(RNS) — Fifty years after it held the world’s first international conference examining the rise of atheism and secularism, the Vatican is joining forces with a British research initiative to host a conference on “Cultures of Unbelief.” In late May, scholars from a range of disciplines will gather at Rome’s Gregorian University to discuss the results of the research initiative, called “Understanding Unbelief,” which for the past two years has been mapping the rise and nature of non-religion across the world. Funding for the $3 million Understanding Unbelief program, which is based at the University of Kent, has come from the John Templeton Foundation. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of “nones” — those who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or of no particular religion — will reach 1.2 billion worldwide by 2060. In the United States, 23 percent of the population currently claims no religious affiliation. Young people are particularly likely to identify … [Read more...]
Kenyan United Methodists oppose allowing LGBT clergy, pray for church unity worldwide
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — During a recent prayer service here at the Kayole St. John’s United Methodist Church, more than a hundred worshippers followed Rev. Wilton Odongo, one of the church’s head pastors, as he led congregants in prayer. This prayer was addressing the unity of the church — specifically, the worldwide United Methodist Church. Later this month, a special session of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis will renew its long-running debate over same-sex weddings and LGBTQ clergy. Several proposals under discussion would remove a rule in the church’s book of discipline that would prevent anyone who is a “self-avowed practicing homosexual” from serving as a minister. Here in East Africa’s heavyweight country, though, most say a resounding ‘no’ to such measures. “We are praying that God gives guidance to the delegates so that the result does not hurt the next generation,” said Odongo, who is also the district superintendent of Nairobi and the secretary to the … [Read more...]
J. Herbert Nelson encourages 2020 Vision Team to dream “a vision that is commensurate with our faith”
LOUISVILLE – J. Hebert Nelson, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), gave some advice Feb. 17 to the 2020 Vision Team. “Take off the brakes,” Nelson told the vision team, which is meeting in Louisville Feb. 16-18. “Say it again,” responded team member DèAnn Cunningham, a ruling elder from Charlotte. “Say it again, say it one more time.” Nelson did. “Take off the brakes,” he exhorted – advising the vision team to worry less about pleasing Presbyterians and more about casting a sense of possibility for a church still being formed. “The church we are trying to become has not been invented yet by anyone,” he said. What about the report the vision team will submit to the 2020 General Assembly in Baltimore? “Understand that your report is not going to be the report that is going to totally change the church. But it can be a jump-start for how we begin to process change across the church in significant ways,” Nelson said. “So dream and have vision, and let them … [Read more...]
2020 Vision Team hopes to lead Presbyterians in redemptive, transformative change
LOUISVILLE – How can the 2020 Vision Team lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in living into the future – into a redemptive, transformative type of change? That’s at the heart of what the Vision Team is discussing during its Feb. 16-18 meeting in Louisville, in which the team is also considering potential revisions to its draft guiding statement (most likely smaller adjustments rather than wholesale changes), and how it could provide additional materials to help Presbyterians use the guiding statement as a tool for adaptive change. The 2018 General Assembly approved that draft guiding statement, along with this comment: “We desire to hear explicit examples of what this would look like in different contexts and how to get there,” and “we would like to hear more inclusion of grace, joy and the Great Ends of the Church.” The comment also says “we encourage the 2020 Vision Team to make the guiding statement more succinct.” Team members have some ideas they’ll try to perfect … [Read more...]
Historic United Methodist church sees ‘hopeful’ time for LGBTQ Christians
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Rev. Myron McCoy is looking for a miracle. Or maybe a few of them. McCoy, senior pastor of the historic First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple, dreams of the day when the church, which predates the founding of Chicago, will be filled with disciples ready to transform the world. He also dreams of an end to what he called “exclusionary” language toward LGBTQ United Methodists in the denomination’s Book of Discipline. Both require divine intervention, he said in a sermon about the wedding at Cana — in which Jesus turns water into wine — during a service on a recent wintry morning in Chicago. “Believe in the miracle, and God can perform it today,” he said in the Jan. 20 sermon. McCoy soon may know if one of his prayers will be answered. Next week, United Methodists from around the world will gather in St. Louis for a special session of the church’s General Conference. United Methodists are looking to the meeting of the denomination’s … [Read more...]
PC(USA) celebrates Black History Month
Left: Lucy Craft Laney’s portrait is displayed at the Georgia State Capitol. Right: The Rev. Edler Hawkins was the first African-American male moderator of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. (PNS) African-Americans have played a pivotal role in American church history. Many may be familiar with Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, the founders of what is now known as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was established in Philadelphia in 1792. Less known but equally as important to the Presbyterian denomination was the Rev. John Gloucester, who founded the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1807. The Presbyterian Church has a rich history of bold, courageous and gifted African-Americans who contributed and continue to contribute to the advancement of the denomination. During this celebration of Black History Month, we stop to recognize some of these leaders who made a profound impact on the Church. Gloucester was authorized … [Read more...]
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