Commemoration of 24 Roman Catholic and 23 Anglican martyrs will take place in Rwanda. They were burned or speared to death under King Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887.
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Rwandan Pilgrims to Attend Martyrs Day in Kampala.
Category: church history
Anglican Issues of Authority. Video Commentary
Rev. Canon Phil Ashey, CEO, American Anglican Council, presents an interesting commentary on the meaning of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Church for today. This link takes you to article XX. He introduces it by noting the emerging conflict between westernized churches and the missionary churches in Africa.
Article XX: Of the Authority of the Church.
The History of VBS. American Christianity
An appeal for a history of VBS appeared on Religion in American History blog. My experience is that it was a summer extension of Sunday School. It used to run two weeks but is no commonly just one week. These days there is more emphasis on the “vacation” part of the name rather than the “school” part. I hope someone follows through and writes the history!
I did find on the EBSCO site “An Improved Vacation Bible School?” Christian Century, 69 no 32 Ag 6 1952, p 893. This brief article from 1952 mentions the growth of VBS as a recent development in religious education. A historian would need to verify whether this means that VBS was new at that time or whether the growth was new.
A Detail from the Pew Report about Churches. Young Women. Modern Religion
This article explores why an increasing number of young women are falling away from church, a significant detail in the recent Pew Report about American Religion.
Why more young women than ever before are skipping church – The Washington Post.
Recent Examples of Violence against Indian Christians. Modern Church
This article includes numerous examples of persecution and intimidation against Christians in India. The article also looks at conversion practices and their effects on various religious groups. India’s minority Christians struggle against violence and persecution | National Catholic Reporter.
Indwellilng and the Trinity. Trinity Sunday
Peter J. Leithart offers a modern discussion of an early Christian insight about the nature of God.
How to Glimpse the Trinity | Christianity Today.
Christian Schools in Israel Face Budget Cuts. Modern Church
The story describes the c. 2% of Christians in Israel and Palestine and their efforts to maintain high quality schools while facing decreased funding.
AP – Christian schools in Israel say budget cuts hurt community.
ISIL Near Ancient Monastery. Modern Church
Three monks and six students hold vigil at St. Matthew’s monastery on Al-Faf mountain in northern Iraq, a 1,600 year-old institution. They have moved their ancient manuscripts and their relics to safer territory and continue their studies despite the fighting nearby.
Monks won’t leave ancient monastery amid ISIL threat.
American Minorities Interpreting the Bible. Modern Church
This volume looks at the way a variety of American minority groups have read or misread the Bible and/or the Quran in applying them to modern life. Groups include: Native Americans, African Americans, US Latinos/as, Asian Americans, and “Arab” Americans.
Review of Biblical Literature.
Psalms 1 and 2 in History of Interpretation. Jewish and Christian
The author traces history of interpretation for the first two Psalms from ancient Judaism up to the Reformation, demonstrating how Jews and Christians understood and applied the texts differently. This would be especially interesting since Christians regard Psalm 2 as Messianic.
Review of Biblical Literature.
