Church Bodies

The Most Holy Redeemer Church in San Francisco has garnered controversy after rescinding invitations to gay-friendly ministers, who were scheduled to speak at their pre-Christmas events.

According to reports, the order came from Archbishop George Niederauer. A representative for Most Holy Redeemer said that the archbishop thought the speakers were inappropriate for the season of Advent, which should be a time to reflect on the coming of Christ.

One of the speakers who was scheduled to speak at the Christmas program is the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, a minister for the gay-oriented Metropolitan Community Church. He called the Catholic Church hypocritical for implementing a “Come Home” ad campaign, while not everyone is welcome, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. more >>

Prompted by the nation’s economic recession reflected in its own backyard, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., opened a center with free community services aimed at providing Orange County residents with much needed relief on Tuesday.

Bestselling author and pastor Rick Warren said that in the process of his church’s food pantry serving more than 72,000 people with free groceries during the last year-and-a-half, staff members discovered that people needed help in several other areas as well. While some financial analysts have been downplaying the severity and length of the nation's economic downturn, Warren believes the country is headed into its fifth year of the "great recession."

Long considered as a fairly affluent county with miles of coastal property and mega-rich land developers such as the Irvine Co., the Saddleback Valley region located in the southern part of the county struggles with an 11 percent unemployment rate and a high number of home foreclosures. more >>

The leader of a Pacific Northwest church is gaining national attention for praying over pugilists.

Canyon Creek Church's Lead Pastor Brandon Beals started his congregation in Everett, Wash., seven years ago. An avid mixed martial arts (MMA) fan, he's since taken on the role of "Fight Pastor”" for many of the region's MMA fighters. Boosting brawlers' confidence and faith in Christ through support and prayer, he now counts nearly two dozen fighters among his 1,000-member flock.

"I view myself a missionary to the MMA community," Beals told The Christian Post. "Missionaries go to people groups that are unreached and untapped. God gave us a platform so we thought we'd try reaching this community." more >>

More than $3,000 worth of donated gifts set to be given to the needy was stolen from a New Jersey church over the weekend.

The congregants of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Ramsey, N.J., have vowed to refund the church in full. The Rev. Richard J. Kelly told reporters the church has almost been wholly refunded after the theft, thanks to the congregation’s kindness.

“I think all the children will have Christmas after all,” Kelly told The Record. more >>

The Methodist Church in Britain has issued a special prayer for North Korea after the death of its leader Kim Jong-il.

The reclusive dictator died of a heart attack or stroke on Saturday at the age of 69. The official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) has called his third son, Kim Jong-un, the “great successor.”

Steve Pearce, World Church Partnership Coordinator for the Methodist Church, said in a statement: "The Methodist Church in Britain offers its prayers and support to its brothers and sisters in the whole of Korea today on the news of the death of Kim Jong-il. more >>

The sprawling parking lots and 3,500-seat worship center at Saddleback Church in Orange County were empty during the five regularly scheduled service times last weekend. Pastor Rick Warren canceled them on purpose.

However, that didn’t mean that the church’s 20,000 members were necessarily avoiding God.

Several weeks ago, Warren asked his members to consider God’s second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matt. 22:39) and put faith into action by taking at least a half day on Saturday or Sunday (Dec. 10, 11) to perform acts of kindness in the communities across Southern California. more >>