The 3 - May 30, 2021

This week's edition of The 3 includes the story out of Virginia, where a teacher has been suspended because of his public stand against a new policy requiring teachers to use students' so-called "preferred pronouns" based on gender identity.  Also, a Christian realtor in Minnesota has decided to let his license expire rather than comply with new policies that could cause ramifications if he were to speak out against the LGBTQ agenda.  And, a theft ring that was stealing money from churches in Florida has apparently been halted by law enforcement there.

Virginia teacher suspended for refusal to uphold pronoun policy for transgender students

A PE teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia, has been suspended because of his opposition to new school district policy regarding using pronouns referring to a student's gender identity, not his or her biology. According to Faithwire, teacher Byron "Tanner" Cross spoke at a recent school board meeting regarding the policy "requiring all staff to use students’ preferred pronouns and to allow transgender students to participate in sports activities however they identify, regardless of their biological sex."

Cross said that "I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences,” adding, “I’m a teacher but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl, and vice versa, because it’s against my religion. It’s lying to a child. It’s abuse to a child. And it’s sinning against our God.”  He said his comments were shared out of love for those struggling with gender dysphoria.  He referred to a recent 60 Minutes report that, according to the article, saying:

“’60 Minutes’ this past Sunday interviewed over 30 young people who transitioned,” Cross said, “but they felt led astray because of lack of pushback or how easy it was to make physical changes to their bodies in just three months. They are now de-transitioning.”

Christian realtor gives up license in light of position on LGBTQ

CBN.com reports on a Christian real estate agent who has decided to let his license lapse rather than to comply with his supervisor's demands that he not speak out in opposition to "LGBTQ+ issues."  That's what agent Matt Moore said to Faithwire.

According to CBN, Moore had "published an open letter to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which had recently updated the language in its code of ethics in a way he argued could spark 'discrimination against Christian realtors.'” He went on to say that, “As public awareness of the fact that realtors can be reported for things said and done outside of real estate increases,...realtors who express a historic Christian view on homosexual and transsexual behavior could become regular targets for undeserved allegations of hate speech.”

Hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from churches in Florida and other states

$740,000 has been stolen from churches throughout the state of Florida and beyond by a group based in Romania and operating out of Orlando; it is reported by ChristianHeadlines.com that this was accomplished "by stealing contribution checks from their mailboxes and cashing them."  The article states:

Authorities said the money was spent on automobiles, food, clothing and high-value wire transfers to Romania, Fox News reports. In what officials are dubbing "Operation Thou Shalt Not Steal," four people have been detained, and two more are wanted.

636 churches total were victimized, with over 350 in Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a press release in which Commissioner Rick Swearingen is quoted, saying, "This low-tech yet well-organized effort to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of mailed-in charitable donations — at a time when donations may have been most needed — has been stopped."

The 3 - May 23, 2021

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the announcement that the U.S. Supreme Court will take the case of a pro-life law out of Mississippi.  Also, pro-life legislation has continued to advance, with at least two bills moving forward this past week. And, a federal judge has turned back a request by a Christian college which may be forced to allow biological males and females to share areas that previously have been separated by gender.

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Mississippi pro-life law

There has been anticipation for quite some time that the U.S. Supreme Court would accept a case that would weaken or overturn the drastic decision, Roe v. Wade, resulting in legalized abortion in America. There is speculation that a case out of Mississippi could affect the scope of that ruling.

Live Action News reports that:

The Supreme Court of the United States announced on Monday that it will hear the case surrounding Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban known as the “Gestational Age Act,” HB 1510. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, gives SCOTUS the opportunity to reconsider Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in the United States in 1973, as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 Supreme Court case that affirmed Roe v. Wade and set viability as the standard for when abortion can and cannot be restricted.

But what was considered "viability" even in 1992 is not how the term should necessarily be regarded today. Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, stated: "The Supreme Court must acknowledge what science has long revealed: that a unique and individual human life beings at the moment of fertilization. They must recognize that the arbitrary line of viability is an ever-changing goalpost as science and technology advance, and a child’s ability to survive outside the womb should not determine his or her humanity or right not be murdered in a violent abortion.”

A federal district court and appeals court had ruled against the law, according to the article, which says that the justices could hear the case this fall, paving the way for a decision next year.

(More) pro-life victories in the states

The Supreme Court decision to accept the Mississippi law comes as the result of a set of lawmakers in one state to pass solid pro-life legislation.  That has been occurring in states all across the union.  Alabama, in addition to passing a strong pro-life bill in 2019, preceded by a constitutional amendment affirming life in 2018, completed the passage of another pro-life bill in the waning hours of the recent regular session.

Yellowhammer News reported that last Monday night, "Alabama Senate on Monday unanimously gave final passage to HB 237, which now heads to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk after passing the House earlier in the session." The article said that the bill would "... purport to safeguard against infanticide by requiring a doctor to administer the same level of medical care to a child born alive after an abortion attempt as they would any other child.

The Susan B. Anthony List reported that there have been over 530 pro-life bills proposed to state legislatures this year alone. Over 60 have become law, including a Texas bill, the Heartbeat Bill, that SBA List describes as "legislation to ban abortion in the state as early as a fetal heartbeat can be detected." The article on the organization's website points out, "A growing body of literature and emerging science continually affirms the humanity of unborn children."

Judge allows Administration to force college to force restrooms and locker rooms to be open to members of opposite sex

The federal government is intent on forcing schools to adopt radical policies that force biological men and women to share what has traditionally been gender-specific, such as a restroom or locker room. And, it's even more insidious when Christian schools are being forced to violate their principles in order to comply.

ChristianHeadlines.com reports that a federal district judge has denied a petition by College of the Ozarks in Missouri " to block enforcement of a new Biden administration rule that the school says will force it to open dorms and showers to students who identify as the opposite sex."

The article stated:

At issue is a new directive by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in entities covered by the Fair Housing Act.

It added, "The directive was issued in accordance with an LGBT-themed executive order by President Biden."

The 3 - May 16, 2021

On The 3 this week, there are new developments out of Canada involving a pastor who had been visited by law enforcement around Easter regarding alleged violations of COVID regulations - he has now been arrested.  And, under new guidelines from the government, there may be attempts to force health professionals to perform surgeries designed to alter someone's gender. Also, there are Christian leaders who are speaking out regarding a tense situation in Israel.

Another Canadian pastor arrested for alleged COVID violations

In the Canadian province of Alberta, another pastor has been arrested due to his church's decision to gather in worship in violation of COVID-19 restrictions. The Christian Post reports that:

Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski, who kicked police out of his church after they tried to shut down a worship service during Holy Week, and his brother, Dawid Pawlowski, have been arrested for holding an “illegal” in-person gathering as per COVID-19 limits set by a new court order.

The story refers to a YouTube video that shows five police vehicles were sent in order to arrest the brothers, who were confronted by the road after the church service. The Calgary Police Force said that the Pawlowskis “have both been arrested and charged with organizing an illegal in-person gathering, including requesting, inciting or inviting others to attend an illegal public gathering, promoting and attending an illegal public gathering..."

Meanwhile, the trial of Edmonton, Alberta pastor James Coates occurred earlier this month.  According to the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms, the trial has been adjourned until June 7. The judge will announce if the pastor's constitutional rights were violated. Also, as the website points out, the provincial government will be "forced to produce their evidence for lockdowns."

Also, just this past weekend, another Canadian pastor was arrested due to his violation of public health restrictions due to COVID.  CBC.ca reports that Tim Stephens, a pastor in Calgary, "was arrested for organizing a church service on Sunday at Fairview Baptist Church in southeast Calgary, in violation of a Court of Queen's Bench Order that requires organizers of events to comply with public health restrictions."  The article reports:

Churches are currently limited to a maximum occupancy of 15 people, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. The province has the highest active case rate in the country, with more than 22,000 active cases.

Stephens had written in a blog post, according to the article: "Restricting the church to 15 people — which essentially restricts the church from gathering — is against the will of Christ and against the conscience of many who desire to worship the Lord of glory according to his word..."

U.S. government department announces changes that could result in attempt to force medical pros to participate in gender change surgeries

Health professionals who wish to object to being involved in surgeries to help someone "change" their gender could face a backlash under new regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Family Research Council, which reported on its website this past Monday:

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced today an "update" regarding the enforcement and interpretation of Obamacare Section 1557, indicating that it will now interpret discrimination "on the basis of sex" to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity."

FRC President Tony Perkins said, "Sex is not subjective; it is an objective biological reality. Now, the Biden administration wants to punish medical professionals for recognizing this fact. Gender transition procedures are not fully embraced within the medical community because of their severe, negative, psychological, and physical impacts."

Christian groups had warned against putting Becerra in a Cabinet position over health, and this is one example. The Secretary appeared on Capitol Hill this week and denied the existence of a law that he, in fact, voted against. The Federalist reported:

When asked whether he would uphold a law banning partial-birth abortions during the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Health Subcommittee hearing, Becerra denied there was a law against it.

“There is no law that deals specifically with the term partial-birth abortions,” Becerra told Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

The article states:

Despite Becerra’s assertion, there are laws that define partial-birth abortions. Not only does the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 characterize it, but the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the law and its definition in Gonzales v. Carhart.

In his confirmation hearings, Sen. Mitt Romney asked Becerra why he voted against "a ban on partial-birth abortion." Becerra, a former U.S. House member, stated, "I understand that people have different deeply held beliefs on this issue. … We may not always agree on where to go, but I think we can find some common ground..."

Christian leaders call for prayer amidst unrest in Middle East

Israel is continuing to defend itself against unprovoked attacks from Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with missiles being fired by the Gaza Strip and other areas and violence occurring on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  And, Christian leaders are speaking out and calling for peace, according to ChristianHeadlines.com.

Franklin Graham posted on Facebook, according to the article: "I have many friends who live in Israel, both Arab and Jew, so we are very concerned about the situation there. People have been killed, families are cowering in fear in bomb shelters, and they need our prayers. As we are commanded in the Scriptures, let us "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6)."

Tony Evans tweeted, "My heart goes out to the people impacted through the heightened Middle East conflict. Having recently visited that region, I'm reminded of the many wonderful people I met, and request us all to pray for those who are suffering."

The article also mentions a post from Ed Young, who pastors Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, stating that he "also called for prayer in a Facebook post, writing, 'Pray with me. For protection of the innocent. For peace. For loved ones lost. For our leaders. In Jesus name. #PrayForIsrael.'"

The 3 - May 9, 2021

This week's edition of The 3 includes a ruling out of a federal appeals court saying that a juror who admitted he received divine guidance should not have been removed from a jury.  Also, a pastor in the UK was arrested for speaking publicly about his belief in the traditional, Biblical definition of marriage.  And, a large city in Texas has become the largest city in the country to declare itself a "sanctuary city" for the unborn.

Federal appeals court finds that juror who sought counsel from God should not have been removed

In 2017, a former member of Congress, Corinne Brown, stood trial for fraud. One of the jurors, during the process of deliberation, said that he had received guidance from another source - the Holy Spirit.  First Liberty, which contended that the juror should not have been removed, reports on its website:

Despite the juror’s repeated assurances that he was basing his opinion about the case on the evidence, the trial judge determined that the juror had illegally “received guidance” from outside the trial because the juror was relying on prayer to guide his decision.

An en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found that the juror had been improperly removed from the jury, stating, "Corrine Brown was entitled to the unanimous verdict of a jury of ordinary citizens. The removal of Juror No. 13—a juror who listened for God’s guidance as he sat in judgment of Brown and deliberated over the evidence against her—deprived her of one.”

British pastor arrested for advocating Biblical definition of marriage

John Sherwood is a 71-year-old pastor in London who was arrested recently. His crime: supporting the definition of marriage as one man and one woman.  The Christianity Daily website related:

Pastor John Sherwood was accused of making "homophobic" comments when he preached outside Uxbridge Station. His arrest was handled unpleasantly that the elderly man complained he was bruised and treated "shamefully," The Daily Mail reported.

The preacher is quoted as saying, "I wasn't making any homophobic comments, I was just defining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. I was only saying what the Bible says - I wasn't wanting to hurt anyone or cause offence..."

The article at Christianity Daily stated: "In the video clip taken during his arrest, the pastor was shown pulled forcibly down a stepladder by officers. He was then handcuffed and taken to the police car."

Texas city of over a quarter million residents votes to become "sanctuary city" for the unborn

Lubbock, Texas has over 250,000 residents, and is now the largest city in America, population-wise that has declared itself to be a "sanctuary city" for the unborn, according to The Christian Post.  Over 60% of voters voted to approve an ordinance that said it would be “unlawful for any person to procure or perform an abortion of any type and at any stage of pregnancy in the City of Lubbock, Texas.”

The Post article states:

In an interview with The Christian Post, Mark Lee Dickson, the founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn movement that lobbies nationwide to pass ordinances banning abortion at the local level, cheered Saturday’s “landslide” victory for the pro-life movement.

“I think it says a lot because Lubbock is the 11th-most populated city in the state of Texas and the 83rd most populated city in the United States of America,” he said.

Just a few weeks ago, Planned Parenthood had located a clinic performing abortion in the west Texas city. Dickson says, " ...since this was a landslide election, it’s very obvious that the people of Lubbock have spoken. I am expecting that Planned Parenthood will obey … the laws of the city and … not perform abortions within the city limits of Lubbock, Texas.”

The 3 - May 2, 2021

This week's edition of The 3 includes news related to the allowing of biological males who identity as female to compete in female sports, with developments over the past week in two more states. Also, two faithful Christians in governments in other countries have found themselves being punished.  And, there is more movement in the United Methodist Church, with the recent announcements of two congregations representing different ideologies leaving the denomination.

More states pass legislation to prevent biological males from competing in girls' sports

It's a matter of biology - even if a biological male identifies as a different gender or has attempted to alter his gender surgically or through therapy, is it fair or right for that individual to compete against biological females?  The Christian Post reports that according to the Alliance Defending Freedom regarding four athletes from Connecticut...

Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith and Ashley Nicoletti have been “deprived” of “honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels.” Mitchell would have won the 2019 state championship in the women’s 55-meter indoor track competition, ADF reports. However, two biological male competitors took first and second place. Meanwhile, Soule, Smith and Nicoletti “have been denied medals and/or advancement opportunities.”

The Post ran a story recently that said a Federal district judge, Robert Chatigny, "threw out" a lawsuit filed against two governing bodies of high school sports in the state. And, ADF said it will be appealing the ruling. Chatigny said that “courts across the country have consistently held that Title IX requires schools to treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity.” However, as The Christian Post states, "The plaintiffs, who were all high school students when the lawsuit was filed, contend that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports violates Title IX, which was designed to provide equal opportunities for females in education."

Meanwhile, two states recently have passed bills mandating that athletes in grades K-12 compete according to their gender on their birth certificate.  The Tampa Bay Times reports that Florida governor Ron DeSantis will sign a bill that bans biological males from competing in girls' sports - the story says:

“We’re going to protect our girls,” DeSantis said at a town hall of red state governors hosted by Fox’ Laura Ingraham. “I have a four-year-old daughter and a one-year old daughter. They’re both very athletic. We want to have opportunities for our girls. They deserve an even playing field, and that’s what we’re doing.”

And, Alliance Defending Freedom reports that West Virginia governor Jim Justice signed similar legislation.

Christian governmental leaders punished

Christians who are living out their faith in positions of authority in a couple of other countries have found themselves being punished.  The website of Well Versed, the ministry headed by Jim Garlow, tells the story of the former Interim President of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, described as a "most delightful and godly woman." The site says:

At the end of January 2020, only 15 months ago, I posted a story about her remarkable rise to power. Massive prayer meetings had set the country free from an extended Communist regime. The tyrannical leader - Evo Morales - had ignored term limits, and was supposedly reelected under a cloud of election fraud.

Morales was eventually removed, but after that change in government, the site says, "Since that time, another election was held and the Communists have seized control again. In coming back into power, in typical dictatorial Communist ways, they promptly arrested the legitimate government leaders who led before them. On Saturday, March 13, Jeanine Anez was arrested. She is (based on what we have last heard) in prison. While in prison, she became ill and an ambulance was called to the prison, but the ambulance was sent away without taking Anez to the hospital. Her children are hurting badly without their mother." The ministry is asking for prayer for Ms. Anez.

Also, The Christian Post has published a story about a Member of Parliament in Finland who is facing the possibility of six years in prison.  The article says:

The country’s chief prosecutor has brought three criminal charges against Finnish Member of Parliament and former Minister of the Interior, Päivi Räsänen, according to the Austria-based Christian legal group ADF International.

The politician, who is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and former chair of the Christian Democrats, has been under police investigation since June 2019 for publicly voicing her opinion on marriage and human sexuality in a 2004 pamphlet, for comments made on a 2018 TV show, and a tweet directed at her church leadership.

She has said, according to the article, that "she will 'defend my right to confess my faith so that no one else would be deprived of their right to freedom of religion and speech.'"

Churches - progressive and conservative - leaving United Methodist Church

Progessive and conservative congregations in the United Methodist Church are evaluating their future in light of an impending vote scheduled for next year that will split the denomination in a controversy that is centered on Church teaching on homosexuality. As Religion News Service reported recently, the Bishop of the North Georgia conference reassigned a popular pastor at a large church in the metro Atlanta area, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, setting off a chain reaction, which resulted in the pastor, Jody Ray, "surrendering his credentials." The article quotes the pastor as saying: “Unfortunately, my options were to accept the move, take a leave of absence or surrender my credentials,” adding,“That’s not consultation. It’s just notification, and it violates both the spirit and letter of the covenants that bind us together.” It goes on to say:

Along with Ray’s announcement, Rustin Parsons, co-lay leader of the congregation, said that the congregation has decided it will not accept a new pastor and that its administrative council had unanimously approved a resolution directing church leadership of the church to proceed with the disaffiliation process.

The article says: "The church made clear in a FAQ on its website, however, that the root of its conflict with the bishop is not over differing stances on LGBTQ inclusion. Rather, it said, church leadership feels Haupert-Johnson did not properly consult with the church or its pastor before reassigning Ray." But, it seems clear that the church and the bishop would be on different sides of that debate.

And, Religion News Service reports on a so-called "progressive" congregation that has announced it will leave the UMC, as well. Bering Memorial United Methodist Church in Houston, whose pastor is Diane McGehee, is also leaving.  The article says: 

With the denomination gridlocked over the inclusion of LGBTQ people, who make up a significant part of Bering’s congregation, McGehee said, “It’s time to stop the harm.”

As the article points out, the disaffiliation will come with a pricetag, as the exit of Mt. Bethel will, also.