Two-thirds of Americans prefer ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting
A new survey finds Americans by a wide margin prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” greeting to the non-specific “Happy Holidays.”
Read More >Latest News Archives - Page 102 of 110 - Church Executive
Student Life joins LifeWay family
LifeWay Christian Resources and Student Life, Inc., minister to more than 100,000 teenagers each year as two of the largest providers of Christian student conferences. On Aug. 15, Student Life officially became part of the LifeWay family of resources.
Read More >Churches under fire for using gun classes as outreach
By Greg Horton (RNS) Pryor Creek, Okla., is gun country. Located midway between Tulsa and Siloam Springs, Ark., the town of approximately 8,500 sits in the heart of Oklahoma’s greenbelt. Hunting and fishing are simply part of everyday life in Pryor, as it is known to locals. Derek Melton is the assistant chief of police […]
Read More >Unbelief is now the world’s third-largest ‘religion’
By Kimberly Winston (RNS) A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. The study, released Tuesday (Dec. 18) by the Pew Forum on Religion […]
Read More >Richard Hammar notes 39 church and clergy tax developments as 2013 begins
CAROL STREAM, Ill./Christian Newswire/ – Congress enacted new tax laws in 2012 that include provisions of direct relevance to churches and pastors. Several of the most important changes and clarifications are summarized in the January/February issue of Church Law & Tax Report and will assist ministers and churches in correctly preparing tax forms and returns […]
Read More >Newtown shooting galvanizes religious gun control advocates
By Adelle M. Banks (RNS) The shooting deaths of 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school has revived religious support for gun control, galvanizing a movement that has struggled to gain traction against the powerful gun lobby. “We are going to win this and save lives, and faith leaders will not need to […]
Read More >In Newtown churches, many questions – and tears – but few answers
Yamiche Alcindor and USA Today staff NEWTOWN, Conn. (RNS) Dealing with the pain of the school shooting that claimed 28 lives will take faith, support and joyous Christmas celebrations, church leaders said at the first Sunday (Dec. 16) services held since the tragedy. At houses of worship around town, people gathered in pews, crying, kneeling […]
Read More >Most churches intend to give raises next year
According to the 2012 Leadership Network Economic Outlook Survey, 74 percent of churches plan to give raises of at least 1 percent to their staff in the coming year, and nearly 30 percent plan to give a 3 percent increase. Larger churches plan more significant increases in pay. Only 3 percent of the churches surveyed […]
Read More >Despite funding challenges and volunteer shortages, survey shows churches determined to do more in 2013
CAROL STREAM, Ill./Christian Newswire/ – Where would Americans be if churches didn’t make outreach a priority? Many would feel the pain of unmet needs for basics such as food and clothing, not to mention a slow-down in disaster recovery efforts. For many hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, it was churches that provided the first signs […]
Read More >Seattle church holds group wedding
By Bob Allen Twenty-five same-sex couples exchanged vows in a group wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church in Seattle Dec. 9, the first day that gays could legally marry in Washington State. Hundreds of couples stood in lines on Thursday to obtain marriage licenses on the day Washington’s voter-approved marriage law took effect. Following a […]
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