Clipmarks | Pastors Clips

How come we only hear about white male evangelicals?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:31:24 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "the media often chronicle the broadening social concerns of white evangelical males such as Rick Warren and Richard Cizik." But much non-white evangelicalism has been politically progressive - and isolated - for a long, long time.

Clip Source: blog.beliefnet.com

Meanwhile, the stories of progressive evangelical minorities and women

remain

invisible

before us lie two roads

One path pursues the common good of white evangelical men, while relying on the common labor of evangelical women and minorities. This path is marked by denominational positions that define minstry by gender and not gifting

theology that clarifies doctrine while obscuring the correlations of race and poverty, and well-intentioned civic disengagement that nevertheless stacks an already tilted deck of cards against the marginalized.

The other road

relies upon the common labor of all evangelicals to pursue the common good of all

This pathway also has signposts: more women serving as bishops and pastors; theology that rhythmically alternates between digesting scripture and dismantling the poverty-race correlation; and wise engagement that represents the broad concerns of the evangelical constituency to the public and private sector.

Christians must toil for

a technicolor justice revival

Tags: theology, religion, evangelical

When Pastors Go Postal

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:42:20 GMT

clipped by: katsteevns

Clip Source: www.thenation.com

When Pastors Go Postal

By Barbara Ehrenreich

August 12, 2008

For heartsick former supporters of John Edwards, this week offers an edifying tabloid alternative: the civil trial of Victoria Osteen, wife of mega-church minister and televangelist Joel Osteen, for assaulting a flight attendant.

AP Images
Victoria and Joel Osteen exit a courtroom Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008 in Houston.

Whatever dubious substance Victoria Osteen faced on that first-class armrest, she should have been able to derive some serenity from the fact that the church she co-pastors draws 40,000 worshippers a week and that her husband has been dubbed "America's Most Influential Christian."

Christians would do well to ponder: in 1997, another megachurch pastor and leading televangelist--Robert Schuller--was prosecuted for an eerily similar first-class tantrum.

Schuller, like the Osteens, is a proponent of positive thinking--the doctrine that God intends for you to be rich, healthy and generally "great" right here in this life.

Thou shall not touch..

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:50:38 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: The Decree on Creepy Overlong Stares states that, in the rare instances when a Boston-area priest must look straight into the eyes of a child, said pastor must first don a pair of specially designed sunglasses, the lenses of which have been coated in a compound harvested from the sweat glands of ascetic eunuchs who live deep in the Catacombs of Agony just beneath Vatican City. The active ingredient of the special compound reportedly dims the bright light of a child's tantalizing innocence, thus making the youth appear just as old and soiled and sinful as, well, everyone else.

Clip Source: www.sfgate.com

New rules for priests

No more piggyback rides, hugging, tickling. And that goes for the kids, too

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a detailed list of inappropriate behaviors for priests, saying they should not kiss, tickle or wrestle children. The archdiocese's Decree on Child Protection also prohibits bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides. But it says priests may still shake children's hands, pat them on the back and give high-fives.

The archdiocese of Boston, notorious in the past decade as the most pedophilic and scandal-plagued of all, having currently paid out over $136 million to more than 1,000 victims of sexual abuse , has quietly issued strict new guidelines for all its remaining pastors.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued a new Dictum on Appropriate Underclothing, which now commands that all its priests must wear, as a means to "thwart all untoward urges," an elaborate tight-fitting leather harness system involving multiple snaps, metal rings

Tags: church

Pastor's sex with dauther inspired by Bible

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:47:03 GMT

clipped by: emudeer
clipper's remarks: http://no2evangelism.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/pastors-sex-with-dauther-inspired-by-bible/

Clip Source: www.wkrg.com

Authorities: ‘Hopkins’ Sex Acts Inspired By Bible’

Anthony Hopkins may have built a reputation as a preacher, but it's how he's accused of using his faith, that will now determine his fate. "The (unidentified) stated that when he first had sexual contact with her he explained that it was normal and he described to her and told her in detail the story of Lot from the Bible," Said Ashley Rich, Assistant Mobile County District Attorney.

A story from the Old Testament that Dr. Cecil Taylor with the University of Mobile says, is a tale about a good man who gives in to evil and ends up committing incest with his two daughters. "Lot has raised his daughters in such a sexually perverted city that it was almost normal for them to do what seems to us so very abnormal, "Said Taylor, the Dean of Christian Studies for the University of Mobile.

"You have to be very careful as you read the Bible to avoid taking a negative example as a positive example and copying that in your own life,"Said Dr. Taylor.

Called to help the poor

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:58:44 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: Do you hear God's message about caring for the poor in your church? I can't say I hear it very often.

Clip Source: www.shaungroves.com

Last night at my gig I said something about how we’re saved to bring the kingdom to earth, to fix what’s broken, and part of that is caring for the poor. I pointed out that 80% of American pastors say they’ve never spoken about the poor, though there are more verses in the bible concerning the poor than there are concerning heaven and hell - and there’s no shortage of talk about those two places.

Ezekiel tells us it’s the Spirit of God who moves us to obey God’s commands and so anyone with the Spirit in them is not immovably opposed to the will of God or the words written down under the guidance of the Spirit. The task for the person speaking about the poor (pastor, blogger or whatever) is to frame the discussion spiritually, not politically or in purely humanitarian or financial terms - to illustrate persuasively that caring for the poor is deeply inseparably Christian.

Evangelism Exposed

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:49:31 GMT

clipped by: emudeer

Clip Source: no2evangelism.wordpress.com

Exposing Evangelism

The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell.― Holy Quran 8:36

Pastors bless ban on gay marriages

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:42:34 GMT

clipped by: queah

Clip Source: www.cantonrep.com

LOS ANGELES Eight years ago, when an initiative to ban gay marriage was on the California ballot for the first time, Pastor Jim Garlow of the 2,500-member Skyline Church in San Diego County barely mentioned it from his pulpit.

But same-sex marriage was not legal then. This time around, he said, will be different, and he hopes other ministers will agree.

Garlow recently took a first step toward organizing clergy in the state, convening a conference call in which more than 1,000 ministers, most of them from evangelical congregations, discussed tactics for passing a fall ballot initiative that would amend California's Constitution to ban gay marriage.

HAPPY COUPLE Pamela Brown (left) and her wife, Shauna Brown, are among same-sex couples whose nuptials were made possible by California Supreme Court's May 15 ruling that legalized gay marriage.

Church Signs That Won’t Make You Go To Church

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:24:26 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: Or are people this sick/stupid? I think most of got the photoshop treatment. Or at least I hope to God they did!

Clip Source: www.holytaco.com

Driving across the rural parts of America you’ll undoubtedly notice the large number of churches that use their signs to try and draw people into their church with a joke or a pun or some good old fashioned fire and brimstone fear. The problem is, the comedy stylings of most church pastors is kind of like a combination of Yakov Smirnoff and Rush Limbaugh. You either get the world’s crappiest puns or some sort of evil, hate filled message that’s supposed to scare you into attending, or a totally awesome unintentional double entrendre. Either way, these signs are the only interesting thing to look at when you’re driving from Pennsylvania to Colorado.

Tags: church, signs, wtf, for real, no way, sick, stupid, funny, scary

NIRMAN ngo koraput orissa india

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:30:30 GMT

clipped by: Ashwini
clipper's remarks: Nirman, aims for the socio-economic upliftment of underprivileged believers and non-believers in the operational area.

Clip Source: nirman.dev4india.org

We are a team of born again Christians. We live in rural, urban and semi-urban area of Koraput district of Orissa, India.

Presently, we are providing possible assistance to the poorest of poor preachers and pastors who are in His vineyard and even in socio-economic upliftment of underprivileged believers and non-believers in the operational area. We are dedicated to support the poor students in financial supports for their higher studies. We also provide assistance to widow centers, orphanage and old age home health care facility. We help the poor in income generation activities, protect them from human rights violation and provide basic education facility and knowledge for modern agriculture and spiritual nourishment.

Tags: nirman, ngo, koraput, orissa, india, dev4india, development, poor, rural, education

Building bridges between Jews and Latino Pentecostals

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:28:27 GMT

clipped by: enbar
clipper's remarks: In L.A., a Jewish group has been mounting outreach efforts to Latino Pentecostal congregations and organizations, including a Spanish-language 'Essence of Judaism" course. The piece suggests the outreach has been pretty successful.

Clip Source: www.startribune.com

Los Angeles Jews forge bond with Pentecostal Latinos to counter anti-Semitism

By CHRISTINA HOAG , Associated Press

Last update: July 31, 2008 - 11:22 AM

"I was amazed at the affinity these congregations have for Israel," recalled Brown, director of interreligious affairs for the Los Angeles chapter of the Jewish advocacy group. "I wanted to take this to the next level."

The Los Angeles office has since worked to forge new bonds: They recently took a group of Pentecostal Hispanic pastors to Israel, offered a course called "The Essence of Judaism" at a Southern California Pentecostal seminary, and invited Hispanic pastors and their families to Passover seders and Sukkot harvest celebrations.

Jewish leaders are building on Pentecostal pro-Israel sentiment to dispel stereotypes between both groups. Many Jewish groups in recent years have accepted such support without questioning the theology behind it, which says that all people, including Jews, will ultimately accept Christ.

Tags: via:pewforum, religion, christianity, judaism, evangelicalism, pluralism, interfaith, news

Armageddon?

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:25:50 GMT

clipped by: debbyski
clipper's remarks: "Another speaker, Rev. Dudley Rutherford, predicted that if Prop. 8 fails, the God-ordained institution of marriage would be destroyed; the engine of hate crimes legislation would be fueled, ultimately leading to it being illegal to read some sections of the Bible; the floodgates would be open to gay couples suing to force churches to marry them; and the polygamists would be next."

Yes, folks we don't have a war against poverty anymore, we have more important things to focus on such as THE GAYS--who are causing the rising divorce rate among heterosexuals!

Clip Source: www.rightwingwatch.org

For two hours earlier this week, pastors gathered at more than 200 sites throughout California, Arizona, and Florida to be exhorted by national Religious Right leaders like Tony Perkins, Harry Jackson, Maggie Gallagher, and Chuck Colson and others to hold nothing back in their efforts to fight against marriage equality.

While speaker after speaker spoke of the dire threats same-sex married couples pose to “traditional” marriage, religious freedom, and civilization itself, the overall tone of the call was confidence that victory would be won with God’s help, 40 days of prayer and fasting before the election, teams of intercessors and prayer warriors around the country, and a massive highly organized deployment of volunteers in a systematic voter identification and turnout campaign.

They just keep getting younger....

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:51:52 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman
clipper's remarks: What kind of future does this poor kid have?

Clip Source: friendlyatheist.com

And I keep getting more disturbed:

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Clip Source: friendlyatheist.com

A number of thoughts immediately come to mind:

This makes more sense than what many adult pastors say.

This isn’t brainwashing because the baby doesn’t know what he’s doing.

This is brainwashing because the baby doesn’t know what he’s doing.

I wonder what role the parents had in making this happen…

I have $5. Can I keep the baby? It’s cute.

Methodists Following Presbyterians in Gay marriage issue

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:55:46 GMT

clipped by: Eaglewings
clipper's remarks: Another denomination is biting the forbidden fruit of fornication. It would appear that Gay marriage is becoming the new standard by which the church is going to be judged. No wonder there is a downward spiral in the moral climate of the country. Not even those who PROFESS CHRIST are able to stand for anything anymore.

GOD HELP US ALL!

Clip Source: www.christianpost.com

More United Methodists are throwing their support behind clergy in California who want to perform same-sex "marriages" despite the denomination's stance that homosexual practice is "incompatible with Christian teaching."

On Thursday, delegates from the Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference of the United Methodist Church - from Maine south to West Virginia - approved a resolution expressing respect for clergy in the California regional bodies who participate in wedding same-sex couples "as a matter of Christian conscience, spiritual discernment and prophetic witnessing," as reported by the United Methodist News Service.

In April, measures that would have removed the ban on noncelibate gay pastors and the statement that homosexual practice is "incompatible with Christian teaching" were voted down after emotional debates.

In the following months, however, regional conferences have approved measures supporting homosexuals after the California Supreme Court legalized gay "marriage" on May 15.

Tags: homosexuality, methodists, church, marriage, fornication, sin

Senator blames Government and courts for silencing religion

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:00:12 GMT

clipped by: Eaglewings
clipper's remarks: How horrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn what is bitter into something sweet and what is sweet into something bitter. Isaiah 5:20 (GW)

Clip Source: www.onenewsnow.com

Senator Jim DeMint says many Christians and their pastors are afraid to state their moral convictions about abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and other issues.

The South Carolina Republican is co-author of a new book titled Why We Whisper – Restoring Our Right To Say It's Wrong. DeMint blames government, and courts in particular, for turning wrongs into rights and barring religious views from public debate. Government rulings, he argues, have changed American culture.

"Before the 1960s, it was pretty clear that abortion was wrong, that sex outside of marriage was wrong, that unwed birth was wrong, and pornography, homosexuality – all this was considered wrong by the society," DeMint contends. "But government came in and turned right and wrong upside down."

DeMint says religious appeals have essentially been barred from public debate.

DeMint adds. "But the government essentially said that religion must be separated from public life.

Tags: religion, state, church, senator, government, courts

Homeland Security Seizes 32 Computers Bound for Cuba at Texas-Mexico Border

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:10:57 GMT

clipped by: deadcowkid

Clip Source: www.indybay.org

The confiscated computers were donated by a Japanese-American group from the San Francisco Bay Area. They were so impressed with Cub's educational system that they collected PCs in their community to contribute to the 19th Pastors for Peace US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan. As a result of this US seizure, 32 Cuban classrooms will not have a computer

Photos | Caravan to Cuba needs help | Call Border Patrol | Pastors For Peace

In addition to the computers, participants are taking 100 tons of humanitarian aid across the US-Mexico border and on to Cuba. The aid includes wheelchairs, medicine, medical equipment, musical instruments

Federal agents seized 32 computers from Pastors for Peace as they attempted to cross the Pharr International Bridge early this morning at the US-Mexico border. "We will not be intimidated.

We have made every effort to be cooperative and they have responded with aggression.

Clip Source: www.indybay.org

Tags: poverty, humanity

Clipmarks | Pastors Clips

How come we only hear about white male evangelicals?

When Pastors Go Postal

When Pastors Go Postal

By Barbara Ehrenreich

August 12, 2008

Thou shall not touch..

New rules for priests

No more piggyback rides, hugging, tickling. And that goes for the kids, too

Pastor's sex with dauther inspired by Bible

Authorities: ‘Hopkins’ Sex Acts Inspired By Bible’

Called to help the poor

Evangelism Exposed

Exposing Evangelism

Categories

Pastors bless ban on gay marriages

Church Signs That Won’t Make You Go To Church

NIRMAN ngo koraput orissa india

Building bridges between Jews and Latino Pentecostals

Los Angeles Jews forge bond with Pentecostal Latinos to counter anti-Semitism

Armageddon?

They just keep getting younger....

Methodists Following Presbyterians in Gay marriage issue

Senator blames Government and courts for silencing religion

Homeland Security Seizes 32 Computers Bound for Cuba at Texas-Mexico Border