September 2010: GetReligion

Strippers in the pews — er, news. Published Sept. 1. Life and death of Mike/Christine. Published Sept. 3. How not to cover a protest. Published Sept. 7. Muslim victims of 9/11. Published Sept. 10. Could it be Satan? How con-VEEN-ient. Published Sept. 13. Dancing with the dead in Madagascar. Published Sept. 16. Really, really, really strong apology. Published Sept. 19. O’Donnell gets God, and many … Continue reading September 2010: GetReligion

Singing, sweating and saving souls in West Virginia

Singing, sweating and saving souls in West Virginia (reporting from Parkersburg, W.Va.). Page 1 lead. PARKERSBURG, W.VA. – The heat was on. That’s what happens when you take 90-degree temperatures, on-fire-for-the-Lord church members and a 1950s-era high school field house with no air-conditioning — and put them all together. Hundreds of hand fans fluttered, volunteers passed out ice-cold bottled water and sweat-drenched Christians wiped their foreheads … Continue reading Singing, sweating and saving souls in West Virginia

August 2010: GetReligion

The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Published Aug. 2. When sex offenders go to church. Published Aug. 3. Hostility toward evangelicals? What hostility? Published Aug. 5. New byte of Apple faith. Published Aug. 6. Saints, sinners … and strippers. Published Aug. 10. Hands and feet of Jesus? Published Aug. 13. The couple that pastors together. Published Aug. 16. Hindu-esque Orthodox Christian commuters? Published … Continue reading August 2010: GetReligion

Scholars and ‘snake-handlers’

Scholars and ‘Snake-Handlers’ Society of Biblical Literature accused of evangelical pandering—and secular bias. September issue. A professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of California–Berkeley quit the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), voicing concern that North America’s leading organization for biblical scholarship had welcomed “the views of creationists, snake-handlers, and faith healers.” In an op-ed in the July/August 2010 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Ronald S. Hendel complained … Continue reading Scholars and ‘snake-handlers’

Religious hiring’s status quo victory

Religious Hiring’s Status Quo Victory A 2-1 ruling by Ninth Circuit affirms World Vision’s right to consider religious beliefs in employment. But questions over faith-based hiring practices and government funding seem far from settled. Online exclusive published Aug. 26. What if? That was the question asked repeatedly by evangelical organizations as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals weighed an employment discrimination lawsuit against World … Continue reading Religious hiring’s status quo victory

The Spiritual Toll — Katrina: Five Years Later

The Spiritual Toll — Katrina: Five Years Later: Beyond physical losses, hurricane’s path of debris left some New Orleans-area churches facing unexpected challenges (reporting from Mandeville, La.). Page 1 lead. MANDEVILLE, La. – In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ organized a mammoth relief effort that encouraged Christians across the nation. Yet the long-term ramifications of the nation’s costliest natural disaster … Continue reading The Spiritual Toll — Katrina: Five Years Later

July 2010: GetReligion

Ghosts in toddler’s tragic death? Published July 1. Bible Belt begets better business? Published July 6. Prayers in the outfield. Published July 7. Oops, forgot the kitchen sink. Published July 14. Frozen souls: Hooked on cryonics. Published July 15. Did God pick Harry Reid’s opponent? Published July 19. Totally secular right to die. Published July 21. The magic of three. Published July 23. Generic ‘devout … Continue reading July 2010: GetReligion

Faith, hope and love behind bars

Faith, hope and love behind bars: Ministries shine Christ’s light inside prison walls (reporting from Harvest, Ala.). Page 1 lead. Second Place, Feature Article, Associated Church Press Honorable Mention, Criminal Justice Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle HARVEST, Ala. – Robbery. Murder. Child molestation. The six inmates seated in state prison chaplain Charles Baggett’s office on a recent … Continue reading Faith, hope and love behind bars

Faith-based fracas

Faith-Based Fracas

From the White House to the courthouse, the battle escalates over whether Christian groups have the right to employ only Christians. June issue.

When Sylvia Spencer applied at World Vision’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle in 1995, she described herself as a committed Christian.

Asked on an employment form why she wanted to work for the international humanitarian aid organization, Spencer wrote, “Because I would love to work for an organization dedicated to carrying on the Lord’s work!”

Another World Vision employee, Vicki Hulse, mentioned her 15 years as a Christian in a résumé attachment when she applied a few years later.

“I recently moved to this area and would very much like to find a place of employment with a Christian organization where I could be of value,” Hulse wrote.

Both women signed statements affirming their Christian faith and devoted a decade to World Vision, which serves impoverished children and families in more than 100 countries.

But in November 2006, they and colleague Ted Youngberg were fired. Their offense, as determined by a corporate investigation: The three did not believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and a member of the Trinity.

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