Wisconsin

A Presbyterian regional court has affirmed a Wisconsin church body's decision to ordain a partnered homosexual.

The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies ruled Saturday that the John Knox Presbytery "acted within its authority" when it approved the ordination of Scott D. Anderson in February.

A complaint had been filed in March by Caledonia Presbyterian Church in Portage, Wisc., as well as the presbyteries of Central Florida, Prospect Hill and Stockton, alleging that John Knox Presbytery committed irregularities by ordaining someone who is ineligible. more >>

An annual Christian music festival has drawn unexpected controversy over one of its featured speakers – Jim Wallis.

Though Wallis is among some 58 speakers this year at Lifest, some local Christians have protested his appearance and one sponsor recently pulled its support.

"After researching extensively the words and published positions of Jim Wallis and his organization, Sojourners Magazine, and seeking fervently the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer, we believe the social justice message and agenda they promote is a seed of secular humanism, seeking an unholy alliance between the Church and Government," Q90 FM, a Christian radio station based in De Pere, Wis., stated. more >>

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a state constitutional amendment that affirms traditional marriage and bans same-sex civil unions.

The court ruled 7-0, stating in the opinion that "the marriage amendment was adopted by the people of Wisconsin using the process prescribed by the constitution, and is properly now part of our constitution."

Family groups praised the ruling. more >>

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed all claims against Shirley Dobson, the wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, in a lawsuit challenging the National Day of Prayer.

Shirley Dobson is chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and was among the names listed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in a lawsuit filed in October 2008.

“Prayer proclamations are a long-established and cherished American tradition going back to the Founding Fathers,” said Alliance Defense Fund senior legal counsel Joel Oster. more >>

A federal judge this week denied motions to scrap a suit by a group of atheists challenging the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb of Wisconsin on Thursday rejected filings by defendants President Barack Obama, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and National Day of Prayer Taskforce chairperson Shirley Dobson to dismiss the federal lawsuit.

In doing so, Crabb allowed the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation to move forward with discovery. more >>

A Christian legal group is asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the National Day of Prayer, contending that the annual event is “deeply embedded in the tradition and history of this country.”

“Throughout the nation’s history, American presidents have issued 164 proclamations calling the nation to prayer. Such calls for national prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause during the founding era” and they are still constitutional today, states a friend-of-the-court brief filed by the ACLJ Friday, representing 31 members of Congress.

Last year, in October, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a group that believes the Constitution “was very purposefully written to be a godless document,” filed a lawsuit in Madison, Wis., broadly challenging the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer and requiring a National Day of Prayer Proclamation by the President. more >>