The 3 - April 28, 2019

In this week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is good news out of the United Methodist Church, as the judicial body of the denomination has upheld the majority of the Traditional Plan approved at a special General Conference two months ago.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take three cases that involve attempts to redefine the word "sex" in civil rights law to mean gender identity.  And, the landscape of Christian foster care is changing, as government officials are attempting to force agencies to place children in LGBT households; two recent actions have gone against Christian agencies.

United Methodist council paves way for most of Traditional Plan to move forward

Even though the United Methodist Church, in a special General Conference in February, affirmed a plan that would continue to describe homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching" and would prevent same-sex marriage and gay ordination in the Church, the actions of the Conference still had to pass through the denomination's Judicial Council.  According to ReligionNews.com, the Council ruled on Friday, April 26, reporting...

...Approved by delegates to a special session of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference in February, the Traditional Plan strengthens language in the denomination’s Book of Discipline that bars LGBTQ clergy and forbids same-sex marriage.

That rulebook currently states that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and that “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” cannot be ordained as ministers, appointed to serve or be married in the church.

The Traditional Plan, as upheld by a Judicial Council decision announced Friday (April 26), defines a “self-avowed practicing homosexual” as a person who is “living in a same-sex marriage, domestic partnership or civil union or is a person who publicly states she or he is a practicing homosexual.”

Not all of the plan was upheld, with seven out of seventeen petitions being ruled unconstitutional.  But, apparently the heart of the proposal remained intact.  Religion News also reports that, "In a separate ruling Friday, the Judicial Council upheld an 'exit plan' that allows churches to leave the denomination with their property over decisions made at the special session."

Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy sees this as a key element, writing: "The biggest news from the Judicial Council meeting was the affirmation of exits for dissenting congregations. Many liberals had initially assumed that traditionalists backed this legislation to facilitate their own departure. Only later did many realize it was actually aimed at dissident congregations." Tooley pointed out that, "Reaffirmation of most of the Traditional Plan was not surprising, since the Judicial Council has already reviewed it in October 2018 and during General Conference in February."

High court to review cases regarding gender identity and civil rights

For some time, there have been attempts to redefine language in civil rights law concerning, "sex," to actually mean "gender identity."  The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will weigh in on that issue.  The Alliance Defending Freedom website reports that the Court will take up three cases centered around that issue, including one of its clients.  It reports:

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that the federal government can force R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes and its owner, Thomas Rost, to allow a male employee who identifies as female to dress in women’s clothing when meeting with the deceased’s grieving family members and friends, in violation of the family business’s sex-specific dress code. In so doing, the court redefined “sex” in Title VII to conflict with the word’s well-understood meaning since the law’s enactment in 1964. Title VII is a federal law intended to ensure equal opportunities in employment, regardless of a person’s race, religion, national origin, or sex.

The appeals court overturned a lower district court ruling; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had challenged that ruling and filed suit against the funeral home.  Attorney John Bursch of ADF is quoted as saying, "Businesses have the right to rely on what the law is—not what government agencies want it to be—when they create and enforce employment policies. The funeral home wants to serve families mourning the loss of a loved one, but the EEOC has elevated its political goals above the interests of the grieving people that the funeral home serves.”

Government officials change face of Christian foster care placement

Christian foster care agencies have faced pressure to place children in families that are headed by gay couples, and recent action has not gone well for some agencies.  A ChristianityToday.com story reported on a case involved Bethany Christian Services, which, as the result of a new policy implemented by Michigan's attorney general, will begin to place children with same-sex couples in that state.  The article says:

When Michigan’s attorney general declared this month that foster agencies contracting with the government can no longer decline to work with LGBT families, Bethany opted to change its longstanding policy rather than lose the opportunity to help find homes for the thousands of vulnerable children who live there.

A spokesman stated, "We are disappointed with how this settlement agreement has been implemented by the state government. Nonetheless, Bethany will continue operations in Michigan, in compliance with our legal contract requirements,” adding, "We are focused on demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by serving children in need, and we intend to continue doing so in Michigan.”

The policy is being challenged in court; the article quotes Lori Windham of Becket: "The Michigan Attorney General and the ACLU are trying to stop the state from working with faith-based adoption agencies,” adding, “The result of that will be tragic. Thousands of children will be kept from finding the loving homes they deserve.” Becket represents St. Vincent Catholic Charities, which was sued by the ACLU. 

Windham has another client in another state that is facing opposition, Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia. Christianity Today reports that "a federal appeals court ruled against the Catholic agency, which argued that the city’s decision to drop its foster care contract violated its religious freedom. By refusing to place children in its care—about 120 at a time—with LGBT couples, the agency’s policies violated LGBT protections under Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance, the court ruled."

The Christian Post also reported on the Philadelphia ruling, saying that, "the city government moved to force faith-based adoption and foster agencies with limitations on same-sex placement to change their policies to comply with the city’s nondiscrimination laws protecting on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or halt their adoption and foster programs." Catholic Social Services refused to change its policy; the other, Bethany Christian Services of Greater Delaware Valley, did change, according to the Post. 

The 3 - April 21, 2019

This week's edition of The 3 includes the attention that the Notre Dame Cathedral fire placed on church vandalism that has occurred in France last year.  Also, some students and alumni of a Christian university have registered protests over a Christian speaker; an evangelical Christian named Mike Pence.  And, an Australian rugby player has been disciplined for a social media post that, while  Biblically-based, may not have represented the best way to drive home his point.

Notre Dame fire calls attention to church destruction throughout France

Even though French officials have stated that the blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was accidental, likely due to construction occurring there, the fire at the historic landmark has called attention to attacks on churches throughout the nation.  The website of CBN News reported:

According to the German news site PI-News, every day in France, two churches are desecrated. They report 1,063 attacks on Christian churches or symbols like crucifixes, icons, and statues in France in 2018, marking a 17 percent increase from the year before.

The story related that the Church of St. Sulpice in Paris "was set on fire after a midday service on Sunday."  Other attacks included: "the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Houilles found their statue of the Virgin Mary destroyed and the altar cross on the ground." Also, according to the story:

In February, at Saint-Alain Cathedral in Lavaur, congregants found their altar cloth burned and the church's crosses and statues of saints broken. And in the city of Nimes, individuals vandalized the church of Notre-Dame des Enfants (Our Lady of the Children) and smeared a cross with human excrement according to Newsweek.

CBN points out that:

The German media reports the growing anti-Christian sentiment is believed to be a result of increased Muslim migration. In 2016, after the arrival of close to a million Muslims in Germany, a local newspaper reported "not a day goes by" that attacks on religious statues did not happen in the town of Dülmen.

And the story is similar in France, according to the site: "A January 2017 study stated, 'Islamist extremist attacks on Christians' in France rose by 38 percent, going from 273 attacks in 2015 to 376 in 2016..."

VP faces opposition to commencement speech at Christian university 

You would think that a Christian university would not have an objection to a fellow professed Christian speaking at its graduation.  But, when that Christian is the Vice President of the United States, that has negative implications to students and alumni of Taylor University in Indiana, according to FoxNews.com.  It reports that:

Over 3,300 people have signed a change.org petition to get Pence's invitation to the mid-May commencement ceremony rescinded, claiming the "Trump-Pence Administration's policies" are "not consistent with the Christian ethic of love we hold dear."

Fox reports:

The Christian university has defended the decision. Paul Lowell Haines, the president of Taylor, praised the vice president as a "good friend to the University over many years," and "a Christian brother whose life and values have exemplified what we strive to instill in our graduates.”

A spokesman for the university, James Garringer, in a statement, said: "Taylor University is an intentional Christian community that strives to encourage positive, respectful and meaningful dialogue," and "We look forward to hosting the Vice President next month."

Australian rugby player suspended in light of faith-related comments

It's not necessarily the best way to have said it, but Australian rugby superstar Israel Folau made the case for the eternal destiny of those who practice sinful behavior.  According to The Guardian:

Last Thursday, Rugby Australia said it would sack the Wallabies superstar after a social media post in which he said hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.

The governing body has said Folau committed a “high level” breach of the professional players’ code of conduct, and had ignored formal instruction not to make any social media post that “condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality”.

Folau is fighting back, though. The website reports that, "Wallabies star Israel Folau has notified Rugby Australia of his intention to contest a 'high level' code of conduct breach notice, with the matter set to head to a tribunal hearing."

But, this was apparently done on his Instagram page.  Australian blogger and commentator Miranda Devine has taken up Folau's case, tweeting out: "On the Today Show this morning defending Israel Folau’s right to express his Christian beliefs without being sacked and blackballed from playing footy anywhere." That would be Australia's Today show, which tweeted out that Devine said, "He is perfectly entitled to express his beliefs privately on Instagram."

The 3 - April 14, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance or interest to the Christian community includes a major pro-life victory in Ohio, where the legislature has passed and the governor has signed a heartbeat bill.  Also, a subcommittee in the U.S. Senate held a hearing recently on the topic of social media censorship.  And, three African-American churches in Louisiana are suffering due to the result of fires that destroyed their buildings.

Heartbeat bill in Ohio signed...finally!

There has been a significant amount of legislation that would restrict abortion that has been introduced into statehouses across America, and Planned Parenthood's own research arm has certainly been paying attention.  LifeNews.com reported recently:

According to the Guttmacher Institute, since the beginning of this year over 250 pro-life bills have been introduced in over 41 states. Almost 50% of those bills would ban abortion in “some or all circumstances,” says the organization. In fact, according to Planned Parenthood’s analysis, legislators in seven states have proposed bills that would completely ban abortion, while six states are considering or have passed “trigger bans” that would ban abortion if or when Roe v. Wade is repealed.

Alabama is currently considering a bill that would criminalize abortion in the state.

Late last week, there was news out of Ohio that after eight years of being stonewalled by the former governor, the new governor, Mike DeWine has signed a "heartbeat bill," according to the Columbus Dispatch.  It reported:

The new law — which will ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks — will take effect July 11 absent a court ruling. Abortions would be allowed if the woman’s life is in danger, but it contains no exceptions for rape or incest.

“The essential function of government is to protect the most vulnerable among us, those who do not have a voice,” the governor said. “Government’s rule should be to protect life from the beginning to the end, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. ... The signing of this bill today is consistent with that respect for life.”

Attorney General Dave Yost is apparently committed to mounting a strong defense of the bill in the face of a likely court challenge.  He is quoted as saying, "Sometimes, the evolution of the law requires bold steps. In the last 46 years, the practice of medicine has changed. Science has changed. Even the point of viability has changed. Only the law has lagged behind. This law provides a stable, objective standard to guide the courts.”

Senate holds hearing on social media censorship

One of the issues of concern regarding the Internet and the expression of truth consistent with a Christian perspective on it is the ability of large companies to control the content.  And, last week, Senator Ted Cruz held a subcommittee hearing, which included representatives of Twitter and Facebook, as well as individuals who have faced content restrictions.

Newsbusters.com reports that the committee chair, Sen. Cruz had previously asked Facebook to submit their censorship guidelines. In the hearing, he said: “I will note that when Mr. Zuckerberg testified before the full committee, I submitted that question and a number of other questions to Facebook, and you at the time refused it. The company instead gave legal boilerplate and refused to answer the question.”

The report says:

During the hearing, Cruz started his questions by asking both representatives if their companies “considered themselves to be neutral public forums?” Twitter’s director of Public Policy, Carlos Monje, gave a long response but did not answer the question.

Cruz asked Monje about Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s stance on neutrality. He summed up by the Dorsey quote, “I don’t believe that we should optimize for neutrality” Monje pleaded ignorance. answering, “I have not seen that quote, sir.” When Cruz asked if he agreed with it, Monje gave another non-answer, saying “That is not how he is building the platform.”

OK, whatever.  Cruz said in the hearing that Google would be examined in a future hearing.  Testifying before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, according to ReligionNews.com, was Chuck Konzelman, co-director/producer/writer of the movie, Unplanned, which experienced manipulation of its Twitter feed, to the extent that a number of people reported they could not follow the movie's feed, which showed a dramatic decrease in followers.  PJ Media reported on developments during opening weekend:

The movie's Twitter account was briefly suspended on Saturday, mere hours after its release on Friday. On Sunday, the account seems to have mysteriously lost 99,000 of its 100,000 followers.

"Wow!!! 100K Followers," the Unplanned account tweeted on Sunday afternoon. "Thanks to everyone who has helped us to achieve this milestone. When [Twitter] suspended our account you came together as a strong voice. We are so very grateful for the enormous support you've show at the box office."

The estimates from this past weekend from Box Office Mojo showed Unplanned in the #11 position, with $1.8 million, and the total receipts are approaching $16 million.

Burning churches in Louisiana

Palm Sunday was observed around the world yesterday, and three African-American churches in Louisiana had to find alternative sites at which to gather for services, because their buildings were burned, according to NBCNews.com, which reported that, "With this Palm Sunday marking the beginning of Holy Week, worshippers at the three affected churches — St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, the Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, both in Opelousas — have found other places to hold services."

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in these cases. The article stated that Holden Matthews "was charged with three counts of arson for allegedly setting fire to the three churches in St. Landry Parish over 10 days beginning March 26." It goes on to report that, "Officials said that Matthews, who is white and the son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff's deputy, appeared to be a fan of black metal music, a subgenre of heavy metal that has been associated with white nationalist ideology and church burnings in Norway."

The article also says that:

Federal investigators stressed at a news conference Thursday that they had not yet determined a motive for the burnings or whether the attacks constitute a hate crime.

Matthews was caught as the result of "surveillance video, cellphone tower data and the purchase of a gas can and other materials from a Walmart."

The burning of a church building is a horrific act that demonstrates religious, and in this case, perhaps racial bigotry and even hatred.  Christians can stand in solidarity in decrying violence against people and institutions which are aligned with their deeply held faith beliefs.

The 3 - April 7, 2019

This week's edition of The 3 features a development out of Ohio involving the integration of transgender-friendly elements to a 4-H program.  And, in California, a widow could be evicted from a veterans' home because of her dedication to leading a Bible study.  Plus, a Pennsylvania lawmaker is facing backlash for a Christian prayer she delivered in front of a legislative body.

Ohio 4-H program allows transgender agenda, special pronouns

It has been discovered that a 4-H program in the state of Ohio, sponsored by Ohio State University, has been promoting transgenderism. Christian Headlines reports that:

According to WND.com, Liberty Counsel said in a report that OSU “is intent on silencing or driving away parents, employees or volunteers who believe that there are only two sexes, male and female, and that homosexuality and ‘transgenderism’ are inappropriate subjects for impressionable children and have nothing to do with 4-H.”

The story points out that: "Ohio participants in 4-H attend camps and events where they must share showers or sleep in the same rooms as others who identify as another sex." Also, Liberty Council reports that the pronouns, “Zie, Zir and Zirs," are being promoted.  These are the types of pronouns that are used to refer to those who identify as a gender other than their biological one.

Liberty Counsel contends: "Ohio 4-H once reflected the values of the populations it serves. However, OSU is now using the program as a vehicle to enforce radical LGBT ideology and terminology, including the idea that pronouns are subjective, and do not correspond to objective biology of male or female."

Widow told not to conduct Bible studies in retirement complex

Artis Breau is a resident of the California Veterans Home and is 84 years old. She has been involved in leading voluntary Bible studies at the home for a number of years. According to an article at The Stream website...

...Breau is now being investigated by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). Breau believes CalVet targeted her because she was an evangelical Jewish believer. Matthew McReynolds, her attorney at Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), agrees. “She’s run into some conflict with some of the other residents there and some of the chaplains because of her beliefs. She is evangelical and some of them are not. It’s really become a clash of worldviews more than anything else.”

The story says, "On March 1, CalVet sent an email warning Breau she would be evicted if she continued the Bible studies." There were three allegations against her, and her attorney stated that they had been told, "they could continue to add allegations against her in ‘perpetuity’.” McReynolds added, "That's of great concern to us and that’s why I wrote to their counsel again yesterday to voice concerns about that and about the due process violations that that we believe have attended this whole investigation and this whole approach."

Pennsylvania lawmaker chided for Christian prayer

A member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives prayer recently according to her Christian beliefs, and received criticism for it.  A USA Today story says that:

State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, a freshman from a rural Pennsylvania district, invoked Jesus, the Lord or God nearly two dozen times in her approximately one-minute-forty-second prayer. She also thanked God for President Donald Trump because he "stands beside Israel, unequivocally."

Democratic Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell of Philadelphia, who was sworn in on a Quran after Borowicz's prayer, said Tuesday that she thought "for the most part, the entire invocation was offensive." Johnson-Harrell said "to use Jesus as a weapon is not OK" and that "we cannot weaponize what’s going on with Israel and Palestine."

Johnson-Harrell felt the prayer was a "political statement." However, the article reports that, "A Muslim prayer was said during Johnson-Harrell's swearing-in. Fifty-five guests attended the ceremony, most of them Muslim." Meanwhile, Johnson-Harrell wants to take action against Borowicz, "because we need to be promoting inclusion, not division," she says. 

Borowicz, apparently, is not backing down.  The USA Today story says:

Borowicz defended herself on Monday, telling a a Pennsylvania Legislative Services reporter "That’s how I pray everyday."

When asked if she would apologize as some Democrats had demanded, Borowicz said, "Oh no, I don’t apologize ever for praying."

The New American reported:

Evangelist Franklin Graham also weighed in to defend Borowicz, insisting that “she doesn’t need to apologize,” for her Christian prayer. “We don’t change who we are or what we believe because someone who is present may believe differently than we believe.... I always appreciate anyone who has the guts to stand up for Jesus.”

The 3 - March 31, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to Christians, includes another story of Christian persecution in China.  Also, a ministry organization has received a positive court decision over the contraception mandate.  And, a Trump Administration official has announced another pro-life move.

3 - Chinese government shuts down major church

The oppression of the Church in China is certainly a lesson in futility; the more persecution, it seems, that Christians receive, the more the Church is driven underground and its numbers swell.  But, we can still be watchful about the action taken by the Chinese government.

China Aid reports that a major church has been essentially shut down. Its website reports that on March 23, "the Chinese government formally banned the entire church, including its many branches, and confiscated its property, claiming it had carried out religious activities without registering with the government. However, the church had attempted to register in 2006 but was rejected on the grounds that its pastor, Jin Tianming, had not undergone government training as a clergy member."

The article points out that "Jin has been under continuous house arrest for more than seven years." And, a report last Thursday says that the oppression continues.  For example...

...One meeting place, located in the Changyuan Tiandi Building in Beijing’s Haidian District, was closed down. According to a ban notice from the Haidian District Ethnic and Religious Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, its pastor, Zhang Xiaofeng, had conducted religious activities there. The notice also cited a cross hanging on one of the interior walls, a podium placed within the venue, a prayer request box, numerous folding chairs, a piano, Bibles, hymnals, microphones, and sound equipment, concluding that 'It is an illegal place to conduct religious activities.'"

2 - Christian ministry receives victory in Obamacare lawsuit

It certainly seems to be a never-ending saga, as non-profit organizations continue to deal with legal issues surrounding the mandate dating back to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, forcing them to provide free contraception and abortion drugs in their health care plans.

Alliance Defending Freedom was involved in a number of lawsuits against the mandate, including representing a man who was involved in ADF's founding, Dr. James Dobson of Family Talk.  The ADF website reported:

Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, Dr. Dobson and Family Talk filed a lawsuit challenging the abortion pill mandate. The district court granted a preliminary injunction to Dr. Dobson and Family Talk, finding that "providing the coverage required by the Mandate would violate their religious beliefs."

In March 2019, A federal district court issued an order that permanently prevents the federal government from enforcing the Affordable Care Act’s abortion-pill mandate against the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute and its “Family Talk” radio show. The order also declared that the mandate violates the organization’s rights protected by the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In a statement responding to the good news, Dr. Dobson said:

“Because of this ruling, every religious institution—not just ours—has greater legal standing to combat the threats of extinction unless they provide a health plan that includes abortion-inducing drugs. In addition, precedents are now set in the law that will make it much harder for governments, whether federal, state, or local, to attempt to so brazenly disregard our religious liberties in the future. Yet, it is still true that the price of liberty is determined vigilance.

We have won this battle and give God all the glory in it, but the forces arrayed against us are still fighting an ongoing war. There will be more battles. Now, more than ever, we must stand together with those defending life and the freedom of religion in the public square. We cannot afford a moment of apathy. Nevertheless, had our ministry not survived this fight, it would have still been the right decision to fight. Thank God, we won.”

1 - Secretary of State takes strong step to prevent abortions internationally

When President Trump took office, he restored the Mexico City Policy, which prevented taxpayer funding of abortions overseas.  Now, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, that rule has been expanded, according to WORLD Magazine.  It reports:

The Global Protect Life policy, formerly called the Mexico City policy, already blocked funding to any nongovernmental organization (NGO) engaged in the abortion business, and Pompeo said the new policy expands that rule.

The Secretary is quoted as saying, “We are also making clear that we will refuse to provide assistance to foreign NGOs that give financial support to other foreign groups in the global abortion industry,” adding, “We will enforce a strict prohibition on backdoor funding schemes and end runs around our policy.”

The article points out an initial move, stating: "the State Department announced plans to cut about $210,000 in funding for the Organization of American States because at least one of its affiliated institutions has lobbied for abortion availability in the Western Hemisphere."

The 3 - March 24, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to Christians, features a British journalist who is being investigated by law enforcement because she used the wrong pronoun or pronouns to describe a person who has had surgery in an attempted gender change.  Also, Christians are being targeted in the nation of Nigeria, with hundreds losing their lives in just the last couple of months.  And, state legislatures are continuing to consider and pass pro-life legislation that protects unborn children once a heartbeat is detected.

3 - British journalist under investigation for "misgendering"

Caroline Farrow is a journalist in the U.K., writing for the Catholic Herald.  And, she is trouble with authorities, according to a report on The Christian Post website. Last September, according to the website, she debated Susie Green, the head of a "transgender advocacy group" called Mermaids on Good Morning Britain.

In the interview, Farrow made the case, among other things that, as the Post put it, "single-sex spaces in children's schools and in other places of public accommodation should be maintained."

But the article says that law enforcement got involved because "Farrow allegedly referred to Green’s child, who is now called 'Jackie,' a biological male who underwent a surgical procedure in Thailand several years ago...with incorrect pronouns on Twitter."

The article goes on to quote Farrow:

"I do not know what I am supposed to have done but the police told me that 'you appeared on 'Good Morning Britain' with Susie Green and made some tweets misgendering her daughter,'" Farrow said in an interview with The Christian Post...

Farrow says, "I have to go and be interviewed under caution, a taped interview where I will be shown offending tweets which supposedly constitute the offence of Malicious Communications. If you look up the offence you’ll see that I am not in breech. I haven’t threatened or said anything that I know to be untrue or is indecent or grossly offensive."  The piece points out, "Meanwhile, Farrow has been regularly harassed and threatened by transgender activists."

2 - Nigerian Christians face mass persecution

Christians in Nigeria continue to face stiff and violent persecution, and there has been a recent series of tragic incidents in the country, according to Baptist Press, which reports that:

As many as 280 people were killed in Christian communities in several attacks spanning February through mid-March in Nigeria's Middle Belt, according to varying reports from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Morning Star News and International Christian Concern (ICC). Militants destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced residents.

Baptist Press reports that a recent attack in Kaduna state by Fulani militants resulted in the loss of ten lives on March 16, according to Morning Star News.  And, Baptist Press had reported that two attacks in the same region took 40 lives in February.

And, there is criticism of the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christians. International Christian Concern had stated, "There have been no major attempts by the Nigerian government to hold the Fulani accountable or disarm them," adding, "The re-election of President Buhari ensures that the government will remain dormant as the perpetrators continue to inflict suffering in Nigeria." Buhari was re-elected February 26.

The article also reports that, "a regional Nigerian court ruled that the national government failed to protect victims when militant Fulani killed 500 people, most of them Christian civilians, in several Middle Belt attacks in Benue State in 2016."

1 - Heartbeat bills progress in several states

There is a huge divide that is occurring among U.S. states on the issue of abortion.  New York's legislature gleefully passed a bill to legalize abortion in that state, and there have been bills introduced into legislatures in states including Virginia, Rhode Island, and Illinois, that would liberalize their abortion laws.

Meanwhile, other states are going in the other direction, attempting to ban the barbaric practice, that terminates a human life, once a heartbeat is detected in the unborn child.  Late last Friday, as The Hill and other outlets reported, the Georgia Senate passed a such a bill, reporting, "The bill passed the state Senate in a party-line vote of 34-18 and now heads back to the House to concur Senate changes." Newly-elected Governor Brian Kemp has maintained his support of the bill.

Last week, Mississippi's Governor, Phil Bryant, signed a heartbeat bill passed by that state's legislature.  He was quoted in the Clarion-Ledger as saying: "We think this is showing the profound respect and desire of Mississippians to protect the sanctity of that unborn life whenever possible," adding, "It also protects, we believe, the physical and mental health of the mother. We here in Mississippi believe in protecting and defending the whole life of that child."

And, Kentucky's Governor, Matt Bevin, also signed a heartbeat bill a few days before that.  The same day as his signature went on the bill, the ACLU went to court, according to The Blaze:

At 7:40 p.m., U.S. District Judge David Hale issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the state from enforcing Senate Bill 9, the so-called "fetal heartbeat" legislation, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported. Under the new law, it is illegal to terminate a pregnancy once a baby has a heartbeat, which occurs around six weeks' gestation.

The American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project sued to halt the law on behalf of the Kentucky's only abortion clinic, the EMW Women's Surgical Center. The health care provider canceled abortion appointments on Friday in compliance with the new law but resumed services by Saturday after Judge Hale's decision.

Hale put the law on hold for 14 days before going into effect.  

The 3 - March 17, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories impacting the Christian community, features a development from Washington state, where a new law forces churches to cover abortion in their insurance plans.  Also, the tax allowance for clergy has been challenged in court, and the latest court ruling, from a Federal appeals court, reinforced the constitutionality of the allowance.  And, "heartbeat" bills that would ban abortion after an unborn child's heartbeat is detected, are moving forward in several states.

3 - Washington state attempts to make churches pay for abortions

A law in the state of Washington signed into law last year forces churches to fund abortion in their health care plans.  A ChristianHeadlines.com states that, "The law requires insurance plans to cover abortion if they also cover maternity care. It has no religious exemptions."

Alliance Defending Freedom has become involved in fighting against this new law, and the story says that ADF has filed a lawsuit "on behalf of Cedar Park Assembly of God, a Kirkland, Wash., congregation. The suit claims the law violates the congregation’s constitutionally protected freedom of religion and displays hostility toward religious groups that oppose abortion."

The suit referred to the law as an "intentional" "attack on people of faith." It stated, "The strong statutory language, lack of any church exception, and anticipated evidence that pro-abortion groups assisted in drafting and enacting SB 6219, indicates that Washington and its officials deliberately targeted religious organizations and intentionally violated those organizations’ religious beliefs.”

2 - Appeals court rules that housing allowance for ministers is constitutional

It was just a year and a half ago when a Federal district court judge ruled against the longstanding ministers' housing allowance in the U.S. tax code.   But, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the past week has struck down that lower court ruling, according to ChristianityToday.com, which reported that:

Offered only to “ministers of the gospel,” the 60-year-old tax break excludes the rental value of a home from the taxable income of US clergy, CT previously reported. GuideStone Financial Resources has called it the “most important tax benefit available to ministers.”

The original lawsuit was filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and appeals court judge Michael Brennan wrote, according to the article, "FFRF claims Section 107(2) renders unto God that which is Caesar’s,” adding, “But this tax provision falls into the play between the joints of the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause: neither commanded by the former, nor proscribed by the latter.”

The article points out that the Clergy Housing Allowance "...is currently claimed to the tune of $700 million a year..."  This is the FFRF's second attempt to overturn the allowance, having been turned back in a Federal appeals court decision in 2014.

1 - Pro-life heartbeat bills advance in several states

There are a number of states who in the process of passing legislation that would ban abortion after the heartbeat of an unborn child is detected.  Perhaps the most recent is Kentucky; according to Liberty Counsel:

Kentucky’s House passed Senate Bill 9, a fetal heartbeat bill, by a vote of 71 to 19 last night. SB 9 bans most abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The measure requires anyone seeking an abortion to first determine if a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically about six weeks into pregnancy.

Since that bill has already passed the Senate in the Bluegrass State, all it has to do is be signed by pro-life governor Matt Bevin to become law; then, of course, there will no doubt it will be challenged in court.  In the neighboring state of Ohio, pro-life governor Mike DeWine has already said he would sign a heartbeat bill, something that his predecessor refused to do - twice. Cleveland.com reports, "The Ohio Senate passed a bill Wednesday afternoon that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected -- which would be one of the nation’s strictest bans on the procedure."  the vote was 19-13.  The bill now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Mississippi governor Phil Bryant is waiting on the state legislature to pass a heartbeat bill.  The House and Senate had passed different versions, and just this week, the House passed the Senate version of the bill, with some minor changes, according to Jackson's Clarion-Ledger.  It stated:

The House passed a bill Monday that outlaws abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can come as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

The Senate, where the bill originated, will have another chance to review and vote on the bill and minor House changes before it could head to Gov. Phil Bryant. Bryant has said he supports the legislation and would sign it into law.

Georgia and Tennessee are other states where the heartbeat bills have recently passed one chamber of their legislatures.

The 3 - March 10, 2019

This week's assortment of stories impacting the Christian community, The 3, involves a case that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected dealing with using taxpayer-funded historic preservation dollars for church repairs.  Also, an Alabama man is suing an abortion clinic because it performed an abortion on his pregnant girlfriend without his consent.  And, a Colorado commission has decided not to pursue a complaint against the same cake baker who won a Supreme Court ruling.

3 - New Jersey denies church rights to preservation funds, SCOTUS denies appeal, new justice balks

Almost two years after ruling in favor of allowing a religious school to participate in a playground resurfacing grant program, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to accept cases from New Jersey that would have allowed taxpayer historic preservation funds to go to churches.

CNBC.com reports that the New Jersey Supreme Court had "declined to extend the Supreme Court's reasoning" in the playground case "to historic preservation grants, saying the cases are distinct because playground resurfacing is not a religious use, but church repairs are."

But the court's newest justice, Brett Kavanaugh, expressed concern.  The article said:

Kavanaugh, who voted to deny the cases on technical grounds, wrote that preventing preservation funds from going to religious organizations "simply because the organizations are religious" raised "serious questions."

"Barring religious organizations because they are religious from a general historic preservation grants program is pure discrimination against religion," he wrote.

His statement was "joined" by justices Alito and Gorsuch.  He voted not to accept the case because it wasn't the time.  The CNBC article stated:

...Kavanaugh said that it was correct not to review the cases because of certain issues particular to the cases at hand, and because there was not yet sufficient case law in the lower courts on the question.

Justices Thomas and Gorsuch had stated that the ruling in the playground case was too narrow; in my opinion, this sets up a bloc of four conservative justices that could support the extension of historic preservation funds to churches, if the case were to come before it in the future.  The ideological balance on the high court does seem to have shifted, with four liberals, four conservatives, and a new "swing" vote in Chief Justice John Roberts, who had generally been thought to be part of the conservative wing.

2 - Unborn child is plaintiff in lawsuit against Alabama abortion clinic

It is certainly an unfortunate situation, certainly a crisis pregnancy - a 19-year-old young man and a 16-year-old young lady, producing a child.  He claims that he did not want her to have an abortion, but she did it anyway, according to FoxNews.com, which reports that the father, Ryan Magers, now 21, has hired an attorney who is filing a lawsuit and naming the unborn child as a plaintiff.  The lawyer, Brent Helms, says: "We are suing the clinic, the manufacturer of the pill, going after the doctor and going after any professional organization the doctor is affiliated with," adding, "if they are all held liable, it would put a dent on the profitability of abortions." And, as the report says:

On Tuesday, an Alabama county court recognized the aborted fetus, "Baby Roe," as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, making the case one of the first of its kind.

Magers, according to Fox, "claims his girlfriend got a medicated abortion at the Alabama Women's Center for Reproductive Alternatives in Huntsville in February 2017 when she was six weeks pregnant." He had "pleaded with his girlfriend, who was 16, not to get the abortion."

The story also states:

Helms, who is seeking monetary damages and a jury trial, says the ultimate goal is to increase the rights of would-be fathers and strip protections in place for women who are seeking abortions in Alabama.

"I'm here for the men who actually want to have their baby," he said. "I believe every child from conception is a baby and deserves to live."

1 - Jack Phillips survives (another) court challenge

Not too long ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who had declined to make a cake celebrating a same-sex marriage.  According to WORLD Magazine, according to the high court, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission "showed hostility toward religion in its earlier prosecution of Phillips for declining to make a cake for a same-sex wedding."

Another complaint was filed before the commission because, according to the article, Phillips "refused to bake a cake celebrating a gender transition because of his religious beliefs, sparking another complaint and investigation of Phillips by the Civil Rights Commission."

Jack, in turn, filed a lawsuit against the state, "saying it disregarded the Supreme Court decision by pursuing the second complaint." This week, the Commission announced it would drop the complaint; that decision, according to WORLD, "followed discoveries by Phillips’ attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom that members of the Civil Rights Commission still exhibit anti-religious bias."

ADF Senior Vice President Kristen Waggoner is quoted as saying. “The state’s demonstrated and ongoing hostility toward Jack because of his beliefs is undeniable.”

The 3 - March 3, 2019

This week's edition of The 3 spotlights a Day of Mourning that occurred to lament the dreadful decision of New York's legislature to allow abortion up until the time of birth.  Also, the U.S. Senate turned back an attempt to protect children who survive an abortion attempt.  And, United Methodists, in a special meeting, decided to uphold traditional teaching on marriage and homosexuality.

3 - Gathering mourns New York abortion law

The response continues to be strong and passionate regarding the decision of the state of New York's legislature and its governor to allow legal abortion up until the time of birth.  The news of this becoming law was cheered by lawmakers, but pro-life Christians have a different viewpoint.

Recently, a Day of Mourning was held at the state capital in Albany, New York, and the Times-Union, a local newspaper, reported that:

Thousands of people donning black clothing prayed, prostrated and proclaimed their opposition to abortion — and New York's recently-signed Reproductive Health Act — during a "Day of Mourning" event at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Saturday afternoon.

The article continued, stating:

The event's speakers painted the issue as a moral crisis facing the nation, and called on Christians of all denominations to protest outside of abortion clinics, or "killing centers", as they were described by Elizabeth Johnston, a pro-life advocate and the event's main speaker.

Speakers at the Day of Mourning event included Johnston, an author and social media advocate, as well as Justin Reeder, founder of a Charlotte, N.C.-based pro-life ministry, and Blythe Mullen, an eight-year-old girl whose mother decided against abortion after an unplanned pregnancy and put her up for adoption.

Reeder said at the event, according to the newspaper "It's time to rebuild, pick up the pieces," adding, "I'm talking about a culture shift, where families stop running to the abortion center for the answer, and they begin running to the local church. That's the shift that I believe (in)." Johnston is quoted as saying, "We are standing with these forgotten and thrown-away children, and promising to do all that is in our power to end the bloodshed and defend the weak..."  Other cities in the nation had similar events planned.

2 - U.S. Senate rejects protection for babies surviving abortion

Discussion on abortion has continued throughout our nation over the past couple of months; not only was the anniversary of Roe v. Wade commemorated during January, including the March for Life in Washington, but with New York's offensive legislative action and an attempt to promote infanticide in Virginia, the issue of life is continuing to take center stage.

And, the U.S. Senate had a chance to weigh in on the protection that a child who survives an abortion attempt should have. By a 53-44 vote, in which all but three of the body's Democrats voted against
such a measure, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act was not allowed to move forward; it needed to get 60 votes.

As the Family Research Council reported, bill sponsor Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska said (according to Breitbart), "We've heard speech after speech after speech that have nothing to do with what's actually in this bill. I urge my colleagues to picture a baby that's already been born, that's outside the womb gasping for air. That's the only thing that today's vote is actually about. We're talking about babies that have already been born… We're not talking about Roe v. Wade."

National Review Online's Alexandra Desanctis said, "Although the bill doesn't restrict abortion rights, it brings into crystal-clear focus the irrationality of the pro-abortion position," adding, "If those who support abortion concede that perhaps there is something wrong with permitting an infant to die the moment after birth if it was meant to have been aborted one minute earlier suddenly the question becomes, 'Why is it acceptable to perform that abortion one minute earlier?'"

And, there may be a cost to the Democratic party, which has embraced a pro-abortion agenda with greater fervor than ever.  FRC points out that "In the four weeks since Democrats cheered the deaths of innocent babies in New York, Americans finally understood the horrors of what they stand for. And the masses have started walking away. There are 14 percent more pro-life Democrats today than last month. Fourteen percent more who will fight to end this generation's nightmare." 

This comes as some Christian leaders are decrying partisan politics, criticizing single-issue voting (with that issue being abortion), and attempting to equate abortion with other issues which they say also shows a lack of regard for human life. But, it begs the question, which has been pointed out and even debated: what issue is there that rises to the level of the state-sanctioned murder of unborn, defenseless, vulnerable human beings, which takes thousands of lives in America every single day?

1 - United Methodists uphold traditional church teaching on homosexuality

Almost three years ago, during a contentious General Conference of the United Methodist Church, leaders made a decision to deal with matters concerning the Church's treatment of homosexuality in a specially-called General Conference.  That conference occurred in St. Louis recently, and delegates voted to uphold the traditional view of homosexuality in the Church's Book of Discipline, continued to uphold the Biblical definition of marriage as one-man and one-woman, will not allow the ordination of gay individuals.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy stated in a press release posted on its website...

...delegates gathered in St. Louis adopted a plan advocated by traditionalists which increases accountability measures for clergy and local bodies.

The United Methodist Church is the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States, but has a global membership of more than 12 million members in the United States, Africa, Europe, and the Philippines.

The denomination’s longstanding official standards are that all people are welcome in its churches, while also teaching that marriage is only between one man and one woman.

John Lomperis of IRD, who is the United Methodist Action Director for the organization, is quoted as saying:

“This was a historic turning point for our denomination, and will hopefully help make the United Methodist Church look refreshingly very different from what we have seen in the last several years.”

He was a guest on The Meeting House in advance of the conference.  You can find that audio here.

Lester Spencer, Senior Pastor of Montgomery (AL)'s St. James UMC and President of the Alabama-West Florida Conference Chapter of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, provided a post-conference report, which you can find here.  

In a statement on its website, the Association shared its thankfulness for the Conference's decision, and stated:

We recognize that persons of divergent positions have been harmed by the acrimonious and bitter debate exhibited at the recent special General Conference. As Christians, we are called to exhibit grace and to speak the truth in love. We are committed to conversations and actions that affirm the sacred worth and love of all people regardless of their perspective in our church’s decades-old debate.

The statement also said:

From its inception, the WCA has been unwavering in its commitment to restore the good order and missional effectiveness of the UM Church. Our work will continue unabated as we address factors that have contributed to dysfunction and ineffectiveness. We are committed to working with other United Methodists to achieve that end at the next General Conference in 2020, including a gracious exit provision. And should circumstances warrant, we remain prepared to launch a new Methodist movement.

The 3 - February 24, 2019

This week on The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, within the past few weeks major evangelistic crusades have occurred in various parts of the world, including events led by the son and grandson of the late Billy Graham.  Also, another pro-life victory from the Trump Administration has been finalized.  And, there are more developments in the aftermath of the published reports about sexual abuse in churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

3 - Evangelists lead large-scale campaigns around the world

As a number of people reflected on the one-year anniversary of the death of the great evangelist Billy Graham this past Thursday, February 21, we can also celebrate how God has been working recently through evangelists who were inspired by him, including his son and grandson.

His son, Franklin Graham, spent 16 days in Australia recently, preaching the gospel in six different cities.  The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website noted:

Sixteen days of criss-crossing Australia. Time well spent changing the spiritual landscape of this wild and rugged continent and its warmhearted people.

Sunday night in Sydney, Franklin Graham issued yet another invitation on the last night of the Graham Tour. He urged Aussies to confess their sins and surrender their hearts to Christ.

“Let’s get this straight tonight. Do it. Come on,” he said.

Many of those who heard the Gospel these past two-plus weeks did. Thousands of the more than 59,000 people who attended the tour received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Meanwhile, his son, Will, held nine events in eight days in various locations in the Manila area of the Philippines. The Association's website stated:

The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham was held Feb. 9-17, and included a two-day outreach at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan, followed by three special events for teens, government/military leaders and marketplace leaders, and culminated with a three-day, four-event series at the Quirino Grandstand at Manila’s historic Rizal Park.

All told, 149,656 people attended the Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham.

Over 19,000 people made a decision to follow Christ. The website notes that this series of events "marked the first time that all three generations of Graham evangelists have preached from the same venue in the same city. Will’s grandfather, Billy Graham, preached a Crusade at Rizal Park in 1977 and Will’s father, Franklin Graham, held an evangelistic Festival in 2006 in the same location."

Meanwhile, the Luis Palau Association held a crusade in Ivory Coast, or Cote d'Ivoire, in West Africa recently. A Christian Newswire report said that, "More than 50,000 people in West Africa gathered ...in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire for a 3-day evangelistic festival with evangelist Andrew Palau. Led by the Luis Palau Association, the week-long campaign was the culmination of more than three years of work in Cote d'Ivoire, including massive citywide festivals in other influential cities such as Yamoussoukro and San Pedro."

There were reportedly over 2,200 local churches involved, with a report of more than 19,000 public professions of faith in Christ.

Each country had its unique events and possesses its own spiritual climate.  The three crusade events just within the past month are great illustrations of how God is at work in varying parts of the world.

2 - Trump administration releases new regulation to prevent certain taxpayer dollars from funding abortion

The Trump Administration has taken another step to reduce the number of abortions in our nation.  Even though Congress has been unable to pass very much pro-life legislation in recent years because of an abundance of members who oppose restriction of abortion under the false narrative of a so-called "woman's right to choose," there are actions from the executive branch that can be and have been taken.  By the way, this week, the Senate votes on a bill that would protect infant survivors of abortion.

The Susan B. Anthony List website reports that the Administration "finalized the Protect Life Rule to redirect Title X family planning program funds away from the abortion industry. The rule advances President Trump’s promise to stop taxpayer funding of abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood, who will no longer receive Title X funding if they choose not to comply." The website states that the rule "directs tax dollars to Title X centers that do not promote or perform abortions, such as the growing number of community and rural health centers that far outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities."

This development adds to a list of pro-life accomplishments in the more than two years of the Trump Administration.  The SBA List website lists "President Trump's Pro-Life Wins, including:

• Appointed Pro-Life Judges
• Permitted States to Defund Planned Parenthood of Title X Funds
• Stopped Tax Dollars Funding Abortion Overseas
• Defunded the Pro-Abortion UNFPA
• Required Health Insurance Companies to Disclose if Plans Cover Abortion
• Settlements & New Rule Regarding HHS Mandate
• Strong Pro-Life Appointments to Key Positions
• New Office for Conscience Protection at HHS
• Allowed States to Defund Planned Parenthood of Medicaid Funds.

The Susan B. Anthony List is in partnership with Life Issues Institute, which presents the one-minute radio feature, Life Issues, with Brad Mattes, heard throughout the day on Faith Radio.

1 - SBC attempts to deal with sexual abuse issue

In a response set off by the recent series on sexual abuse within Southern Baptist Convention churches, the SBC President, J.D. Greear, made a presentation to the Convention's Executive Committee.  In it, he made a number of recommendations, according to The Christian Index, which is published by the Georgia Baptist Convention.  He referred to a study group that had been established last summer regarding the issue, and the names of group members were made public in Monday's presentation.  The Index said: "Greear called on Southern Baptists to respond to some initial recommendations of the study group, beginning for repentance or decades of inaction."

The group had put together training materials that have been made available to churches. Also, according to the article, Greear announced that all six SBC seminaries, officers of the SBC Associational Leaders, and all state conventions have agreed to three Statements of Principles on Abuse documents.  He also called for new "policies and prodecures," a well as reassessing the process of ordaining ministers.

Plus, part of the presentation called for an examination of 10 churches that had received media attention regarding incidences in the area of abuse. Greear is quoted as saying that the churches are not being singled out "for disfellowshipping … at this point but these churches must be called upon to give assurance to the SBC that they have taken the necessary steps to correct their policies and procedures with regards to abuse and care for survivors."

The Houston Chronicle contacted the 10 churches mentioned, most of them in Texas.  For example, one, the large Second Baptist Church in Houston, responded with this statement:

“Second Baptist Church wants to assure the Southern Baptist Convention and our community that we have long adhered to strict policies and guidelines dealing with sexual conduct and abuse,” the church said. “First and foremost, we grieve with each and every child, individual, their families and everyone affected by sexual abuse. Period.”

Arapaho Road Baptist in Garland, TX, according to the article, "issued a statement saying it welcomed a conversation with Greear about how it handled past incidents of abuse and what it learned from them."

Then, there's Eastside Baptist in Marietta, GA - its pastor would have welcomed a conversation prior to it being announced as a church under scrutiny. Pastor John Hull "...invited the SBC’s leadership, based in Nashville, to visit Eastside to learn what the church has done to prevent sexual abuse and protect children." He said, "While this may be new for our friends in Nashville, we’ve been down the road on this."

Hull was interviewed in another Christian Index article.  When he arrived, the church in Marietta had just endured the report of a janitor who had inappropriately touched a young girl.  The story relates:

“I am completely mystified,” he said Thursday. In particular, the pastor doesn’t understand why Greear nor anyone from the SBC Executive Committee failed to contact Eastside to ask what had been done in the past two-and-a-half years prior to the list being made public.

Hull agrees with Greear’s emphasis on protecting children. However, he believes the SBC president missed an opportunity to show the example of a church that has committed itself to that task in a way few others have, traveling a road none would want to take.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee, fellow Georgia pastor Mike Stone, said:

“I share his deep concern,” Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, told The Index. “President Greear was speaking as an individual, knowing that he does not possess the authority to place any congregation under investigation. And while the specific language of the president’s address did not claim that authority, the way in which it was communicated gave the unfortunate and unintended impression that this was an action of the Executive Committee of the SBC.”

This past week, according to Baptist Press, the by-laws workgroup of the SBC Executive Committee spent time crafting a statement "responding to SBC President J.D. Greear's report earlier this week on sexual abuse." The statement addresses the 10 churches.  Relative to the introduction of an amendment at the SBC Convention in Birmingham in June, it says in part:

We utterly and completely condemn the abominable horror of child sexual abuse. We must also be careful that our righteous anger does not prevent a deliberate and thoughtful response. Although the overwhelming majority of sexual abuse cases remains tragically unreported, in virtually all reported cases, the abuse and cover-up of abuse were criminal acts undertaken by a few individuals within a church. The church body rarely knew about these actions and even more rarely took any action to endorse or affirm the wrongful acts or the actors themselves. The Convention, through its Executive Committee, should not disrupt the ministries of its churches by launching an inquiry until it has received credible information that the church has knowingly acted wrongfully in one of the four ways described in the proposed amendment:

(a) employing a convicted sex offender,

(b) allowing a convicted sex offender to work as a volunteer in contact with minors,

(c) continuing to employ a person who unlawfully concealed from law enforcement information regarding the sexual abuse of any person by an employee or volunteer of the church, or

(d) willfully disregarding compliance with mandatory child abuse reporting laws.

The day after Greear's presentation, the Bylaws Workgroup requested evidence from Greear "containing the information upon which he based his naming of the churches."  The group has determined that out of the 10 churches, only 3 require "further inquiry."  One of the 10 isn't even a Southern Baptist church.  "Further inquiry is warranted" of Sovereign Grace Church in Louisville; the Sovereign Grace consortium of churches has been under a cloud of sexual abuse allegations for many years now.  Two other churches, including one in Houston that is led by a "registered sex offender."  All others, including Second Baptist, Arapaho Road, and Eastside do not warrant further inquiry.  The report contained these pointed words:

While victims of sexual abuse should always be encouraged to report the crimes against them, we urge all members of the Executive Committee and messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention to avoid publicly calling the names of churches without having documentation of criminal convictions and giving prior notice to the church. No individual possesses the authority to declare a church to be under a Convention inquiry of any kind.

The 3 - February 17, 2018

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a report on action by lawmakers in Mississippi on legislation that would prevent abortion after a heartbeat is detected.  Also, a Louisiana college has withdrawn from a national consortium of Christian schools.  And, response continues to unfold regarding reports of abuse in churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

3 - Mississippi lawmakers pass bills limiting abortion past the time an unborn child's heartbeat is detected

There was notable pro-life activity in both chambers of the Legislature in Mississippi this past week, as both the House and the Senate passed "heartbeat bills," that ban abortion after an unborn child's heartbeat is detected.

WREG Television in Memphis reported:

The Republican-controlled Mississippi House and Senate passed separate bills Wednesday to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, about six weeks into pregnancy. Efforts to pass similar bills are underway in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

“I see in this country that we protect sea turtle eggs and we protect other endangered species of animals with a greater degree of scrutiny and zealousness than we protect a child in the womb,” Republican Sen. Angela Hill, a sponsor of the Mississippi bill, said as she fought back tears during a debate.

Now, the two chambers have to pass the same bill, according to the television station, which stated: "The House and Senate must agree on a single version to send to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who is in his final year in office. He said he would sign it." The article quotes a tweet from the governor on Wednesday, "I’ve often said I want Mississippi to be the safest place for an unborn child in America..."

2 - Baptist school withdraws from college consortium due to LGBT accommodations

The Council of Christian Colleges and Universities is described as "a higher education association of more than 180 Christian institutions around the world," according to a story on Louisiana's Baptist Message website, which reports that Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College has withdrawn its membership.

The publication states:

The issue involves a policy passed by the CCCU board of directors which endorses so-called “Fairness for All” legislation which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of federally-protected classes while also articulating protections for churches and religious organizations.

The story relates that:

Shirley Mullen, vice chair of the CCCU board and president of Houghton College, explained the CCCU position on LGBT protections as one of practicality for Christian higher education.

“[W]e are increasingly persuaded that the most viable political strategy is for comprehensive religious freedom protections to be combined with explicit support for basic human rights for members of the LGBT community,” she wrote in a position paper provided to the National Association of Evangelicals, a collaborator with CCCU in pushing for the controversial legislation.

Dave Welch, president of the U.S. Pastors' Council, which, as the article points out, helped lead the fight against Houston's so-called "Equal Rights Ordinance," spoke with The Christian Post, according to the Message, which reported:

Welch said equating “race, religion and (biological) sex to sexual behavior and mental instability” would open up a legal “Pandora’s Box” and in the end would result in “special rights for a few.”

“Christians who still actually believe and follow the authority of the entire canon of Holy Scripture” would be at risk of “civil and criminal punishment,” he said.

1 - Southern Baptists respond to newspaper investigation

Southern Baptists are continuing to speak out about instances of sexual abuse in congregations across the country, in light of a Houston Chronicle three-part series.  A Baptist Press on Friday reported on further developments and gave a summary of the series.  It stated:

The Chronicle stated in part one of its report that its investigation of sexual abuse among Southern Baptists revealed approximately 380 instances since 1998 -- including more than 250 since 2008 -- of "those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned." The crimes have left more than 700 victims, the newspaper stated.

Part two recounted crimes committed by some of the "at least 35 Southern Baptist pastors, youth ministers and volunteers who were convicted of sex crimes or accused of sexual misconduct but still were allowed to work at churches during the past two decades."

Part three claimed "more than 100 Southern Baptists described as former youth pastors or youth ministers are now in prison, are registered as sex offenders or have been charged with sex crimes."

One of the threads of commentary in the wake of the Chronicle article had to do with Sovereign Grace Ministries.  The Baptist Press article mentioned that: "Southern Baptist Convention seminary presidents R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Danny Akin have apologized for their former support of C.J. Mahaney, a pastor accused of concealing sexual abuse at the ministry he used to lead."

The article states:

Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told the Chronicle in an interview published Feb. 14 he "erred in being part of a statement supportive of (Mahaney)." Mohler apparently was referencing a 2013 statement issued with Mark Dever and Ligon Duncan vouching for Mahaney's "personal integrity" after a judge dismissed most of a lawsuit against Sovereign Grace Ministries, a network of churches Mahaney led until April 2013. The network changed its name to Sovereign Grace Churches in 2014.

The suit alleged leaders at Sovereign Grace, including Mahaney, covered up child sexual abuse. The Maryland judge who dismissed the suit noted the statute of limitations had expired and didn't address the merits of the alleged victims' claims.

The Sovereign Grace issue had been brought up in an article on the Medium website that dropped a mere two weeks before the Houston Chronicle series, and it's worth reading.  A long-time, former board member of the ministry, Brent Detweiler, was prominently featured; the author says, "the evidence he compiled over the years regarding SGM, subsequent cover-ups, and fraudulent activity was extensive."  And, Detweiler has not been silent about what he had observed, informing Christian leaders, including some who have become vocal on abuse after the Chronicle series, about the evidence he had gathered.

Neither has former gymnast, now attorney Rachael Denhollender, who was the lead person in exposing Larry Nassar's sexual abuse.  The article says, "A prominent Christian figure and victim-turned-lawyer, Denhollander became an outspoken critic of Sovereign Grace. In a 2018 interview with Christianity Today, she stated that SGM and Mahaney’s involvement were “one of the worst, if not the worst, instances of evangelical cover-up of sexual abuse” and “one of the most well-documented cases of institutional cover-up I have ever seen.”

Meanwhile, former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson, according to Baptist Press, "wrote a Feb. 14 letter to Chronicle acting editor Steve Riley claiming the paper 'slandered' him." The article says:

Part one of the Chronicle's report on Southern Baptists "slandered and totally misrepresented me, and in so doing ha[s] significantly harmed my ministry," Patterson wrote according to a copy of the letter he emailed journalists. "The events they report are tragic. However, there is no reason to punish the innocent with the wicked."

Patterson claims that he dealt strongly with an "ex-protege" mentioned in the article, and "defended his handling of alleged sexual assault cases at Southeastern and Southwestern," two Baptist seminaries that he led.  His response to allegations at Southeastern seminary was a key component to his dismissal at Southwestern. But, The Tennessean had reported that Patterson's attorney said the Southeastern student who was apparently victimized, wrote Patterson a letter of thanks for "being able to stay in school and for how the seminary handled it, he said."

The ramifications from this story will continue to emerge, and the response by the Convention's leaders will be especially important.

The 3 - February 10, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a story in which a judge ruled that a university could not decide not to recognize a Christian student groups because of its devotion to Christian principles.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a Louisiana pro-life bill from going into effect.  And, both chambers of the U.S. Congress, lawmakers were unable to get a unanimous vote to protect the lives of babies surviving abortions.

3 - Iowa university student group victorious in court case

A campus student group at the University of Iowa lost its recognition by the school back in September of 2017, and recently, according to an article from the Daily Caller News Foundation published at The Stream, "A judge ruled Wednesday that the University of Iowa cannot revoke its recognition of a Christian student group based on its statement of faith, which required leaders to acknowledge sexual relations did not happen outside of marriage and every individual needed to embrace their 'God-given sex.'"

The organization is Business Leaders in Christ, which was formed, according to the article, by students in the university's business school to "provide a space for Christian students to network, hold group discussions and 'keep Christ first in the fast-paced business world,' according to a Department of Justice statement of interest filed on Dec. 21, 2018."

The article quotes Federal district judge Stephanie Rose, who wrote, “The Constitution does not tolerate the way defendants chose to enforce the human rights policy,” adding, “Particularly when free speech is involved, the uneven application of any policy risks the most exacting standard of judicial scrutiny, which the defendants have failed to withstand.”  In other words, as the article said, "the university allowed certain groups on campus to restrict access based on their requirements." Examples included:

One organization, Love Works, demanded leaders to sign “a gay-affirming statement of Christian faith.” Another group, House of Lorde, conducted interviews for potential members to ensure there is “a space for Black Queer individuals.”

2 - U.S. Supreme Court votes to not allow women's protection bill to take effect in Louisiana

There was anticipation that on Monday, February 4, a new law in Louisiana that mandated that abortion doctors have admitting privileges at local hospitals would go into effect.  But, after Justice Samuel Alito on the U.S. Supreme Court had put the implementation on hold the preceding week in consideration of a request for a stay, the entire Supreme Court weighed in.

According to LifeSiteNews: 

The U.S. Supreme Court has voted five to four to block the implementation of a Louisiana law requiring basic health and safety standards for abortion facilities, potentially hinting at the justices’ disposition to affirm a key pro-abortion ruling from 2016.

The article points out that Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal wing of the court to put the law on hold at least until the Supreme Court decides on whether or not it will hear the case itself; if it refuses to do so, the lower court ruling in favor of the law will stand.

Opponents to the law had said that the Louisiana law was different than the Texas law struck down in 2016 by the high court.  That was a 5-3 decision, in which Roberts voted against overturning the law (SCOTUS Blog). A Federal judge on the 5th Circuit had noted differences, according to the LifeSiteNews article.

1 - Bills  protecting lives of children surviving abortion attempts fails to gain unanimous vote in both chambers of Congress

It was an affirming and disaffirming week for the sanctity of life.  You had the President of the United States make strong statements on behalf of the unborn in the State of the Union address and at the National Prayer Breakfast.  And, you had brave lawmakers on Capitol Hill in both chambers of Congress who attempted to pass legislation to protect babies who had just survived a murder attempt through abortion.

However, unanimous consent could not be obtained in either chamber.  Family Research Council comments on the debacle:

In a civilized society, there should brightly colored moral lines that neither party will cross. When Democrats did, it put every American on notice that there is no bridge too far, no policy too extreme. As Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebr.) said earlier this week, who would have thought that any leader -- let alone the House speaker -- would block legislation that makes it illegal to leave a newborn baby to die? "This is morally repugnant. Passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act shouldn't be hard -- there are only two sides to this debate: you're defending babies or you're defending infanticide."

It should be, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) argued, the "simplest vote you will ever take." And yet, Democrats didn't take it. In the face of overwhelming backlash, a party in full-blown damage control dug in even deeper -- refusing not just Thursday, but today, to even bring the bill to the floor. For so many Americans, the footage of Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) asking to move the Born-Alive bill by unanimous consent was a powerful indication that the Left has no intention of listening to their constituents -- or what's left of their conscience.

The bill could still pass both chambers, but it will go through the standard procedure. As the article points out, Senator Patty Murray of Washington was the Democratic senator who thwarted the bill's progress.  In the House, chairman Henry Cuellar refused to recognize Scalise's request.

The FRC piece also commented on how out-of-step this radical agenda is from most Americans:

Already, Rasmussen polling warns, they're in a political no-man's-land with this radical agenda. Only 21 percent of Americans agree with them that abortion should even be legal in the last three months of pregnancy. Imagine how low that number would be if they'd asked about the Democrats' other agenda: infanticide.

The 3 - February 3, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three relevant stories to the Christian community, features a new development in the story of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani woman set free from her death sentence for violating the country's blasphemy laws.  Also, a major Christian organization is attempting to uphold Biblical teaching regarding employee policy.  And, an effort to pass sweeping abortion legislation in Virginia has been turned back.

3 - Pakistan high court upholds ruling to free Asia Bibi

The case involving Asia Bibi, the Pakistani woman who was sentenced to death under the country's harsh blasphemy laws, accused of insulting Mohammed, had another development this past week; the BBC reported that "The Supreme Court upheld its decision to overturn Asia Bibi's conviction and death sentence."

The report goes on to say:

The Supreme Court's quashing of her sentence last October led to violent protests by religious hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws, while more liberal sections of society urged her release.

Mission Network News quoted the national director of FMI, which stands for Forgotten Missionaries International, who told Executive Director Bruce Allen, "We are gradually heading towards a civil war situation." He said that "Radical Muslims have again taken to the streets," and "Protesters are calling for the execution of the Supreme Court justices who issued the ruling and the overthrow of Prime Minister Imran Khan."  The article also states that Allen "has informed MNN that Asia Bibi has been safely escorted out of Pakistan," but her location at the time was unknown.

2 - American Bible Society uphold Bible, loses staff members

You would expect an organization that is centered on the Bible to require its employees to act in accordance with the Bible's teachings.  So, it should come as no surprise that employees have been leaving the American Bible Society due to a new statement affirming a commitment to Biblical marriage relationships.

A Religion News Service story quotes Society President and CEO Roy Peterson, who said that the new Affirmation of Biblical Community “was introduced because we believe a staff made up of people with a deep and personal connection to the Bible will bring unity and clarity as we continue our third century of ministry.”

The story, released in late January, states: "Those departures represent a little less than 20 percent of the society’s workforce. But several have explicitly resigned in protest of the affirmation, and more are expected to resign by the end of the month."  The policy went into effect this past Friday.

1 - Virginia bill allowing abortion up until, and perhaps past, the time of birth halted - for now

The Virginia bill that would have allowed legalized abortion up until the time of birth and perhaps allow the life of a child to be taken after he or she is born, is now on hold, according to Live Action News, which says:

Virginia’s Repeal Act will not move forward. Live Action News reached out to Rep. C. Todd Gilbert’s office who said the bill will not leave the subcommittee and no action will be taken on it. The Washington Free Beacon said the Repeal Act “when put to a vote… was defeated” and The Daily Progress reports that it was killed. The Washington Times and other sources are reporting that the bill has been tabled or suspended.

The sponsor, Rep. Kathy Tran has admitted, according to the story, that the act would allow abortion "even when a woman is in active labor about to deliver her child."  Live Action News also reported that embattled Governor Ralph Northam, who, when commenting on a radio show about a third-trimester abortion, said: "...if the mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother."

Fox News reported that the governor was trying to walk back his statement - he tweeted out, "Wednesday evening, Northam tweeted: "I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting."  The story also says that his communications director said the Republicans who had criticized him were "trying to play politics with women's health." As Live Action News reported:

Gov. Northam’s office released a statement after the interview in response to the backlash he received. He claimed that “No woman seeks a third trimester abortion except in the case of tragic or difficult circumstances, such as a nonviable pregnancy or in the event of severe fetal abnormalities, and the governor’s comments were limited to the actions physicians would take in the event that a woman in those circumstances went into labor.” This claim is inaccurate.