Illinois

An Illinois law mandating a period of silence in public schools does not advance or inhibit religion and is therefore constitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit reverses a district court ruling last year that struck down the law as a violation of the Establishment Clause.

"The court rightly determined that voluntary periods of silence cannot be interpreted as an establishment of religion," commented Attorney Andy Norman, whose Chicago-based law firm, Mauck & Baker, filed a friend-of-the-court with the 7th Circuit in support of the law. more >>

Influential pastor Bill Hybels announced over the weekend that his megachurch will be expanding outreach and ministry efforts throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

The announcement was made as Willow Creek Community Church celebrated its 35th anniversary.

The new vision will be played out independently at each of the megachurch's five "Chicagoland" campuses. Three of the campuses plan to build or acquire new, permanent facilities to house the growing number of attendees. Another has committed itself to giving birth to another regional campus by Easter, and the Spanish ministry is determined to reach out to more in the Hispanic community. more >>

Through tears and sometimes broken voices, three prominent Christian leaders on Sunday night declared they still trust in God despite ongoing pain from the death of young loved ones.

Evangelist Greg Laurie and singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman spoke candidly about their ongoing struggle and pain from the deaths of their children – 33-year-old, Christopher Laurie, and 5-year-old, Maria Sue Chapman – who both died in separate car accidents two years ago.

“It’s hard to lose grandparents. It’s hard to lose parents. But to lose a child, it’s just not the way it’s supposed to be,” said Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California, to a crowd of over 16,700 at the Allstate Arena on the final night of the Chicago Harvest event. more >>

Wheaton College inaugurated its newest president on Friday.

Dr. Philip Graham Ryken succeeds Dr. Duane Litfin as the eighth president of the prominent evangelical college in Illinois.

"I am here because I believe that God has appointed this College as a vital instrument in the worldwide work of his kingdom," Ryken said during his inaugural address, according to a press release. "This is no safe retreat, but a strategic base of operations for the global advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the discipleship of the Christian mind." more >>

The nation’s largest evangelical body on Thursday launched a new abortion reduction initiative in which discussion about sex is a major focus.

Sexual activity outside of marriage is occurring at a significant level among young evangelicals, said the National Association of Evangelicals. And young unmarried evangelicals are among those who are having abortions.

“There are a significant number of abortions taking place within the evangelical community but we don’t really talk about that,” said Galen Carey, director of government affairs at the NAE, to The Christian Post. “So we want to stimulate a conversation.” more >>

An Aurora, Ill., congregation was dismissed this week from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Blackhawk Presbytery voted on Tuesday to accept the dismissal request of First Presbyterian Church, which will be realigning with a smaller and more conservative denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

"[W]e have compromised to reach this agreement; we have agreed to mutual material sacrifices; and we have acknowledged fundamental differences remain. This is, however, our best effort to act in the way of Christ putting others before ourselves, supporting Christian ministry and mission of both FPC Aurora and of the Presbytery, and seeking the reconciliation to which we are called in Christ," the presbytery said in its agreement. more >>