As detailed in a message to all subscribers sent on December 17, the Geneva, Switzerland based Ecumenical News International is suspending operations as of December 21, and will lay off the 50 correspondents, its Editor in Chief, and its Managing Editor and all current staff at the Geneva headquarters. A new editorial team is expected... Continue Reading

Ponte Vedra Presbyterian once again re-enacted a live Nativity in the biblical town with a cast of 200 people and animals. As visitors streamed under a large gate and into the re-created city of Bethlehem as it might have looked 2,000 years ago, they were greeted with sights, sounds, and smells that helped bring it... Continue Reading

A program of Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families, Angel Tree reaches out at Christmas and throughout the year to children who have a parent in prison. Chris Cleveland’s 30-year journey with drugs began when he smoked his first joint at age 12, the year his parents divorced. By... Continue Reading

Even the most unique and quirky halls at Covenant evolve. But over the last few years, students say they believe Covenant’s hall life has seen more drastic changes than normal. Multiple Resident Assistants were recently assigned halls they had no connection with. Traditional pranks from halls like the Catacombs and Ghetto have been banned. Meanwhile,... Continue Reading

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is itself an evangelical ministry that seeks to apply a higher standard serving a high purpose. They have released the following information in light of recent actions by the U. S. Congress. A major tax bill was passed by Congress on December 16 and was signed into law today... Continue Reading

· If your neighbor is hungry, feed him. · Buy only what you know you will consume. · Encourage restaurants/ markets to participate in “gleaners” type programs. · Contribute to your church’s food pantry. If it doesn’t have one, help start one. Jordan Ballor’s recent post on hunger raises a timely question, on a day... Continue Reading

Unlike other private sector workers whose pensions are insured by the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, church employees have no federal agency poised to rescue their employer-provided pensions in the event of a devastating market crash. Religious denominations have long provided retired clergy and staff with secure pension payments — more secure, in some cases,... Continue Reading

Methodists never really let a Presbyterian congregation negotiate to buy and save a historic Midtown church building, now facing demolition. That’s the version of events provided to The Commercial Appeal by Rev. Jeffrey Lancaster, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. “We wish we had what we think was a more full-blown effort at negotiating,” he said.... Continue Reading

Change usually happens slowly in the Church. But a review of the past year’s research conducted by the Barna Group provides a time-lapse portrayal of how the religious environment in the U.S. is morphing into something new. Analyzing insights drawn from more than 5,000 non-proprietary interviews conducted over the past 11 months, George Barna indicated... Continue Reading

Erskine College and Seminary has hired Cliff Smith, a veteran communicator, to lead its marketing and public relations efforts. Smith was a consulting partner with Ontario-based Thinkx Intellectual Capital Inc. just before coming to Erskine. Before that, he worked for RBC Insurance as senior communications and marketing manager. A graduate of The Masters College in... Continue Reading