People Find Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Refusal to Define ‘Woman’ Controversial—But for Different Reasons

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March 23, 2022

Wednesday is the third day this week that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee for Supreme Court Justice, will spend in Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. One of several controversial moments from Jackson’s hearings so far was the judge’s response to whether or not she could define what a “woman” is.

“Can you provide a definition for the word, ‘woman’?” asked Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday near the end of a 13-hour session.

“Can I provide a definition?” repeated Jackson. “No. I can’t.”

“You can’t?” asked Blackburn. “Not in this context,” said Jackson. “I’m not a biologist.”

Blackburn expressed dismay at this response, as have several conservatives, but others believe that Jackson’s answer actually revealed a conservative view of gender.

Ketanji Brown Jackson Faces Senate Judiciary Committee

On Feb. 25, 2022, President Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court of the United States. If her nomination is successful, Jackson will be the first Black woman to sit on the nation’s highest court.

Before Sen. Blackburn began questioning Jackson, the senator commented that it is clear Jackson is likable, highly talented, and a good friend. Said Blackburn, “It’s why we continue to ask you about your views on issues because all of that goes into forming who you are and your worldview.”

Blackburn then introduced the topic of abortion, specifically trying to discern how Jackson views Roe vs. Wade, which the Supreme Court could overturn in the near future. The senator mentioned that earlier in the hearing, Jackson chose not to comment regarding on her views on abortion. Blackburn then quoted from a brief where Jackson had described pro-life women as a “hostile, noisy crowd of in-your-face protestors.”

Blackburn said she found it “incredibly concerning” for Jackson to have such a “hostile view” of pro-lifers. She asked if, when Jackson goes to church, she perceives the pro-life women around her in this way. After first answering by explaining why she wrote the brief, Jackson eventually said, “Senator, that was a statement and a brief made, an argument for my client. It is not the way I think of or characterize people.”

SoCal Christian School Teacher Under Fire for Leading Preschoolers in Anti-Biden Chant

By

Dale Chamberlain

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March 23, 2022

Turning Point Christian School, a private Christian school located in Norco, CA, has apologized to parents after a teacher led a group of preschoolers in an anti-Biden chant as part of a President’s Day lesson.

In a video captured by the unidentified teacher and shared on a messaging app used to communicate with parents, the group of preschoolers can be seen standing in a semi-circle and engaging in a call-and-response.

The teacher asks, “Who’s our president,” and the children respond, “Biden!”

“And what do we want to do with him,” the teacher asks. The children respond, “We want him out!”

“What,” the teacher responds, to which the children shout louder, “We want him out!”

Christina McFadden, mother of two, told KABC that she was “in shock” when she saw the video message wherein her daughter was participating in the chant, saying, “I had to watch it multiple times to realize, is this really happening?”

McFadden was further troubled by the fact that her daughter quickly referenced the chant upon being picked up from class.

“The first thing she said to me when I picked her up was ‘We want him out,’” McFadden said. “That was the great message she learned that day. Her first history lesson.”

After McFadden complained to the school, the video was taken down from the messaging app within three hours of it being posted. Turning Point Christian School’s administration released a statement to parents apologizing for “any misunderstanding” the video caused.

“An Eastvale mother is furious after discovering a video showing her daughter’s preschool teacher [Turning Point Christian School- Norco] leading a political chant in which 4 & 5 y/o students were calling for President Joe Biden to leave office.”

h/t @abc7robmcmillan (facebook) pic.twitter.com/VVraf8KMba

— InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) March 19, 2022

Lance Witt: How to Handle the ‘Toughest Moment to Navigate Leadership in the Local Church’

By

Jessica Lea

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March 23, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Lance Witt: How to Handle the ‘Toughest Moment to Navigate Leadership in the Local Church’

Lance Witt is the founder of Replenish Ministries. He has served as senior pastor for three different churches and spent seven years as an executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church. He is often referred to as a pastor’s pastor and is the author of several books, including “Replenish” and “High-Impact Teams.” Lance’s latest book is “Your One Life.”

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Lance Witt

► Listen on Apple
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► Listen on Stitcher
► Listen on YouTube

Key Questions for Lance Witt

-How can pastors evaluate whether they are living out the purpose God has for them?

-How can church leaders find a balance between not taking their lives for granted and not being paralyzed by the importance of using their time well?

-In your book, you talk about the “someday syndrome.” What is that and how does it rob us of purpose and satisfaction?

-What can we learn from the example of Jesus about how to live our lives with purpose?

Key Quotes From Lance Witt

“Pastors have never been this criticized and scrutinized. No matter what they say, it’s wrong, it’s upsetting. Somebody’s going to leave the church over it. So, yeah, I think this is at least in my lifetime, it has been the toughest moment to navigate leadership in the local church.”

“We are in a time of unbelievable confusion, disequilibrium. People seem lost at so many different levels.”

“A mantra I use in my ministry is we want to help people live well so they can lead well, and I think the order of that is important. Because I think for me, for so much of my ministry life, I was so focused on building the church, growing the church, preaching sermons, focused on everybody else’s sanctification, that sometimes I lost sight that my first place of leadership is to lead myself well.”

“The greatest gift you’re going to give those you lead is your own healthy soul.”

“I think the first thing you’ve got to do before you can even really get to the questions is you’ve got to create a little bit of space.”

“I’ve got to begin to take responsibility for where my time goes and the rhythm of my life. I’ve got to take responsibility for doing some of the hard internal work around issues of my soul.”

BREAKING: Brian Houston Resigns as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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March 23, 2022

Brian Houston Hillsong Church — One of last times Brian Houston spoke at Hillsong Church. Screengrab via YouTube @Hillsong Church

Less than a week after Hillsong Church’s board announced that Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston had “breached the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct” regarding two separate occasions involving inappropriate behavior toward two women, the board announced that Houston has resigned.

In a statement released on March 23, 2022, Hillsong Church’s board shared that they have accepted Houston’s resignation.

“We understand there will be much emotion at this news, and we all share these feelings,” the board said. “Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades and that their ministry has resulted in millions of people across the world being impacted by the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ.”

The board explained how grateful they are for Brian and his wife Bobbie’s obedience and commitment to God to build what Hillsong Church is today and asked for continued prayers for the Houston family as they navigate these challenging times.

Speaking to the future of Hillsong Church and its leadership, the board said, “As you can appreciate, there is still much to be done and our church leadership continues seeking God for His wisdom as we set the course for the future.”

The board acknowledged that change is needed and revealed they have asked an independent review for guidance, saying, “We have committed to an independent review of our governance structure and processes, understanding that this is a time of humble reflection and we are committed to doing what is necessary to ensure God is honored, and our eyes are fixed on Jesus.”

The statement concluded by asking for support and prayers from the Hillsong Church family.

Houston announced last September that he was stepping down from his role on the Hillsong Church boards so they could function at full capacity while he dealt with the allegations of concealing child sex offenses relating to his father that were brought against him by the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) following an investigation. Houston pleaded not guilty to the charges in October 2021.

Still preaching through the rest of 2021, Houston made an announcement during a Sunday morning worship service via video recording on January 30, 2022, that he would step aside as Hillsong Church’s pastor for the rest of 2022 in order to focus on the charges the NSWPF had brought against him.

Less than two months after Houston announced his 2022 sabbatical, the board shared why they didn’t release a statement regarding their global senior pastor’s announcement. They shared that although the reasons for Houston gave for his sabbatical were genuine, the board had been investigating two separate complaints from women that violated Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct that had taken place in the last 10 years.

ERLC Applauds U.S. Genocide Designation in Myanmar

By

Tom Strode

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March 23, 2022

WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission welcomed the Biden administration’s determination that the Myanmar military has committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic group.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday (March 21) the designation of “genocide and crimes against humanity” for the campaign against the Rohingya by Myanmar’s military forces, known as the Tatmadaw. It is the eighth time the United States has made a genocide determination since the Holocaust, Blinken said.

The military in Myanmar, a country formerly known as Burma, intensified its decades-long repression of the predominantly Muslim Rohingya in the southwestern state of Rakhine with a campaign of violent attacks in 2016 and 2017. Nearly 1 million registered refugees had fled to Bangladesh at the end of 2020, and others have escaped to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) urged the Trump administration in August 2020 to designate the Myanmar military’s treatment of the Rohingya as genocide. In a letter to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the ERLC led 31 other organizations in asking the State Department “to demonstrate international leadership in defending the lives, religious freedom, and property rights of the Rohingya people by designating the prolonged military aggression a genocide.”

Chelsea Sobolik, the ERLC’s director of public policy, described Blinken’s genocide designation for Myanmar’s military as “a critical moment in our nation.”

“The [Myanmar] government has repeatedly and systematically violated the human rights of ethnic minorities by suppressing religious freedom, arbitrarily arresting and torturing civilians, and attacking innocent women and children,” she told Baptist Press in written comments Tuesday (March 22).

“A genocide designation at this time, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, helps in bringing much-needed attention and humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya.”

USCIRF, a bipartisan panel that had called for a genocide designation since 2017, also praised the announcement.

“This determination provides recognition to the Rohingya and acknowledges the severity of the atrocities that occurred, which is an important step towards achieving justice,” USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza said in a written statement.

The Myanmar military, which began its repression of the Rohingya 60 years ago, intensified its attacks against them in recent years with “mass killings and rapes,” according to USCIRF.

A report compiled by the Biden administration shows “the abuses were not isolated cases,” Blinken said in a speech Monday at the U.S. Holocaust Museum. “The attack against Rohingya was widespread and systematic, which is crucial for reaching a determination of crimes against humanity.

“The evidence also points to a clear intent behind these mass atrocities – the intent to destroy Rohingya, in whole or in part.”

At Confirmation Hearing, Lindsey Graham Grills Ketanji Brown Jackson on Faith

By

Jack Jenkins

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March 23, 2022

WASHINGTON (RNS) — South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham grilled Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her faith on Tuesday (March 22), an uncomfortable exchange that confirmed Jackson’s status as a Protestant Christian and highlighted questions about the separation of church and state.

The line of questioning emerged during the second day of Senate hearings to determine whether to confirm Jackson to the Supreme Court, with Graham leveraging the moment to air grievances about how Democrats treated past Supreme Court nominees.

After noting Jackson had mentioned her faith during her opening remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee the day before, Graham asked: “What faith are you, by the way?”

Jackson, who currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, replied cautiously: “Senator, I am Protestant,” she said, before adding, “nondenominational.”

Jackson has spoken publicly about her faith recently — both during her announcement as President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer and before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday — but did not specify her faith tradition in either instance. However, her response to Graham revealed that, if confirmed, she would be one of possibly two Protestants on the court (Justice Neil Gorsuch was raised Catholic but attended an Episcopal church) and the only justice to identify as a nondenominational Christian.

Yet Graham blew past Jackson’s answer, quickly asking whether she could “fairly judge a Catholic.” When Jackson attempted to reply, he interrupted to say he assumed she could before pressing her again: “How important is your faith to you?”

“Personally, faith is very important. But as you know, there’s no religious test in the Constitution under Article Six — ” Jackson began, referencing the section of the U.S. Constitution that bars forcing public officials to submit to religious tests.

Graham interjected: “And there will be none with me.”

Jackson continued: “It’s very important to set aside one’s personal views about things in the role of a judge.”

Graham said he agreed, but continued to pepper Jackson with religion-related questions, such as asking her to rank “how faithful” she is on a scale of 1 to 10 and inquiring how often she goes to church. (“I go to church probably three times a year, so that speaks poorly of me,” Graham said.)

Pope Francis Talks to President Zelenskyy As War Rages in Ukraine

By

Claire Giangrave

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March 23, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis spoke over the telephone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday (March 22), the second such call since the start of the war in Ukraine, this time addressing the need to help migrants fleeing the country.

Afterward, Zelenskyy tweeted about the phone call, writing that he “told His Holiness about the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops.” The Ukrainian president also thanked the pope for his prayers for Ukraine and his efforts for peace, after noting that the “mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated.”

The Vatican confirmed the conversation took place but did not share any additional information about the conversation, which was described as a personal phone call.

Talked to @Pontifex. Told His Holiness about the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops. The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated. Thanked for the prayers for Ukraine and peace. pic.twitter.com/wj4hmrTRGd

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 22, 2022

“Today I spoke with Pope Francis,” Zelenskyy said in a videoconference with the Italian Parliament. “He said very important things.”

The Ukrainian president described the phone discussion to Parliament, saying the pope acknowledged the Ukrainian people’s desire for peace, as well as their urge to defend their country. “I answered: ‘Our people became an army when it saw how much evil, how much devastation the enemy brought,’” Zelenskyy said, detailing the atrocities in Ukraine targeting civilians and beseeching Italy and Europe to intervene for peace.

The Ukrainian representative to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, also tweeted on the “new visible gesture of support” by Pope Francis. He said the conversation lasted several minutes and said the pope initiated the call, which was “very promising.”

Study: More Congregations Are Reopening but Attendance Remains Flat

By

Yonat Shimron

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March 23, 2022

attendance — Photo by Ismael Paramo (via Unsplash)

(RNS) — Across the country, religious congregations have reopened, or reopened with some health restrictions still in place, after two long pandemic years, according to a new Pew Research survey.

But there has been little or no rise in the number of people attending in-person religious services over the past six months, while the number of those watching services online has also remained steady.

The survey of 10,441 U.S. adults taken March 7-13 showed that only 27% of respondents said they attended services in person this month (compared to 67% who typically do). Back in September, when the coronavirus was still surging and hospitals were reaching capacity numbers, the percentage of those attending in-person religious services was 26%.

Likewise, those streaming services online remained steady: 28% in September 2021 and 30% today.

Pew researchers suggested the plateau in in-person religious service attendance could rise if the pandemic continues to recede, or drop if a new coronavirus variant emerges.

Watching services online will likely continue to be higher, they said, than it was before the coronavirus outbreak began in early 2020.

Religious scholars are now beginning to field studies to determine the long-term impacts of the coronavirus on religious service attendance.

"Two-thirds of U.S. adults who typically attend religious services monthly say they have done so in person in the last month" Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

“Two-thirds of U.S. adults who typically attend religious services monthly say they have done so in person in the last month” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

Scott Thumma, a sociologist who recently began a five-year study of how congregations have fared during the pandemic, said his initial findings show a modest increase in in-person attendance from last summer to November. (The project relies on data from religious congregations rather than individual attenders.)

“We’re not going to know the full impact for quite a few years,” said Thumma, who directs the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. “People are still hesitant to go back. Clergy are still struggling with convincing people to come back. A lot of people are either content to not go or rely on online services.”

In the Pew survey, 21% of adults who said they attend religious services monthly said they have not gone back to in-person services and attend online only.

Only 5% of respondents said their places of worship were still closed. Respondents across all categories reported a rise in the number of congregations holding services as they did before the pandemic.

Black Protestant churchgoers stood out as the Christian group most likely to have watched religious services online or on TV in the last month. This group with deep religious commitments was more likely than evangelicals and mainline Protestants to say they watched online services in the last month, in keeping with other studies that suggest Black churchgoers are far more cautious in protecting themselves from the virus.

The survey did not contain enough respondents from non-Christian faiths to report their worship habits separately.

The survey also showed that the share of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who said their churches were open as before the pandemic was roughly double the share of Democratic congregants who said the same (58% vs. 27%).

This article originally appeared here.

An Inside Look at What Today’s Kids Like

By

Dale Hudson

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March 23, 2022

It’s important to keep up with what today’s kids like.

It not only gives you insight into their world, but also what they like and engage with.

Here is a list of kid-nominated entries for the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards.

I would encourage you to print this out and give it to your leaders who serve in the elementary grades. These can be great talking points for your volunteers to engage kids with.

When you show kids that you care enough about them to enter their world, it will open their heart to hear what you have to say.

This is not an endorsement of the people on this list, but is simply insight into what kids like.

Television

Favorite Kids TV Shows

Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Danger Force
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Raven’s Home
That Girl Lay Lay
The Baby-Sitters Club

Favorite Family TV Show

Cobra Kai
iCarly
Marvel Studios’ Loki
Marvel Studios’ WandaVision
The Flash
Young Sheldon

Favorite Reality Show

American Idol
Kids Baking Championship
LEGO Masters
America’s Got Talent
The Masked Singer
Wipeout

Favorite Cartoons

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
Looney Tunes Cartoons
SpongeBob SquarePants
Teen Titans Go!
The Loud House
The Smurfs

Favorite Female TV Stars (Kids)

Havan Flores (Chapa / Volt, Danger Force)
Malia Baker (Mary Anne Spier, The Baby-Sitters Club | Gabby Lewis, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)
Olivia Rodrigo (Nini, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Raven-Symoné (Raven Baxter, Raven’s Home)
Sofia Wylie (Gina, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
That Girl Lay Lay (Lay Lay, That Girl Lay Lay)

Favorite Male TV Stars (Kids)

Bryce Gheisar (Elliott Combes, The Astronauts | Luke McCoy, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)
Cooper Barnes (Ray Manchester / Captain Man, Danger Force)
Joshua Bassett (Ricky, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Luca Luhan (Bose / Brainstorm, Danger Force)
Raphael Alejandro (Matteo Silva, Bunk’d)
Young Dylan (Young Dylan, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)

Favorite Female TV Stars (Family)

Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Marvel Studios’ WandaVision)
Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye)
Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso, Cobra Kai)
Miranda Cosgrove (Carly Shay, iCarly)
Peyton List (Tory Nichols, Cobra Kai)
Yara Shahidi (Zoey Johnson, Black-ish, Grown-ish)

4 Ways to Avoid Purge Night Online

By

Eric Geiger

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March 23, 2022

The overarching storyline of the movie and subsequent television series “The Purge” is that government leaders believe if people are given one night a year to release their rage then life will be much better. The thinking by the “new founding fathers” is that repressing our rage is ruining us, and expressing our rage even in violent ways will produce a better society. People are allowed to commit crimes, any crime including murder, one night a year, to “purge” themselves of their wrath. But as the story continues, the purge has a reverse effect. The purge does not muffle wrath; it multiplies wrath. Instead of purging themselves, frustration and wrath only grows within people.

Just a movie though, right? This would never happen in real life, right?

If you spend any time online reading articles or engaging in social media, you likely know that the storyline of “The Purge” is not only a movie. As rage is expressed, more rage is elicited. Rage is being pulled to the surface at such an alarming rate, that many have called this the “age of outrage.” My good friend Ed Stetzer wrote an encouraging book by that title on living in such an age as a Christ follower.

The storyline of “The Purge” created an interesting dinner date conversation with Kaye one night, as we discussed how we would avoid such a crazy event. We debated if we would leave the country for a week and go to a remote island where people don’t “purge” or if we would lock ourselves in a secure room. We concluded it would be a night we would do everything we could to avoid. In much the same way, it is wise to avoid the online purge – where people destroy others, where people seek to humiliate those with a different perspective than their own, and where unholy anger and hatred can quickly multiply. (I am making a distinction between holy anger towards things that violate the character of God and unholy anger which is centered on our own pride and perspectives). Here are four ways to avoid “purge night” (which is every single day) online:

1. Understand That Outrage Is an Industry.

In the fictional “Purge,” industries sprang up to capitalize on the rage, and people are capitalizing on our rage too. Tim Kreider of the New York Times coined the phrase “outrage porn” and articulated that people love to feel right and feel wronged. Broadcasts and articles are constantly offered to help people feel superior to others in their thinking and wronged by those who think differently. The outrage economy is pretty simple: Rage attracts eyeballs. Advertisers pay money based on eyeballs. Thus, people are incentivized to serve stories to us that pulls rage out of us. For our rage to be even somewhat satisfying there has to be a person or a group who serves us as the object of our rage. Scott Sauls insightfully wrote: “Outrage Porn resembles actual pornography. It aims for a cheap, orgasmic thrill at the expense of another human being, but without any personal accountability or commitment to that human being.” Outrage is an industry that we should do all we can to not participate in.

2. Don’t Get Stuck in an Echo Chamber.

Perhaps the worst place to be on the fictional “purge night” would be a chamber where you cannot escape. An online or media “echo chamber” is where some people live. They only listen to or read stories from people who will further crystallize their feeling of being right about any particular issue. If you already agree with every person in your feed and every article you read, you are in an echo chamber. If every person you listen to has the same view on what a Covid response should be, you are living in an echo chamber. If you go to sleep each night watching Tucker Carlson or Anderson Cooper you are likely in an echo chamber, hearing only one perspective consistently. And your anger will likely grow. To leave the echo chamber, read and listen to thoughtful people with different perspectives. When we do, we are reminded that there are sincere and smart people who love Jesus who think differently. We show respect for them when we listen to them.

Bible Verses for Graduation: 23 Scriptures to Bless Graduates

By

Rochelle Dorsey

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March 22, 2022

Graduation is an important event in any young person’s life. A graduate’s future is just beginning, with many new adventures ahead. For Christian young people, faith plays an important role in their choices and accomplishments. These Bible verses for graduation are forward-looking and also celebrate your graduate’s achievements. Plus, Bible verses for graduates encourage grads to push on and follow their dreams.

No matter what life throws at young people, these Bible verses for graduates will encourage and bless them. Use these Bible verses for Graduation Sunday at your church or for a special youth group celebration. You also can include the Scriptures in cards and gifts for graduates.

23 Bible Verses for Graduation

Check out all these wonderful Bible verses for graduates!

1. Jeremiah 29:11

“God has a great plan for you.”

2. Psalm 20:4

“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

3. Proverbs 16:3

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

4. Isaiah 43:19

“God has something great in your future.”

5. Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6. 2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

7. Colossians 3:23

“Whatever you do work at it with all your heart.”

8. Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world.”

9. Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”

10. Proverbs 19:20-21

“Listen to the advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Southern Baptists, CBN Steering Council Members Nominate Tom Ascol and Voddie Baucham for Vital SBC Leadership Roles

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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March 22, 2022

Tom Ascol Voddie Baucham — (L) Tom Ascol screengrab via YouTube @Founders Ministries (R) Voddie Baucham screengrab via Shepherds Conference 2022 @Grace Media

This week, a group of concerned Southern Baptists released a statement explaining why they are nominating Founders Ministries President and Cape Coral, Florida’s Grace Baptist Church senior pastor Tom Ascol for President of the Southern Baptist Convention. They also announced they are nominating former SBC pastor and current SBC missionary Voddie Baucham, who serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia, for president of the SBC pastor’s conference.

Stating that the SBC plays an important role in “global Christianity” because it supports the world’s largest missionary force and educates one-third of the nation’s seminary students through its six seminaries, the statement says the SBC “badly needs a change of direction.”

Baptisms and evangelism within the SBC are in a “free fall” and there is a small group of SBC leaders who are steering SBC institutions closer to the culture, the statement says. They claim that SBC institutions are moving toward “radical feminism masked as ‘soft complementarianism’” and “the false gospel of Critical Theory and Intersectionality. In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, there is no slave or free, we are all made one in Him. But this ‘Race Marxism’ divides everyone by their most superficial features, in a never-ending cycle of recrimination and hate.”

“We reject these worldly dogmas. We stand together on the Baptist Faith and Message. We proclaim the sufficiency of Scripture. And we know the vast majority of Southern Baptists do too,” the statement continues.

Those nominating Ascol believe he will use solely the gospel to answer the challenges the SBC is currently facing.

They also believe that Baucham will provide the kind of leadership the SBC Pastors’ Conference needs, which they refer to as “an event which in recent years has shifted radically from one of the high points of the entire year into what many have termed ‘Woke Fest.’ The importance of restoring that pivotal event cannot be overstated.”

God is watching the SBC and He alone, not the world, defines the SBC’s terms and sets the agenda, they say, “and God is not Woke.”

They encouraged fellow SBC messengers to come to this year’s Annual Meeting, which will take place on June 12-15 in Anaheim, California.

“Help us change the direction, and return the SBC to a firm commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture,” their statement concludes.

Of the 11 people who signed it, seven of them are steering counsel members for the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN), including last year’s runner up to current SBC President Ed Litton, Mike Stone, and First Vice President of the SBC Dr. Lee Brand.

Following Ed Litton’s announcement that he would not seek a second term, Ascol has become the second known nominee to enter the running for the President of the SBC. Earlier this month, Clearwater, Florida’s Calvary Church pastor Willy Rice was nominated by Clint Pressley.

Fallout Over LGBTQ Spouses at Calvin University Captures Broader Evangelical Divide

By

Bob Smietana

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March 22, 2022

(RNS) — For years, Calvin University, a leading evangelical school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has tried to walk a fine line of being welcoming to LGBTQ students while still enforcing traditional Christian Reformed Church views on sexuality.

The school sponsors a support group for gay students, gave an alumni award to an LGBTQ graduate and last year saw a gay undergrad elected as student body president.

But after a Calvin professor officiated a wedding last fall for an LGBTQ staffer at a campus-based research center, putting both employees in violation of school policy, school leaders tried to resolve the matter quietly. The Center for Social Research, part of the school since the 1970s, was allowed to spin off and the staffer was able to stay.

Things changed this last week when Chimes, the Calvin student newspaper, broke news about the reason for the split. Chimes later interviewed Nicole Sweda, the Calvin staffer whose marriage led the CRS to leave Calvin.

“I’m not going to be ashamed for being queer,” Sweda, who ultimately quit her job in order to speak openly about her wedding, said in the Chimes interview. “I’m not going to be ashamed for being married to Annica.”

The events reveal the dilemma facing many Christian schools, who want to welcome a diverse range of students to their campus while upholding their beliefs that marriage is for one man and one woman and that sex outside marriage is sinful.

Striking that balance has become increasingly difficult in recent years as more and more young Americans, including students at Christian schools, identify as LGBTQ — a recent Gallup survey found that 1 in 5 Americans born between 1997 and 2003 say they are LGBT. Most younger Americans also see LGBT inclusion as a nonnegotiable, which puts them at odd with conservative older Christian leaders and evangelical institutions.

“I want Calvin to be honest,” said Sweda. “If they are going to cut ties with staff members, faculty and an entire center of over this, then just say that. And stop promoting things that make Calvin look more welcoming.”

When Sweda and Annica Steen decided to marry in the fall of 2021, they knew their wedding day would be bittersweet: Amid the celebration there would be the pain of rejection by friends and family who disapproved of their relationship on theological grounds. The couple wanted to find someone to officiate who could capture the range of emotions they were feeling. Because the wedding would be a civil ceremony, the couple was not looking for a clergyperson, but still someone they admired.

“Right away Joe came to mind,” said Sweda, referring to Joseph Kuilema, an assistant professor of sociology and social work at Calvin who had been a friend and mentor to Sweda.

Last Oct. 15, Kuilema stood with the couple in front of a gathering of family and friends and pronounced them legally married.

Things began to unravel in January when Sweda was summoned to a meeting at the provost’s office, where, according to Chimes, Sweda was told that her marriage violated university policy and that she could no longer stay at Calvin.

Former ‘Superman’ Actor Dean Cain Supports Foster Children, Christian Films at Ohio Event

By

Jessica Lea

-

March 22, 2022

Actor and Christian Dean Cain will be at Crossroads Church in Mansfield, Ohio, this Friday to hand out “Foster Family Fun Packs.” Cain is co-hosting an event where he will help launch Ohio Helping Hands, a non-profit created by the producers of Cain’s new film, “Chosen.”

“Children are often removed from their homes,” said Stacey Stratton, executive director of Ohio Helping Hands, “with just some of their belongings stuffed into a trash bag. Knowing these children are also feeling scared, confused and alone, we wanted to create a nonprofit to help support them emotionally as they transition into their new foster home.”

Dean Cain Co-Hosts VIP Event

Dean Cain is an actor, producer and screenwriter who is probably best known for starring as Clark Kent in the 90s TV series, “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” Cain also appeared in the 2014 film, “God’s Not Dead,” as did “Hercules” actor Kevin Sorbo, who stars in “Chosen” with Cain.

Friday evening, Dean Cain will appear with another of his “Chosen” co-stars, Eddie McClintock, at Crossroads Church, where the two will co-host a VIP event. The VIP event will take place prior to premier of the film, “Joey Adkins Saves the Church,” starring Crossroads’ lead pastor, Dave Vance.

At 6 p.m., before the film’s showing, Cain will present the first set of “Foster Family Fun Packs” to Richland County Children Services. Ohio Helping Hands plans to donate 200 of the fun packs throughout the state of Ohio this year.

The items in the packs include games, snacks, and crafts, as well as a sturdy bag so that children have a place to store their personal belongings. The fun packs are designed to ease the difficult transitions children make when they enter new foster homes.

JCFilms Studios, which produced both “Joey Adkins” and “Chosen,” said that its purpose in creating the latter film (which was produced in Mansfield) is to “leave a lasting effect on the lives of those involved in adoption and foster parenting in Ohio.”

“We don’t just want to make a film,” said JCFilms president, Jason Campbell. “We want to make a film that will change and benefit the lives of children.” On its website, JCFilms explains:

CHOSEN is a multi-plot movie that was created to empower people of faith to get involved. On any given day in Ohio, nearly 16,000 children are being cared for in foster care. This number is expected to increase as the number of foster parents [is] decreasing.

Katy Perry Wins Copyright Lawsuit Against Christian Rapper, Flame

By

Stephanie Martin

-

March 22, 2022

After eight years of litigation, the song “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry has prevailed in a copyright infringement case. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled that the pop star didn’t have to pay $2.8 million in damages to a Christian musician who sued her.

Back in 2014, Christian hip-hop artist Marcus Gray (whose stage name is “Flame”) alleged that Perry’s 2013 hit had numerous similarities to his 2008 release “Joyful Noise.” In 2019, a federal jury awarded Flame $2.8 million in damages, which a district court later voided.

Gray’s team appealed, but on March 10, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled 3-to-0 for Perry, saying “the jury’s verdict finding defendants liable for copyright infringement was unsupported by the evidence.” Unless the Supreme Court gets involved, the case is now over.

Flame vs Perry: Music Experts Weighed in on Song Similarities

For its ruling, the California-based Ninth Circuit focused on “ostinato,” or a repeated pattern of musical notes. Although the patterns in both songs have similarities, it said, the overlapping portion “consists of a manifestly conventional arrangement of building blocks.” And “allowing a copyright over this material would essentially amount to allowing an improper monopoly over two-note pitch sequences or even the minor scale itself.”

During the jury trial, a musicologist had testified on behalf of Flame that the two songs had “five or six” musical similarities. After this latest ruling, the Christian artist’s attorney, Michael Kahn, expressed disappointment, refuting the “notion that this simple, original, and clearly distinctive eight-note melody can’t be protected by copyright.” That “runs contrary” to distinctive musical openings, he said, citing examples such as Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony.

Flame also claimed that “Joyful Noise” was “irreparably tarnished by its association with the witchcraft, paganism, black magic, and Illuminati imagery evoked by the same music in “Dark Horse.” Perry and her co-authors denied ever hearing “Joyful Noise,” saying they didn’t listen to Christian music. But Flame’s team argued it was widely played, noting that the album it was on received a Grammy nomination.

Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae, who was featured on “Joyful Noise,” eventually dropped his name from the lawsuit, saying, “It’s my guy Flame’s song.”

Copyright Infringement Cases Are on the Rise

Lawsuits of this nature are increasingly common, say experts, partly due to the availability of songs on streaming services. Law professor Christopher Buccafusco tells the Wall Street Journal that lesser-known artists have little to lose by suing big-name musicians. Even if they don’t win damages, the artists can attract publicity and boost their streaming views (and fan base) via litigation.

Lifeway Research: Pastors Identify 7 Spiritual Needs for Their Life, Ministry

By

Aaron Earls

-

March 22, 2022

Churchgoers may think their church leaders have it all together spiritually, but pastors admit they have room to grow.

In the latest release of Lifeway Research’s 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study, most U.S. Protestant pastors say they need to personally invest in seven different spiritual needs.

One in 20 pastors (5%) say their own spiritual needs is the area most challenging for them or the one that requires the most attention compared to the six other categories covered in the Greatest Needs of Pastors study. While each of the other categories has more pastors who say that category is the most challenging for them today, spiritual needs is the only category in which most pastors agree every issue raised is one that’s important for them to invest in.

“It’s not surprising that over the past two years, the sight of sparse rooms, the sting of snarky emails and the departure of people thought to be loyal have caused pastors to realize the depth of their spiritual needs,” said Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. “These factors have not only changed the size of their churches but affected the size of their faith.”

Top Spiritual Needs

To determine the greatest needs facing U.S. Protestant pastors today, Lifeway Research interviewed 200 pastors who identified 44 issues they face in their roles. A thousand additional pastors were surveyed to determine which needs were most prevalent. All the unique needs were divided into seven categories: ministry difficulties, spiritual needs, mental challenges, personal life, self-care, people dynamics and areas of skill development.

Within the category of spiritual needs, pastors identified seven specific issues. For each one, at least 3 in 5 pastors say it is an important area needing investment in their life.

More than 7 in 10 pastors (72%) say consistency in personal prayer is important, which also makes it one of the top needs of pastors overall. Similar percentages of pastors say it’s vital in their lives to invest in friendships and fellowship with others (69%) and to focus on consistency of Bible reading not related to sermon or teaching preparation (68%).

Around 2 in 3 U.S. Protestant pastors say it’s important for them to trust God (66%), invest in relationships with other pastors (64%) and practice consistency in taking a Sabbath (64%). More than 3 in 5 pastors (61%) say they need to invest in confessing and repenting from personal sin. Few (4%) say they don’t consider any of those issues important investments for their life as a pastor.

“Some churchgoers may be surprised to find that spiritual disciplines don’t always come easily for pastors,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Yes, they know how to do these things, but achieving consistency takes time and effort. It is not automatic.”

Younger pastors, those between the ages of 18 and 44, are among the most likely to say many of the spiritual needs are areas in need of attention in their lives. They are the most likely to say they need to invest in friendship and fellowship with others (79%) and relationships with other pastors (73%). Pastors under 44 are also more likely than pastors over 55 to say they need to focus on consistency of Bible reading not related to sermon or teaching preparation (75%) as well as confessing and repenting of personal sin (69%). They’re also more likely than those over 65 to say it’s important they invest in consistency in personal prayer (78%).

Most Important Spiritual Need

When asked which of those spiritual needs are the most important for them to invest in right now, a quarter of pastors (24%) say consistency in prayer. Slightly fewer point to trusting God and consistency in taking a Sabbath (18% each).

In a 2021 Lifeway Research study, 86% of pastors say they do have at least one day a week to rest and unplug from ministry work. Additionally, a 2017 study from Lifeway Research found 56% of churchgoers believe the biblical command to take a day of Sabbath rest each week still applies today.

Disney’s ‘Toy Story’ Prequel Will Now Feature Same-Sex Kiss After Pushback Over Fla.’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

March 22, 2022

An announcement made by Disney-Pixar last week is creating some “buzz” around their upcoming animated children’s movie, “Lightyear.” For the first time, one of its blockbuster animated films will feature a same-sex kiss.

“Lightyear” tells the story of “Toy Story”’s Buzz Lightyear and is voiced by star Chris Evans (“The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Knives Out)” as Buzz.

The kiss had originally been cut, but according to a report from Variety, it has been added back into the “Toy Story” prequel, which is scheduled to be released on June 17, 2022.

The decision came after Disney received a statement from LGBTQIA+ employees of Pixar and their allies earlier this month, claiming that company executives have censored “overtly gay affection” from their films.

“Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar,” the statement said.

Disney employees reacted with the statement, in part, because of Disney’s financial involvement with lawmakers behind Florida’s House Bill 1557, which opponents have called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill is anticipated to be signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis once it hits his desk. It passed Florida’s Senate on March 8, 2022.

House Bill 1557 bans teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with young children. “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” a portion of the bill reads.

President Joe Biden slammed the bill, calling it “hateful” and letting the LGBTQI+ community know that he and his administration will continue to fight for their protections and safety.

On the other hand, outspoken political commentator Bill Maher showed support for the bill, saying, “We’re talking about very young kids. It’s not like there is no kernel of truth in that maybe kids that young shouldn’t be thinking about sex at all.”

“We are writing because we are disappointed, hurt, afraid, and angry,” LGBTQIA+ employees said. “In regards to Disney’s financial involvement with legislators behind the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, we hoped that our company would show up for us. But it didn’t.”

LGBTQIA+ employees called on Disney’s leadership to “immediately withdraw” all financial support they give to the lawmakers who are behind the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and denounce the Florida bill publicly. In addition, the LGBTQIA+ employees are demanding that Disney correct their indirect support of the bill and said “if Disney is true in its values, it will take a decisive public stand against the discriminatory legislation occurring in Florida and offer tangible support for the LGBTQIA+ communities affected by bigoted legislation sweeping the country.”

LGBTQIA+ advocates believe that similar legislation in South Carolina, Arizona, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, Utah, Kansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, and Alabama are being pushed by people that the hate LGBTQIA+ community. “We need you to stand with us entirely, not in empty words,” they told Disney.

Ohio Pastor Reunites With Daughter at Poland/Ukraine Border, Another Daughter Still Missing

By

Dale Chamberlain

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March 22, 2022

Trevor Littleton, pastor of First Church of Christ in Painesville, Ohio, has been reunited with one surrogate daughter who had been living in Ukraine. The whereabouts of his other surrogate daughter are still unknown.

Littleton and his wife share nine children, five of whom were adopted or surrogates from Ukraine. When news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke, Littleton immediately thought about his daughters Dasha, 20, and Nastya, 26.

“We know the places that are being bombed. We’ve eaten there. We’ve slept there. We’ve been with children who are there. The orphanage that the children grew up in was destroyed last week. We discovered that,” Littleton told Fox 8 News. Later, Littleton discovered that the man who helped them adopt their children was killed while defending his home.

Earlier this month, Littleton told his daughter Dasha to flee to the Poland/Ukraine border and that he would be there to personally meet her.

“I was afraid she might not do it. I was afraid she wouldn’t have the courage, because it’s terrifying,” Littleton told WOIO. “But I promised her, get to the border, I will meet you there. I will get you. You will see me personally. I will get a plane, I will fly over, I will meet you there.”

After what was presumably an anxiety-filled detour to Arkansas to expedite the renewal of an expired passport, Littleton fulfilled his promise. He met Dasha at the border, where she had received safe harbor through the facilitation of a network of U.S. based churches and missionaries.

When Littleton and his wife first met Dasha, she was 16 years old and they were not able to formally adopt her. Nevertheless, they consider her to be their daughter and talk nearly every day.

“I’m thankful she’s very safe now,” Littleton said.

Despite his joy at reuniting with Dasha, Littleton is still gravely concerned about his other surrogate daughter who was in Ukraine when Russia invaded. The last time Littleton and his wife heard from Nastya was over two weeks ago.

Proof of Vaccine or Negative COVID-19 Test No Longer Required for SBC22

By

Baptist Press

-

March 22, 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) — The State of California announced Friday (March 18) that COVID-19 guidelines for indoor mega-events will be relaxed effective April 1, and attendees will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test prior to admission.

The announcement comes less than 90 days prior to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting held at the Anaheim Convention Center June 12-15.

“The relaxation of the COVID-19 requirements for the SBC Annual Meeting eliminates what could have been a barrier for many messengers interested in joining us in Anaheim this summer,” said SBC Executive Committee Vice President Jonathan Howe. “While we are thankful there are no COVID-19 mandates currently in place for messengers, we recommend all who plan to attend to exercise caution and responsibility when it comes to health-related matters.”

Previous guidelines for mega-events, those with more than 1,000 in attendance, required all attendees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of a negative test taken within 48 hours. Under the new guidelines, those requirements are recommended, not required. While the guidelines could still change between April 1 and the event in June, the SBC Executive Committee currently does not plan to enforce those recommendations at the meeting.

Messenger pre-registration for the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting opened Feb. 1 at sbcannualmeeting.net, and will remain open until the event June 14-15.

This article originally appeared on BaptistPress.com.

War in Ukraine May Leave Millions Hungry, Warns Eugene Cho of Bread for the World

By

Bob Smietana

-

March 22, 2022

Ukraine Eugene Cho — FILE - Ukrainians cross an improvised path under a destroyed bridge while fleeing Irpin, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

(RNS) — When the Rev. Eugene Cho sees images of refugees from the war in Ukraine, he starts thinking about his father, who grew up during the Korean War.

Cho’s father was separated from his parents as a child in Korea and ended up spending time as a refugee — like the millions of people who have fled Ukraine or other conflicts around the world.

“I can’t help but make the connection,” said Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy group whose mission is to help end world hunger. “These are someone’s children, someone’s father and mother — these are people loved by someone.”

Like his father, who survived the Korean War in part because people in the United States and other nations helped provide assistance to refugees during that time, today’s refugees also need the help of churches and governments around the world, Cho said.

“We have to do something,” he said.

But Cho also knows the war in Ukraine will have consequences for the rest of the world — especially those already facing food insecurity. Russia and Ukraine are top producers of the world’s wheat, and the war between the two countries will affect food prices and distribution at a time when hunger was already on the rise. The U.N.’s World Food Program recently warned that the number of people “facing acute food insecurity” had doubled since 2019.

Bread for the World has been advocating for emergency aid for Ukraine but also for $3.8 billion in emergency food aid to address hunger around the world, due to “chaos, climate change and conflict” — all of which, on top of the global pandemic, have put tens of millions of lives at risk.

Things are so bad in places such as Yemen, Nigeria and South Sudan that aid groups have had to cut back on the sizes of rations to reach more people. “This is tantamount to taking from the hungry to feed the starving,” the World Food Program recently said.

Cho, an author and former pastor, spoke to Religion News Service last week about how the war in Ukraine is affecting other crises around the world, the possible long-term fallout and how faith groups and the American public can respond.

The Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World. Courtesy photo

The Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World. Courtesy photo

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What impact is the war in Ukraine having on the world food supply? And how does it affect other crises around the world?

We should be rightly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and we should be advocating for Ukraine. I also want to step back and share with folks that there are some tremendous humanitarian crises in other parts of the world that haven’t quite captured the consciousness of the world. Right now, 98% of the population of Afghanistan does not have enough to eat. One million children under the age of 5 could die from malnutrition by the end of the year. In Yemen and other places around the world, food prices have doubled.

Russia and Ukraine are responsible for 29% of global wheat exports — 19% from Russia, 10% from Ukraine. You can just connect the dots and see how wheat prices are going to increase dramatically, which means food prices are going to increase dramatically. And we’re talking not just about food and wheat, but you’re also talking about fertilizer and fuel — which both Russia and Ukraine produce. Both of those things are really critical to the global food system. You factor in shortages of food, fuel and fertilizer and you’ve got this tremendous problematic nexus of increasing hunger dramatically around the world.

How are rising food prices affecting people around the world?

When I go to the market and I see food prices that have gone up — I don’t like it. But I don’t think people realize that in some of the lower income nations and communities around the world, people spend as much as 45% of their incomes on food. Just consider the tremendous challenges when you already spend that much on food and prices are going up.

Research institutes are estimating that, as a result of this war, 40 million more people are going to be thrust into extreme poverty around the world. To give your readers some context, the population of California is about 40 million. Imagine the entire state of California being thrust into extreme poverty where they’re surviving on basically $2 a day.

These are human beings, sisters and brothers, people made in the image of God. It is very sobering.

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