impact a church or ministry’s Easter...

Several Central Jersey churches are ushering in Holy Week — the week preceding Easter Sunday — with a variety of new and unusual programs, some of which will tap into entertainment value to plug parishioners into enlightenment.Concerts, plays and dinners are just a few of the programs on the Christian worship menu this week, along with inventive ways of pursuing prayer.Celebrate Recovery, the biblical-based 12-step program at Community Christian Chapel, 211 Route 206, Hillsborough, will follow its 7 p.m. meeting on Good Friday with a concert by Nashville-based Christian rock act Kathleen Carnali……The combined United Church of Christ/Presbyterian Church USA...

Police Benefit From Pr Warren's Peace Project The New Times (Kigali)NEWS 12 March 2008 Posted to the web 12 March 2008 By Florence Mutesi Kigali Renowned US Pastor Rick Warren's missionary work in Rwanda has now been extended to law enforcement. Four police experts from Warren's Saddleback Church in California, US, have since March 6 been training 50 Rwandan police officers in Kigali on how to better deal with various crimes such as gender-based violence, and how to provide counseling. According to Deputy Director of Training in Rwanda National Police (RNP), Superintendent Pascal Nkurikiyimfura, the training covers such issues as...