BAPTIST PASTORS CONFERENCE
Pastors are urged not to fear cultural change
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) β Southern Baptists remain opposed to same-sex marriage but their pastors are being urged not to fear America’s changing culture.
The Rev. Russell Moore, who heads the denomination’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, spoke Sunday to pastors in Columbus, Ohio, ahead of this week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Moore noted that while previous meetings in U.S. cities have been greeted with signs welcoming the Southern Baptists, the streets in Columbus this week are festooned with signs advertising the city’s gay pride festival.
But Moore said the pastors shouldn’t be “pining for some better day in the past when everything was easier.” Instead, he said, they should faithfully present the gospel on the American mission field where God has placed them.
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197-a-11-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressing Southern Baptist pastors)-“our mission field”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says the pastors need to trust God amid today’s changing culture. (14 Jun 2015)
< 195-a-16-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressing Southern Baptist pastors)-“like Gomorrah does”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says pastors shouldn’t be wringing their hands in despair. ((note length of cut)) (14 Jun 2015) < 194-a-16-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressing Southern Baptist pastors)-“step with America”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says pastors shouldn’t fear the cultural shift taking place in America. ((note length of cut)) (14 Jun 2015) < 196-a-10-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressing Southern Baptist pastors)-“given to me”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says God has placed the pastors in today’s American culture for a reason. (14 Jun 2015) < 192-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission)–The Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy chief says the church’s pastors shouldn’t fear America’s changing culture. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (14 Jun 2015) < 193-a-18-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressing Southern Baptist pastors)-“gay pride festival”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says times have changed since the denomination’s past annual meetings. ((note length of cut)) (14 Jun 2015) < CLINTON-SUNDAY SCHOOL Clinton suggests rivals lack Christian compassion DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β Hillary Rodham Clinton says much of the nation’s political debate lacks the compassion for the poor she learned in Sunday school. At a rally in Iowa, the Democratic presidential hopeful portrayed herself as a champion for struggling Americans, in contrast to the alleged “mean spiritedness” of others. Without naming names, Clinton asked, “Did they not go and hear the same lessons I did in Sunday school? Did they not sing the same hymns?” She said those who lack compassion make her wonder, “Did they never hear, ‘there but for the grace of God go I?'” Clinton said government has an important role to play in helping those in need, but private businesses and houses of worship should also do their part. She accused her Republican rivals of turning their backs on gay couples and threatening to deport immigrant workers. Sound: 153-w-28-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton)–Hillary Rodham Clinton says much of the nation’s political debate lacks the compassion for the poor she learned in Sunday school. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (14 Jun 2015) < 156-a-15-(Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, at campaign rally)-“the same time”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says government needs private partners to help the poor. (14 Jun 2015) < 157-a-11-(Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, at campaign rally)-“love each other”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says her Republican presidential rivals have hurtful attitudes. (14 Jun 2015) < 154-a-14-(Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, at campaign rally)-“in Sunday School?”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says much of today’s political rhetoric is mean-spirited. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (14 Jun 2015) < 155-a-17-(Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, at campaign rally)-“a blessed nation”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says she wonders if those who lack compassion for the poor ever went to Sunday school. (14 Jun 2015) < VATICAN-ENVIRONMENT Pope eyes worldwide audience for environment encyclical VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis is looking for a global audience for his upcoming encyclical on the environment, saying it’s addressed to everyone, not just Catholics. Francis engaged in some self-promotion during his weekly blessing Sunday, alerting the thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square that his first encyclical is coming out on Thursday and inviting them to pay attention to environmental degradation all around them. He said: “This encyclical is aimed at everyone: Let us pray that everyone can receive its message and grow in responsibility toward the common home that God has given us.” The eagerly awaited document will be launched at a Vatican news conference that underscores Francis’ insistence that it’s not just for Catholics: The three speakers are a Vatican cardinal, a Greek Orthodox theologian and an atheist scientist. Sound: 105-v-33-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)–Pope Francis is looking for a global audience for his upcoming message on the environment to be sent to the church’s 5,100 bishops. Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports. (14 Jun 2015) < 106-c-14-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)-“for the environment”-Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports the pope promoted his upcoming message on the environment telling the crowd at St. Peter’s square to look online for his encyclical. ((encyclical is pronounced ehn-SIH’-klih-kuhl)) (14 Jun 2015) < PUERTO RICAN PARADE Rita Moreno dances with Cardinal Dolan at NYC parade NEW YORK (AP) β Entertainer Rita Moreno took Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan for a dancing spin Sunday in the middle of Fifth Avenue by St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “Hallelujah! Bienvenidos a todos,” the cardinal yelled out to the Puerto Rican Day Parade crowd, meaning “welcome to all.” At 83, atop a convertible car, Moreno was the grand marshal of the festivities that turned more than 1 million spectators into a sea of red, white and blue. Topped by a single star, they’re the colors of the Puerto Rican flag that also were splashed across 20,000 marchers moving up the avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street. Dolan, who is archbishop of the city’s Roman Catholic archdiocese, offered blessings to the mostly Catholic participants. Dolan then lifted his straw hat to reveal a red skullcap he plopped onto the heads of several bemused boys. TOLEDO-TEAM PRAYERS Toledo football coach will no longer lead team prayers TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) β The University of Toledo’s football coach says he’ll no longer lead pregame prayers with his team after the university received a complaint. The Freedom From Religion Foundation told the university in May that it considered the prayers to be a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The organization cited a video showing Coach Matt Campbell leading the team in the Lord’s Prayer in their locker room before a game in 2012. Campbell said in a statement Friday that it now will be up to players to determine what they do before games. The school’s interim president released a statement Friday calling Campbell a role model. Campbell is entering his fifth season leading Toledo football. He says he won’t change his values and appreciates the support of the university’s administration. ISLAMIC STATE-AMERICAN KILLED-FUNERAL Burial set for American killed fighting Islamic State BOSTON (AP) β Funeral arrangements for an American killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group have been set for later this week. Keith Broomfield, who had no military training, is believed to be the first U.S. citizen to die fighting alongside Kurdish forces against ISIS. The 36-year-old Broomfield will be buried Wednesday at a private ceremony following a morning funeral at Grace Baptist Church in Hudson, Massachusetts. A wake will be held at the church Tuesday evening. Broomfield died June 3. His body arrived in Boston’s Logan Airport on Saturday via a Turkish Airlines plane. His obituary said he died “in defense of those being persecuted for their Christian faith” and that “his heart was for the protection of the innocence of Kurdish women and children.” He is survived by his parents and five siblings. MUHAMMAD ART CONTEST NH man sponsoring ‘Draw Muhammad’ art contest ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) β A New Hampshire man wants to defy an Islamic prohibition on depicting its prophet Muhammad in pictures and plans to host a ‘Draw Muhammad’ art contest in August. Jerry Delemus (deh-LAY’-mus), a 60-year-old former Marine, says the freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment trumps any religion’s prohibitions. Delemus told WMUR-TV that he recognizes the risks inherent in hosting such an event, but adds that he plans on having plenty of security on hand. In early May, police killed two Muslim gunmen who attempted to attack a similar event in Garland, Texas. In January, Muslim gunmen killed 12 people at the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo magazine for publishing satirical pictures of Muhammad. CHURCH SHOOTING HOAX Police surround 2 North Platte churches after fake 911 call NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) β Police in North Platte, Nebraska, say they surrounded two churches Sunday until they determined that a 911 call about a shooting at a Church of Christ had been faked. Police Sgt. Jeff Foote says reinforcements were called in from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office and Nebraska State Patrol after the 911 call came in around noon Sunday. The additional officers were needed because North Platte has two Churches of Christ. While officers surrounded the churches, tornado sirens blared as a storm moved through the area. The National Weather Service says a weak tornado was spotted near Lake Maloney, but no damage was immediately reported. Around 1:30 p.m., officers determined that both churches were safe and the call was a hoax. Authorities believe the call was made over the Internet. WOMAN STRANGLED-MEMORIAL Labyrinth dedicated in memory of slain Michigan woman GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. (AP) β A labyrinth has been dedicated in memory of Jane Bashara, a suburban Detroit woman who was strangled three years ago. Jane’s Walk is located in the front yard of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. The church says prayer stations that explore the symbolic journey of walking a labyrinth are being planned as part of the memorial. An event was held Sunday. Bashara’s husband Bob Bashara was sentenced in January to life in prison for arranging his wife’s killing. They lived nearby in Grosse Pointe Park, and she was found dead in her Mercedes-Benz in a Detroit alley, miles from home. Prosecutors say Bob Bashara coerced handyman Joe Gentz to strangle his wife and to abandon the body. Gentz is in prison for second-degree murder. CHINA-QIGONG MASTER China’s senior officials find comfort in mythical masters BEIJING (AP) β The former Chinese security czar recently convicted of leaking state secrets did not pass classified documents to a foreign spy or a political rival. Rather, Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the all-powerful Standing Committee of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo, shared the documents with his spiritual adviser, who claims supernatural abilities, according to a verdict made public last week and which also convicted Zhou of massive corruption. It’s the latest example of a twisted relationship between the leadership of the party, which nominally espouses atheism, and spirituality. The practice of Communist Party members taking interest in supernatural powers has drawn stern criticism from China’s political conservatives. But the demand for spiritual guidance and psychological counseling has risen in China as more people grapple with social and economic changes. Traditional values have been dismantled by the party’s earlier campaigns, but the party also has seen its own communist beliefs go bankrupt among the public. FRANCE-PRAYER APP French app hopes to link Muslim faithful with prayer sites MARSEILLE, France (AP) β They simply wanted a place to pray, as required five times a day for faithful Muslims. But in France, that’s not necessarily simple. The country has relatively few Muslim prayer spaces compared with the population β one for every 1,200 by some estimates β and a group of five friends from a variety of backgrounds decided they could do something about a problem they found themselves facing every day. They created an online community they called Salatsurfing, building an app and website to link the faithful with people willing to donate space. Salatsurfing lists about 150 spaces β homes or businesses β throughout France. About 2,500 people have joined since the geolocation service started in September. Sofiane Benabdallah, one of the founders, says the idea is similar to Airbnb or Uber β with one crucial difference: The service is free and the space is donated. She says it’s not intended to replace mosques. Yosra Farrouj, another of the founders, says “Salatsurfing is really an alternative in the way we allow someone to pray when a mosque is closed or there is no mosque around.”
