(from Yahoo! News via US News & World Report)
By Justin Ewers
2 hours, 24 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO--As John McCain and Barack Obama continue to fine-tune their platforms before this month's party conventions, a survey released this week has renewed debate in and out of the campaigns about the political leanings of a prominent--and often misunderstood--group of potential swing voters: Christians.
Ever since George W. Bush rode a wave of "values" votes into the White House in 2000 and 2004, political analysts have been mulling just how much restless evangelicals, in particular, with their strong views on hot-button cultural issues like abortion and gay marriage, seem to be reshaping the political landscape.
Exit polling conducted after Bush's win over John Kerry famously found "moral values" to be the top issue for many voters. Some 40 percent of American adults told pollsters they saw themselves as "evangelical." Pundits mused about the possibility of a permanent Republican majority.
The political times, however, could be changing. A study released this week by the Barna Group, a Christian research and consulting firm based in Ventura, Calif., finds that Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, currently enjoys the support of more faith-driven voters, including Christians, than his Republican rival.
The poll, which shows Obama ahead of McCain 43 percent to 34 percent among likely voters, also finds Obama leading in 18 of 19 different religious faith communities defined by the survey's strict standards. McCain leads in only one--evangelicals. In that category, however, the Republican has a huge lead, 61 to 17.
The Barna poll uses unusual methodology. Many pollsters take voters at their word when they say they are evangelical Christians, but the Barna survey is unusually specific about its categorizations. It asks voters a battery of nine questions about their religious beliefs--whether, for example, they think the Bible is accurate in everything it teaches, and whether they feel a personal responsibility to share their beliefs about Christ with non-Christians. Only when all nine questions are answered affirmatively are voters categorized as "evangelical."
This significantly reduces the survey's estimate of the total number of evangelical voters. By Barna's estimate, only 8 percent of U.S. voters are truly evangelical. "That is a much smaller group than you might think," says George Barna, the poll's director.
Not everybody agrees with his methodology, of course. Regardless, there is little doubt that evangelicals are still a highly motivated, well-organized voting bloc. Nearly 90 percent of evangelicals in the Barna study said they intend to vote in November.
The survey shows that the much debated "God gap" between Republicans and Democrats among Christian voters as a whole may not be nearly as dramatic as it appeared in 2004. Indeed, among those who self-identify as "evangelical" but who don't fit the Barna group's criteria, McCain holds only a 39 to 37 lead over Obama, with nearly 1 in 4 voters saying they are still undecided.
Among most other Christian groups, the Democratic candidate continues to enjoy a comfortable lead. Obama has a huge advantage among non-Christians, atheists, and agnostics, but he also leads among nonevangelical, born-again Christians (43 to 31), Christians who are neither born-again nor evangelical (44 to 28), Catholics (39 to 29), and Protestants (43 to 34). "If the current preferences stand pat," says Barna, "this would mark the first time in more than two decades that the born-again vote has swung toward the Democratic candidate."
Experts aren't sure exactly what is causing this shift. Obama has made a concerted effort to reach out to faith-oriented voters, including a splashy announcement this summer about expanding President Bush's faith-based initiative. He speaks more openly about his faith than many previous Democratic presidential candidates, and he has made an effort to find common ground with opponents of abortion.
Still, most experts believe that Christian voters' preferences, like those of many other voters, have less to do with the candidates' current positions than with a backlash against the Bush presidency. When asked to describe what makes the candidates stand out, at the top of the list for Christian voters currently supporting Obama is "being different from George Bush."
These numbers certainly aren't set in stone, and they are bound to change before November. The first harsh months of the campaign, including the controversy surrounding Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, have shaken some Christian voters' early confidence in him. During the past two months, Obama's lead has eroded substantially among nonevangelical, born-again Christians (down 9 percentage points), active Christians (a 20-point drop), Protestants (down 13 points), and Catholics (down 11 points).
When the pre-election advertising campaigns begin this fall--particularly those that emphasize Obama's support for abortion rights--those numbers may continue to drop. "There is a lot of anger toward the Bush administration," says Barna. "But faith-driven voters, in particular, are going back and re-examining their initial choice and trying to figure out if this is really someone whose values they can live with for another four to eight years."
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Pope Continues Apology World Tour
Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI is right where he left off when he was in the United States earlier in the year, this time he is in Australia.
Apparenly the priests "Down Under" have the same problems as the priests in "The Land of the Free." What is this? Sexual abuse by priests.
He apologized for the "shame that we have all felt as result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy" in Australia.
Australia, the United States and Canada have all felt these problems but haven't been acknowledged by the pope until he arrived on each continent. Instead in the past, the priest or bishop was moved from diocese to diocese and the Catholic church had to pay the victims a large sum of money. It is good that the pope is trying to mend the wounds left by unlawful priests and bishops.
The only thing I hope is that in the future the pope wouldn't have to apologize for problems that should have been dealt with instead of transferred.
This pope has been a good pope for the most part. He is willing to talk when others are afraid to talk, but he has said some things that have gotten him into trouble and we all remember them. But he is what the Catholic church needs at this moment. Not a softy.
Apparenly the priests "Down Under" have the same problems as the priests in "The Land of the Free." What is this? Sexual abuse by priests.
He apologized for the "shame that we have all felt as result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy" in Australia.
Australia, the United States and Canada have all felt these problems but haven't been acknowledged by the pope until he arrived on each continent. Instead in the past, the priest or bishop was moved from diocese to diocese and the Catholic church had to pay the victims a large sum of money. It is good that the pope is trying to mend the wounds left by unlawful priests and bishops.
The only thing I hope is that in the future the pope wouldn't have to apologize for problems that should have been dealt with instead of transferred.
This pope has been a good pope for the most part. He is willing to talk when others are afraid to talk, but he has said some things that have gotten him into trouble and we all remember them. But he is what the Catholic church needs at this moment. Not a softy.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
On this day in 1530
The Augsburg Confession, the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church, was presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg.
Here is a little history:
The Augsburg Confession is, by its catholic nature (meaning "universal" in its application to Lutheran churches), normative to all Lutheran Churches everywhere and in all times. It is also one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation. The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin, and was presented by a number of German rulers and free-cities at the Diet of Augsburg on June 25, 1530. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V had called on the Princes and Free Territories in Germany to explain their religious convictions in an attempt to restore religious and political unity in the Holy Roman Empire, and rally support against the Turkish invasion. It is the fourth document contained in the Lutheran Book of Concord.
To Read the Augsburg Confession in full please click this link.
Here is a little history:
The Augsburg Confession is, by its catholic nature (meaning "universal" in its application to Lutheran churches), normative to all Lutheran Churches everywhere and in all times. It is also one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation. The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin, and was presented by a number of German rulers and free-cities at the Diet of Augsburg on June 25, 1530. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V had called on the Princes and Free Territories in Germany to explain their religious convictions in an attempt to restore religious and political unity in the Holy Roman Empire, and rally support against the Turkish invasion. It is the fourth document contained in the Lutheran Book of Concord.
To Read the Augsburg Confession in full please click this link.
Monday, June 23, 2008
PEW Forum compares American faith
Source- PEW Forum
Key:
Evangelical Protestant Churches (Ex: LCMS, PCA, AME, Free Methodist, Baptist, etc)
Mainline Protestant Churches (Ex: ELCA, Episcopal, PCUSA, UMC, etc)
Key:
Evangelical Protestant Churches (Ex: LCMS, PCA, AME, Free Methodist, Baptist, etc)
Mainline Protestant Churches (Ex: ELCA, Episcopal, PCUSA, UMC, etc)
Christians don't know what they believe (Pew Forum)
Religious Americans: My faith isn't the only way
By ERIC GORSKI (Associated Press) – 1 hour ago
America remains a deeply religious nation, but a new survey finds most Americans don't believe their tradition is the only way to eternal life — even if the denomination's teachings say otherwise.
The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don't know fundamental teachings of their own faiths.
Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.
In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.
"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.
"There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said.
Earlier data from the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released in February, highlighted how often Americans switch religious affiliation. The newly released material looks at religious belief and practice as well as the impact of religion on society, including how faith shapes political views.
The report argues that while relatively few people — 14 percent — cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking, religion still plays a powerful indirect role.
The study confirmed some well-known political dynamics, including stark divisions over abortion and gay marriage, with the more religiously committed taking conservative views on the issues.
But it also showed support across religious lines for greater governmental aid for the poor, even if it means more debt and stricter environmental laws and regulations.
By many measures, Americans are strongly religious: 92 percent believe in God, 74 percent believe in life after death and 63 percent say their respective scriptures are the word of God.
But deeper investigation found that more than one in four Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants and Orthodox Christians expressed some doubts about God's existence, as did six in ten Jews.
Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it.
"Look, this shows the limits of a survey approach to religion," said Peter Berger, a theology and sociology professor at Boston University. "What do people really mean when they say that many religions lead to eternal life? It might mean they don't believe their particular truth at all. Others might be saying, 'We believe a truth but respect other people, and they are not necessarily going to hell.'"
Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum, said that more research is planned to answer those kinds of questions, but that earlier, smaller surveys found similar results.
Nearly across the board, the majority of religious Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life: mainline Protestants (83 percent), members of historic black Protestant churches (59 percent), Roman Catholics (79 percent), Jews (82 percent) and Muslims (56 percent).
By similar margins, people in those faith groups believe in multiple interpretations of their own traditions' teachings. Yet 44 percent of the religiously affiliated also said their religion should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices.
"What most people are saying is, 'Hey, we don't have a hammer-lock on God or salvation, and God's bigger than us and we should respect that and respect other people,'" said the Rev. Tom Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.
"Some people are like butterflies that go from flower to flower, going from religion to religion — and frankly they don't get that deep into any of them," he said.
Beliefs about eternal life vary greatly, even within a religious tradition.
Some Christians hold strongly to Jesus' words as described in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Others emphasize the wideness of God's grace.
The Catholic church teaches that the "one church of Christ ... subsists in the Catholic Church" alone and that Protestant churches, while defective, can be "instruments of salvation."
Roger Oldham, a vice president with the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, bristled at using the word "tolerance" in the analysis.
"If by tolerance we mean we're willing to engage or embrace a multitude of ways to salvation, that's no longer evangelical belief," he said. "The word 'evangelical' has been stretched so broadly, it's almost an elastic term."
Others welcomed the findings.
"It shows increased religious security. People are comfortable with other traditions even if they're different," said the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance. "It indicates a level of humility about religion that would be of great benefit to everyone."
More than most groups, Catholics break with their church, and not just on issues like abortion and homosexuality. Only six in 10 Catholics described God as "a person with whom people can have a relationship" — which the church teaches — while three in 10 described God as an "impersonal force."
"The statistics show, more than anything else, that many who describe themselves as Catholics do not know or understand the teachings of their church," said Denver Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput. "Being Catholic means believing what the Catholic church teaches. It is a communion of faith, not simply of ancestry and family tradition. It also means that the church ought to work harder at evangelizing its own members."
On the Net:
* Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: http://pewforum.org
By ERIC GORSKI (Associated Press) – 1 hour ago
America remains a deeply religious nation, but a new survey finds most Americans don't believe their tradition is the only way to eternal life — even if the denomination's teachings say otherwise.
The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don't know fundamental teachings of their own faiths.
Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.
In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.
"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.
"There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said.
Earlier data from the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released in February, highlighted how often Americans switch religious affiliation. The newly released material looks at religious belief and practice as well as the impact of religion on society, including how faith shapes political views.
The report argues that while relatively few people — 14 percent — cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking, religion still plays a powerful indirect role.
The study confirmed some well-known political dynamics, including stark divisions over abortion and gay marriage, with the more religiously committed taking conservative views on the issues.
But it also showed support across religious lines for greater governmental aid for the poor, even if it means more debt and stricter environmental laws and regulations.
By many measures, Americans are strongly religious: 92 percent believe in God, 74 percent believe in life after death and 63 percent say their respective scriptures are the word of God.
But deeper investigation found that more than one in four Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants and Orthodox Christians expressed some doubts about God's existence, as did six in ten Jews.
Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it.
"Look, this shows the limits of a survey approach to religion," said Peter Berger, a theology and sociology professor at Boston University. "What do people really mean when they say that many religions lead to eternal life? It might mean they don't believe their particular truth at all. Others might be saying, 'We believe a truth but respect other people, and they are not necessarily going to hell.'"
Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum, said that more research is planned to answer those kinds of questions, but that earlier, smaller surveys found similar results.
Nearly across the board, the majority of religious Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life: mainline Protestants (83 percent), members of historic black Protestant churches (59 percent), Roman Catholics (79 percent), Jews (82 percent) and Muslims (56 percent).
By similar margins, people in those faith groups believe in multiple interpretations of their own traditions' teachings. Yet 44 percent of the religiously affiliated also said their religion should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices.
"What most people are saying is, 'Hey, we don't have a hammer-lock on God or salvation, and God's bigger than us and we should respect that and respect other people,'" said the Rev. Tom Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.
"Some people are like butterflies that go from flower to flower, going from religion to religion — and frankly they don't get that deep into any of them," he said.
Beliefs about eternal life vary greatly, even within a religious tradition.
Some Christians hold strongly to Jesus' words as described in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Others emphasize the wideness of God's grace.
The Catholic church teaches that the "one church of Christ ... subsists in the Catholic Church" alone and that Protestant churches, while defective, can be "instruments of salvation."
Roger Oldham, a vice president with the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, bristled at using the word "tolerance" in the analysis.
"If by tolerance we mean we're willing to engage or embrace a multitude of ways to salvation, that's no longer evangelical belief," he said. "The word 'evangelical' has been stretched so broadly, it's almost an elastic term."
Others welcomed the findings.
"It shows increased religious security. People are comfortable with other traditions even if they're different," said the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance. "It indicates a level of humility about religion that would be of great benefit to everyone."
More than most groups, Catholics break with their church, and not just on issues like abortion and homosexuality. Only six in 10 Catholics described God as "a person with whom people can have a relationship" — which the church teaches — while three in 10 described God as an "impersonal force."
"The statistics show, more than anything else, that many who describe themselves as Catholics do not know or understand the teachings of their church," said Denver Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput. "Being Catholic means believing what the Catholic church teaches. It is a communion of faith, not simply of ancestry and family tradition. It also means that the church ought to work harder at evangelizing its own members."
On the Net:
* Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: http://pewforum.org
How do Denominations view gay marriage?
Pew Forum surveys denominations' views on gay marriage
Study finds a wide range of attitudes on same-sex unions from tolerance and support to strong opposition.
By Steve Padilla, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 21, 2008
So what do the country's leading religious denominations have to say about gay marriage?
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life compiled a report on the question last year and updated it in May, the same month the California Supreme Court cleared the way for gay weddings, which began this week.
Although attitudes toward same-sex marriage will vary among individuals, the Pew Forum assessed the positions of various denominations and religious groups.
The following, which includes just some of the entities the Pew Forum surveyed, is based on the forum’s research with additional Times reporting.
American Baptist
In 1982, the American Baptist Churches in the USA's governing body, the General Board, declared that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
Some individual churches, however, have welcomed openly gay members. American Baptist churches in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona broke away from the national church in 2006, saying the General Board failed to penalize churches that had welcomed gays.
Buddhism
Although some Buddhists call for tolerance, there is no official Buddhist position on same-sex marriage.
Catholicism
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes gay marriage, saying that "marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman." The bishops also have condemned violence and bigotry against gays and lesbians and said that they "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."
Episcopal
The Episcopal Church has not explicitly endorsed gay marriage, but in 2006 the church stated its "support of gay and lesbian persons and [opposition to] any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages or unions."
Some Episcopal congregations have split from the national church over gay issues and interpretations of Scripture.
At least one Episcopal congregation in California, All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, has already hosted same-sex weddings.
Evangelical Lutheran
The legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is expected to consider gay marriage and the ordination of openly gay ministers in 2009. A church task force in March recommended that the church continue to define marriage as a union between a woman and a man.
Hinduism
Although cultural attitudes may vary regarding gays and lesbians, there is no official Hindu position on same-sex marriage.
Islam
Homosexuality is considered a violation of Islamic law. The Islamic Shura Council, an umbrella organization for mosques and Muslim groups in Southern California, denounced the ruling allowing gay marriage, but the group also condemned "all forms" of discrimination.
Judaism
The Reform and Reconstructionist movements support gay and lesbian rights, including same-sex weddings.
The Conservative movement does not sanctify gay marriage but does grant rabbis the autonomy to choose whether to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Leaders in Orthodox Judaism have defined marriage as a union between man and woman.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
In 2006, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod reaffirmed its position that same-sex marriage is "contrary to the will of the Creator."
Mormonism
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God."
Presbyterian
The General Assembly, the governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA), has not explicitly addressed the issue, but in 1997 it prohibited the ordination of gays.
Issues concerning homosexuality and the church are expected to arise next week, when the General Assembly holds its biennial meeting in San Jose.
Southern Baptist
In 2003, the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement opposing gay marriage. It also called on "Southern Baptists not only to stand against same-sex unions but to demonstrate our love for those practicing homosexuality by sharing with them the forgiving and transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)."
Unitarian Universalist
In 1996, the Unitarian Universalist Assn. of Congregations passed a resolution supporting same-sex marriage.
United Church of Christ
In 2005, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted to recognize and advocate for same-sex marriage.
United Methodist Church
In 2004, the church's top policymaking body reaffirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman.
source: LA Times
Study finds a wide range of attitudes on same-sex unions from tolerance and support to strong opposition.
By Steve Padilla, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 21, 2008
So what do the country's leading religious denominations have to say about gay marriage?
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life compiled a report on the question last year and updated it in May, the same month the California Supreme Court cleared the way for gay weddings, which began this week.
Although attitudes toward same-sex marriage will vary among individuals, the Pew Forum assessed the positions of various denominations and religious groups.
The following, which includes just some of the entities the Pew Forum surveyed, is based on the forum’s research with additional Times reporting.
American Baptist
In 1982, the American Baptist Churches in the USA's governing body, the General Board, declared that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
Some individual churches, however, have welcomed openly gay members. American Baptist churches in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona broke away from the national church in 2006, saying the General Board failed to penalize churches that had welcomed gays.
Buddhism
Although some Buddhists call for tolerance, there is no official Buddhist position on same-sex marriage.
Catholicism
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes gay marriage, saying that "marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman." The bishops also have condemned violence and bigotry against gays and lesbians and said that they "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."
Episcopal
The Episcopal Church has not explicitly endorsed gay marriage, but in 2006 the church stated its "support of gay and lesbian persons and [opposition to] any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages or unions."
Some Episcopal congregations have split from the national church over gay issues and interpretations of Scripture.
At least one Episcopal congregation in California, All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, has already hosted same-sex weddings.
Evangelical Lutheran
The legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is expected to consider gay marriage and the ordination of openly gay ministers in 2009. A church task force in March recommended that the church continue to define marriage as a union between a woman and a man.
Hinduism
Although cultural attitudes may vary regarding gays and lesbians, there is no official Hindu position on same-sex marriage.
Islam
Homosexuality is considered a violation of Islamic law. The Islamic Shura Council, an umbrella organization for mosques and Muslim groups in Southern California, denounced the ruling allowing gay marriage, but the group also condemned "all forms" of discrimination.
Judaism
The Reform and Reconstructionist movements support gay and lesbian rights, including same-sex weddings.
The Conservative movement does not sanctify gay marriage but does grant rabbis the autonomy to choose whether to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Leaders in Orthodox Judaism have defined marriage as a union between man and woman.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
In 2006, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod reaffirmed its position that same-sex marriage is "contrary to the will of the Creator."
Mormonism
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God."
Presbyterian
The General Assembly, the governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA), has not explicitly addressed the issue, but in 1997 it prohibited the ordination of gays.
Issues concerning homosexuality and the church are expected to arise next week, when the General Assembly holds its biennial meeting in San Jose.
Southern Baptist
In 2003, the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement opposing gay marriage. It also called on "Southern Baptists not only to stand against same-sex unions but to demonstrate our love for those practicing homosexuality by sharing with them the forgiving and transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)."
Unitarian Universalist
In 1996, the Unitarian Universalist Assn. of Congregations passed a resolution supporting same-sex marriage.
United Church of Christ
In 2005, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted to recognize and advocate for same-sex marriage.
United Methodist Church
In 2004, the church's top policymaking body reaffirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman.
source: LA Times
Thursday, June 19, 2008
What a surprise...
So far nothing has been done by the ELCA headquarters in Chicago about gay weddings being performed at ELCA churches in California. Surprised? Not me.
On Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Bill asked his guests on Tuesday on why most of America is against gay marriage. The lady guest said that this country follows Christian ideals. The man said that the country always gives way for change, it may take time, but change eventually happens, as was the case in California.
I thought Lutherans didn't like change? Apparently not. Well, the "Lutherans" in California do.
On Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Bill asked his guests on Tuesday on why most of America is against gay marriage. The lady guest said that this country follows Christian ideals. The man said that the country always gives way for change, it may take time, but change eventually happens, as was the case in California.
I thought Lutherans didn't like change? Apparently not. Well, the "Lutherans" in California do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
