California

The San Francisco Presbytery has approved the ordination of an openly homosexual minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

But already, opponents of the move say they have collected enough signatures to stay the ordination.

"We believe that what San Francisco Presbytery did was unconstitutional, and we expect to see the error corrected," said Sarah Hill, coordinator of the Presbyterian Coalition, according to Religion News Service. "The presbytery cannot ordain the candidate until the legal process is complete." more >>

SAN DIEGO – Some 1,500 church and ministry leaders converged in San Diego this week to get in on the latest conversations on what's working to bring people to Christ.

For InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on the University of California, San Diego campus, altar calls are back. For a group of burned out evangelicals in Costa Mesa, liturgy is bringing them back in tune with God. And for a megachurch in Naperville, Ill., new expressions of church (multi-site) are helping them reach the lost.

Those are just some of the ideas that pastors were introduced to during the National Outreach Convention this past week. One of the largest events of its kind, the NOC brings together hundreds of church leaders every year to equip them for more effective outreach through renowned speakers, the latest tools and the opportunity to network with others who are passionately focused on evangelism. more >>

In observance of this year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, the Southern California megachurch of popular preacher Rick Warren will host a forum on the persecuted church with some of the nation’s foremost experts on the subject.

According to an announcement, Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., will moderate the discussion on religious freedom and persecution this coming Sunday as millions worldwide unite for prayer. The civil forum will feature Michael Cromartie, vice-president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and vice chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; Dr. Carl Moeller, president/CEO of Open Doors USA; and Pastor Dishan Wickramaratne, senior pastor of the 8,000-member Peoples Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Warren says Saddleback, in observance of IDOP, wants to remind people that the Church is still suffering around the world. more >>

Former beauty queen Carrie Prejean and the organization that directs the Miss California USA pageant have dropped their suits against one another and now “wish each other the best in their future endeavors.”

“We are moving forward from the past and looking towards the crowning of two winners and the new look of the upcoming Miss California USA pageant, telecast live on November 22nd,” read an official statement made by K2 Productions and pageant executive director Keith Lewis.

Though little else has been revealed by the two sides, celebrity gossip site TMZ.com claimed that the settlement was made after a lawyer representing the pageant organizer showed Prejean a compromising video of herself that has never been release publicly. more >>

A Christian ministry launched an ambitious initiative this week to cut homelessness on Los Angeles’ infamous Skid Row by 90 percent within three years, and completely end homelessness in the nation’s second largest city within 10 years.

Union Rescue Mission, a Christian ministry that serves the poor and homeless in Los Angeles, announced Wednesday its new “You are the Mission” movement. The initiative focuses on changing the hearts of those who are not homeless so they will help advocate for those who are on the streets.

“At this time when poverty is at an all-time high and homelessness, especially among families, is at an all-time high in Los Angeles, I think it is appropriate time to ignite a movement to end homelessness as we know it in Los Angeles,” said the Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, at the launch of the movement. more >>