Colorado

A breakaway Episcopal parish in Colorado Springs lost a court battle over its historic property on Tuesday after a judge ruled in favor of The Episcopal Church.

After a two-year long dispute, District Judge Larry Schwartz of El Paso County ruled that the $17 million gothic-style church belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and not Grace Church & St. Stephen's.

Father Donald Armstrong, rector of Grace Church & St. Stephen's, respected the judge's decision but said they will review the ruling with their attorneys before making a formal response. more >>

Former evangelical leader Ted Haggard and his wife, Gayle, will appear on the TV show “Divorce Court” to talk about how their marriage survived the storm of a gay sex and drug scandal that shocked the nation and made the once popular pastor an outcast.

The Haggards were in Los Angeles on Wednesday for the taping of the interview, which will be broadcast nationally on April 1, according to Colorado Springs-based The Gazette.

In the interview, the Haggards will tell viewers that divorce is not the answer and share how their marriage was able to survive the intense pressure following the scandal. more >>

A lawyer representing a Colorado high school valedictorian who was told she needed to apologize for mentioning Jesus in her graduation speech or not receive a diploma argued her case before a federal appeals court Wednesday.

Steve Crampton, an attorney of Liberty Counsel, presented oral arguments on behalf of Erica Corder before the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Corder was among fifteen valedictorians invited to speak at the 2006 graduation ceremony of Lewis Palmer High School in Monument, Colo. At the event, she deviated from her prepared speech and shared her faith in Jesus Christ and invited the audience to learn more about him. more >>

DENVER (AP) - Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago, The Associated Press has learned.

Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning at a monthly worship service, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer.

Dobson, 72, will continue to host Focus on the Family's flagship radio program, write a monthly newsletter and speak out on moral issues, Daly said. more >>

The new president of one of the world’s oldest broadcasting mission groups emphasized bringing Christ to the world’s unreached people during his inauguration speech last week at a church in the ministry’s hometown of Colorado Springs.

Wayne Pederson, the new head of HCJB Global, reaffirmed the group’s mission priority of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard of Christ through the group’s media and heath care ministries.

“My life was changed at 16 when God called me to serve Him,” Pederson told the crowd of about 200 HCJB Global staff, nonprofit leaders, partners and friends at Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 29. “My life mission for years was to use Christian media to bring people to Christ. Now it’s using media and healthcare to introduce people worldwide to Christ.” more >>

Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard didn’t hold back when criticizing the Christian right during a recent interview, in which he accused the movement of acting ungospel-like and having the wrong understanding of human sexuality.

“I think the religious right is increasingly impotent right now in America,” Haggard said on ABC's World News Sunday. “And it’s going to have to return to the Gospel in order to regain strength.”

The former evangelical leader said there is a gap between evangelical leaders and the Gospel, and stressed that the real message of the Church is that Jesus came to heal imperfect humans. more >>