Oregon

The Episcopal Church is considering changing a canon law that will allow non-baptized people to receive Holy Communion, and the resolution will be discussed at the 78th General Convention in Indianapolis when it meets July 4-12.

Resolution C040, proposed by the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon, seeks to remove Canon 1.17.7, which states that "no unbaptized person shall be eligible to receive Holy Communion in this Church." This will pave the way for Episcopal churches to freely offer Holy Communion to all who seek it, regardless of age, denomination, or whether or not they have been baptized.

One incident that inspired this proposed resolution involves a young woman who visited the diocese's St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Hood River, Ore., and told the Rev. Anna Carmichael, "I really need some support right now and I feel like it starts there." She shared with the pastor, however, that she had never been baptized, but the Rev. Carmichael said that she could not turn her away in her time of need. more >>

An Oregon pastor is reportedly suing a mother and daughter over a blog that features reviews describing the church he leads as "cult-like."

Former Beaverton Grace Bible Church member Julie Ann Smith is being sued by Pastor Charles O'Neal for what he argues were defamatory comments against his church.

In a blog started by Smith, who left the church with her husband a few years back, she called the Beaverton Grace Bible Church "creepy" and said the church deployed "control tactics." Smith also described the church as "cult-like" and equated its practices to "spiritual abuse." more >>

A controversial sign was placed outside Rose City Park United Methodist Church in Portland, Ore., last week reading "God Prefers Kind Atheists Over Hateful Christians," and has attracted a variety of responses to the pastor's message.

The Rev. Tom Tate of Rose City Park UMC decided to put up what he calls a "non-churchy" message, the United Methodist Portal reported, and which he hoped would offer passersby a different view of atheist-Christian relations. The sign has garnered attention at a viral pace, thanks to a posting on the church's Facebook page, in which the photo appeared under the heading "This is how WE roll...how do you?"

The Rev. Tate commented on the sign the following day, writing on Facebook, "What's all the fuss about? That God prefers kindness over hate? I would think that's a given. Isn't that the meaning of one of the most often quoted parables: the Good Samaritan? As far as Jesus' crowd was concerned Samaritans were atheists. What was Jesus meaning? Did the Samaritan convert to the 'right beliefs.' Not according to the story. As a matter of fact, it was the teachers of law, those with 'right beliefs' who didn't get it; who 'passed by.'" more >>

A Christian academy in Southern Oregon believes it has been overcharged on its utility bills for nearly 25 years.

For several months, the Canyonville Christian Academy has unsuccessfully tried to resolve its bill issues with Canyonville city officials, hoping to repeal the extra fees placed on tax-exempt organizations like their boarding school and also get at least a partial refund for their past payments amounting to an estimated $200,000.

Making no headway with the city council, which rejected the school's request for a partial refund and refused to repeal the fees, the CCA filed a lawsuit against the city last month in the Douglas County Circuit Court in Roseburg. more >>

A jury in Portland, Ore., awarded a couple $2.9 million dollars on Friday for the "wrongful birth" of their daughter who has Down syndrome.

Kalanit Levy was born in June of 2007 to Ariel and Deborah Levy, after prenatal testing did not reveal any abnormalities.

The Levys' attorney said Dr. Thomas Jenkins removed maternal tissue – instead of the fetal tissue – from Deborah Levy's womb which resulted in faulty test readings. The suit also faults the medical center for reassuring Deborah Levy that her baby didn't have an extra 21st chromosome. more >>

"God is Dead" theologian William Hamilton died on Tuesday of complications from congestive heart failure in Portland, Ore., according to The Associated Press. He was 87.

The radical theologian was a leading figure in the controversial Death of God movement during the 1960s, which was brought to national fame in 1966 when Time magazine published the infamous cover story "Is God Dead?"

John T. Elson, the religion editor behind the best-selling Time cover, called the new movement a "theology without theos," a belief that God was dead and that humans needed to press on without Him. more >>