We hear so much talk from certain quarters about separation of church and state, and the Constitution. Certainly it was the founding fathers’ desires to prevent any particular religion from using the power of government to foster their own religious convictions. However, it was never the intent of our founders to cause a separation of... Continue Reading

US lawmaker, describing himself as unhappy about the trend of replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays,” has introduced a symbolic resolution to preserve Christmas. “I am troubled by the growing sentiment that the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ is not appropriate and I am worried that attempts to celebrate a ‘politically correct’ holiday season... Continue Reading

A Dallas private equity firm co-founded by Robert A. Schuller, the former televangelist from the Hour of Power, has acquired two media companies in Atlanta that nearly quadruple its reach to 50 million U.S. households. “It’s a pretty big leap,” said ComStar co-founder and chief executive Chris Wyatt, who is Schuller’s son-in-law. “No one knows... Continue Reading

An Orlando megachurch pastor launched a new television ministry to present hope and biblical truths to a world where he believes narcissism, secular ideas and bad theology are prevalent. “It stirs me to think about bringing living water to thirsty souls on a regular basis,” said Dr. David Swanson of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.... Continue Reading

The Rev. Nicholas Batzig knows there are plenty of churches to choose from in the Coastal Empire. But that hasn’t stopped him from starting a new one. After all, not all churches are created equal, he said. “A lot of people say it doesn’t matter which church you go to as long as you’re sincere,”... Continue Reading

It was praised by the New York Times, the New Yorker and Variety, among other A-List media outlets. But on a Friday night early in December, “This Beautiful City” faced even tougher critics: The town that inspired the play about the schism between the evangelical community and well, the rest of Colorado Springs. “I have... Continue Reading

Towering eight stories over wheat fields, the Golden Lamp Church was built to serve nearly 50,000 worshippers in the gritty heart of China’s coal country. But that was before hundreds of police and hired thugs descended on the mega-church, smashing doors and windows, seizing Bibles and sending dozens of worshippers to hospitals with serious injuries.... Continue Reading

As the pastor of a fledgling church, the Rev. Drew Bennett knows that new congregations live a gypsy life, borrowing places to meet. It is usually years before purchasing a permanent site is possible. Bennett is pastor of Church of the Redeemer in Winter Haven, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, and his congregation... Continue Reading

A panel of federal appellate judges wrestled on Dec 9 with the complex and conflicting legal claims over the fate of the Mount Soledad cross in the latest legal showdown in the long-running case. The 29-foot-tall cross in La Jolla has been the subject of litigation since 1989. After nearly 45 minutes of arguments, it... Continue Reading

The Obama Administration secretly sent staff to Melbourne last week to ask religious leaders about winning hearts and minds in the Muslim world. The State Department’s head of religious freedom, Peter Kovach, White House religion expert Mara Vanderslice and a Gulf states policy planning head arrived at the Parliament of the World’s Religions unexpectedly and... Continue Reading