Nov. 5, 2019: Intelligent Design champion dies, lawsuit against Christian business dismissed, James MacDonald disqualified
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019:
Here are the latest headlines, brought to you by The Christian Post.
— Intelligent Design champion Phillip E. Johnson dies
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Phillip E. Johnson, a professor and author credited with helping to found the modern Intelligent Design movement, died over the weekend in his home. He was 79.
Johnson was a law professor at the University of California-Berkeley. He became a Christian at age 38 and he had described his conversion as being “gradual,” not “dramatic.”
He wrote a popular apologetics book titled Darwin on Trial that was a rebuttal to atheist Richard Dawkins’ book The Blind Watchmaker, and became a noted spokesman for Intelligent Design.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/phillip-e-johnson-noted-champion-of-intelligent-design-dies.html
— Ky. Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit against Christian business
The Kentucky Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against a Christian business that declined on religious grounds to make T-shirts for a gay pride event.
Last Thursday, the court ruled unanimously that the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization did not have “statutory standing” to sue the print shop Hands on Originals.
Justice David Buckingham wrote that the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission, which found the company guilty of discrimination in 2014, wrote in his opinion that “the government may not regulate expression, either by prohibiting disfavored expression or compelling favored expression.”
— Over 87K sign petition seeking release of American pastor detained in India
Over 87,000 people have signed a petition calling on authorities in India to release a Tennessee pastor who was reportedly arrested as a result of his Christian faith.
Pastor Bryan Nerren operates a nonprofit organization called Asian Children’s Education Fellowship, which has been training Sunday school teachers in India and Nepal for 17 years.
He was arrested as he stepped off a flight in Bagdogra, India, and jailed for six days before he was released on bail last month.
A judge presiding over his case ordered a travel ban and pushed back a hearing that was originally set for Oct. 22 to Dec. 12.
His wife, Rhonda, is asking for prayers for him to return home.
— Megachurch elders disqualify James MacDonald for ministry
The elders of Harvest Bible Chapel have formally disqualified their former and founding pastor, James MacDonald, from ministry Sunday, emphasizing his actions do not meet Scriptural requirements to be an elder.
In a letter that was read to the congregation Sunday, Elder Karl Jackson noted that the elders were grateful for MacDonald's three decades of ministry to the church. But after interviews with witnesses and examining evidence of accusations against the pastor, the elders concluded that he was not above reproach, respectable, and upright, among other criteria set forth in 1 Timothy, Titus, and 1 Peter.
They advised MacDonald, who was ousted earlier this year, to take time away from ministry to focus on repentance, reconciliation and restitution.
— Catholic diocese donates $50K to 3 black churches damaged by arson
The Catholic Diocese of Lafayette donated an estimated $50,000 to three historically African-American churches that were the victims of a series of arson attacks in Louisiana.
Earlier this year, St. Mary’s Baptist Church of Port Barre, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Opelousas were attacked by an arsonist.
The churches received national attention when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson encouraged people to donate to the rebuilding of the churches. Around $2.6 million was raised for the churches over the summer.
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