2016 Methodist Conference to Continue Forty-Four Year Debate

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CHR Comment: David Gushee’s opinion piece released by the Religion News Service notes that United Methodist conferences have been debating the issue of homosexuality and church life since 1972. Recently, activists in the Reconciling Ministry Network have stepped forward to declare themselves homosexual. This action challenges the existing United Methodist standards on the issue, opening the possibility that those who have outed themselves could be disciplined. Gushee also includes some brief listing of biblical texts and arguments about why the United Methodist Church continues to teach that homosexual acts are sinful and a cause for repentance.

Source: The Methodists gather to argue about gay people again | Religion News Service

“Inhuman” Torture of Christians in Pakistan

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Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, party chairman, said the human rights abuses against the Christians could not be tolerated.

CHR Comment: Pakistani police picked up two Christians while investigating a mugging. During interrogation, police tortured the men. Four officers were suspended when photographs of the Christians’ injuries were released to the public. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, which is predominantly Muslim.

Source: Pakistan party leader condemns ‘inhuman’ torture of Christians | Christian News on Christian Today

Religion Declining, Secularism Surging (Perhaps)

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CHR Comment: Phil Zuckerman, Professor of Sociology and Secular Studies, Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, provides an interesting look at the secularization trend described by a variety of polls. However, as I read the article, I wonder whether the polling fully accounts for persons who might described themselves as spiritual but are unaffiliated with a particular religion. He also oddly connects secularization with internet access as though internet use might dispose someone toward secularism. In any event, the anticipated number of church closings he describes in places like Holland are important cultural developments and sure indicators of change. Christians need to view countries with state churches as important mission fields.

Source: Religion Declining, Secularism Surging

Study of Ordaining Women Deacons

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Pope Francis said he wants to study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons, a step that could for the first time open the ranks of the Catholic Church’s all-male clergy to women.

CHR Comment: The word “deacon” literally means “servant,” and was variously used in the Scriptures and in church history. The article explains that currently ordained Roman Catholic deacons are allowed to preach at Mass but cannot consecrate the Sacrament. Whether women deacons would have the same office and service as the male deacons would be part of the study. In any case, “deacon” has meant many things over the centuries.

Source: Pope Francis: Let’s study possibility of ordaining women deacons

Myanmar Christians Pushed Out of Their Church

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Christians in Myanmar—the Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma—are methodically being pushed out of their own church by a powerful Buddhist monk and his followers.

CHR Comment: The Karen people converted to Christianity after World War II. Political changes are creating an awkward moment for these Anglicans in Myanmar where the majority of the country is Buddhist. They have lost three properties but are responding peacefully.

Source: Christians being pushed out of their own church by Buddhist monks in Myanmar | Christian News on Christian Today

182 Year Wait for a Bible Translation

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Christians in Southeast Asia have successfully translated the New Testament into their mother-tongue, and are now able to read the Word in their own language for the first time.

CHR Comment: Wycliffe Bible Translators are employing a new strategy for developing translations rapidly by working with a team of local persons who know the language by heart. On the Wycliffe site, a picture of persons from the tribe have their faces blanked out since they are facing persecution. Apparently, the translation society was concerned about revealing the identities of the team members due to persecution. See second link below.

Source: Persecuted Christians read Bible for first time in their own language after 182 year wait | Christian News on Christian Today

https://give.wycliffeassociates.org/p-1552-southeast-asia-language-cluster.aspx?source=O16B9A0000

Street Preachers Disrupting Target Stores

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Religious protestors employ Bible scriptures to condemn the retailer’s bathroom policies.

CHR Comment: The Target company policy regarding use of restrooms by transgender persons continues to make news as street preachers enter the stores with loud protests. Earlier CHR posted a story about a peaceful boycott of the Target company, a strategy that differs markedly from the protests described here.

Source: Anti-Queer Christians Invading Target Stores To Preach Are Wreaking Havoc

Orthodox Easter Celebrated on May 1

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Orthodox Christians celebrated the resurrection with a fire ceremony, cake and processions.

CHR Comment: The article describes the variety and pageantry of Orthodox Easter observed at numerous of locations. The different dates for observing Easter in western and eastern churches are due to the use of different calendars: the Gregorian in the West and the Julian in the East. The second link below describes the ruling about Easter from the Early Christian Council of Nicaea and provides an explanation of the two calendars that cause Christians to observe different dates for the feast.

Source: Orthodox Easter spreads “holy fire” around the world

http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/Calculate_Date.htm

Philippine Tribal People Embrace Jesus Christ

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Things will never be the same again in a far-flung village in southern Philippines after missionaries from the Christian Aid Mission brought the light of Christianity to tribal people who have known only spiritual darkness.

CHR Comment: Missionaries taught the Manobo tribe the history of God’s people from the Old Testament and shared with them the film The Passion of the Christ. Many tribal members were moved by the account of Christ’s suffering, sacrifice, and resurrection. Although the film includes a riveting depiction of Christ’s experiences, it also includes some non-biblical and unusual scenes that are based on visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824). For more about Emmerich, see the second link below.

Source: Philippine tribal people embrace Jesus Christ after hearing Gospel and viewing ‘Passion of the Christ’ movie | Christian News on Christian Today

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Catherine_Emmerich