Georgia

Bible education classes offered in some Georgia public schools are purportedly dwindling in number, with fewer students interested in taking the religious courses.

Waning interest has caused administrators to cut back on the number of classes as a result, not able to afford small classroom sizes due to budget cuts, The Associated Press reported.

Where at least 25 students were needed to keep a class running, only about a dozen students were signing up for the elective Bible courses, one administrator in Georgia described. more >>

A pastor filed a federal lawsuit against a city in Georgia on Monday claiming that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was arrested for protesting a local high school’s demon mascot.

Pastor Donald Crosby of God’s Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ, which has two branches in Macon, Ga., and Baltimore, Md., was locked up in August 2010 for picketing without a license in front of Warner Robins High School, “Home of the Demons.”

He and other church members opposed the red-horned mascot, which they believed sent the wrong message to teens, according to 13WMAZ. more >>

Ten members of Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, have filed a civil suit against the megachurch pastor for allegedly using his influence to force them into investing in a million-dollar Ponzi, or pyramid, scheme.

The lawsuit, according to The Wall Street Journal, claims that Long and New Birth "marketed, sponsored and hosted 'Wealth Tour Live'" seminars in October 2009. It was through these seminars that congregants were encouraged to invest in a scheme that promised 20 percent yearly returns, according to the lawsuit.

Instead of getting returns on their investments, claimants allege that their money, totaling more than $1 million, was instead diverted to a failing company. more >>

Gun-toting advocates are closely watching a Georgia court battle this week over whether or not concealed weapons should be allowed in churches, synagogues and other houses of worship.

Lawyers are challenging the 2010 law that bans people from carrying weapons into church in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

But attorneys representing the state say they disagree and maintain the opinion that the gun ban makes it possible for “worshipers to focus on spiritual activities” instead of “protective vigilance," appellate court records said. more >>

The annual Catalyst conference, a spiritual event gathering thousands of young Christian leaders, starts Wednesday morning in Atlanta, Ga., and will run through Oct. 7. The list of guest speakers includes names ranging from celebrity pastors to famous entrepreneurs with a bent on philanthropy.

The conference is famous for not only featuring renowned leaders and presenting cutting-edge material, but also for its unique take on running such an event . It is pumped up with live music. Rather than the traditional speaker after speaker lineup, Catalyst also brings in spouts of humor and entertaining stunts.

The three days will be packed with lectures and labs lasting from 7:30am to 7:30pm. more >>

Troy Davis, who was executed despite pleading innocence until the end, was called a “martyr” at his funeral attended by over 1,000 family members, supporters and activists in Georgia Saturday.

“Troy’s last words that night were he told us to keep fighting until his name is cleared in Georgia,” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, national president of the civil rights group National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, according to The Associated Press.

“But most important, keep fighting until the death penalty is abolished and this can never be done to anyone else,” Jealous added. The funeral was held at Jonesville Baptist Church in Savannah. more >>