Church Politics

Aimed at easing tensions brought on by the ongoing religious debates on homosexuality and same-sex marriage, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland announced Thursday they will hold a major conference to finally make a decision about their position on the controversial issues.

After a three-day meeting that ended this week, the 12 bishops say they committed to work together to find some common ground and work out their disagreements about homosexuality within the church.

The conference of bishops is set for early 2010. more >>

This Sunday, more than 400 pastors will be using their pulpits to preach politics and challenge the Internal Revenue Service's regulations that restrict religious leaders from endorsing candidates and discussing policies with their congregations.

Oct. 2 is Pulpit Freedom Sunday, and this year Alliance Defense Fund and its supporters have quadrupled its participation from last year. Last year, 100 pastors committed to the event, but this year, registration lists are exploding, with 475 pastors who will participate in the event.

ADF created Pulpit Freedom Day project through its Pulpit Initiative to protect the church's religious freedom, said ADF senior legal counsel Erik Stanley, the event's spokesperson. Stanley told The Christian Post that ADF has purposely kept the event small for the past three years to gauge the IRS' reaction. more >>

A Minnesota Pastor, infamous for endorsing Michele Bachmann's congressional run, is cautiously making plans to hit the campaign trial for her presidential campaign.

Mac Hammond, pastor of Living Word Christian Center, is planning to work outside of his church to campaign for Bachmann, a candidate he calls his "sister in the Lord." He reportedly told his congregation the news this past Sunday. A recording of the announcement was posted on the church's website, according to The Associated Press. The video is now no longer featured on the site.

Hammond explained his decision, "[Bachmann] is a sister in the Lord that is as committed to His Word as any you in here are." more >>

The makers of “Divided,” a documentary that rejects modern youth ministry, have been disinvited from a national conference focused on discipling youths.

Organizers of the D6 Conference maintained that their decision to not give a display booth to the group behind “Divided” was made based on the non-inclusive nature of the film, not the viewpoint of its producers.

“Divided: Is Age-Segregated Ministry Multiplying or Dividing the Church?” is produced by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches (NCFIC) and was released online earlier this year. It challenges the way churches commonly conduct age-segregated worship services. Leaders of the D6 Conference, which starts in Dallas Wednesday, said the film does not fit the event “created for sharing conversations about various biblical methods.” more >>

In an effort to more clearly define and look into possible changes in legislation regarding tax breaks and compensations for churches and nonprofit groups, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has appointed a trio of panels.

The ECFA announced last week that representatives from religious groups, the broader nonprofit sector and the legal community have been appointed to the panels that will work with the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations.

The commission was formed following a report issued by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) in January that focused on the financial practices of six high-profile Christian ministries, ECFA said. Allegations included perceptions of excessive spending on high-end travel, accommodations, and property, according to a commission member. more >>

Speculation that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, who is considered the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, will be resigning next year continues after a report from a U.K. newspaper Sunday.

Williams, 61, is reported to have first considered resignation at a summit of Anglican bishops held in 2008, when the conference was plagued by boycotts, divisions over homosexual clergy, and challenges to the archbishop’s authority, according to The Telegraph.

Williams, who has tried to keep the Anglican community together despite a major split between leaders and churches over the ordination of women and gay bishops, may accept a senior position at Cambridge University, reports said. more >>