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Previously divorced can be clergy, but not married to one

On Wednesday, the Assemblies of God General Council passed Resolution 15, which permits "men and women who were divorced before conversion" to be ordained.

Passing by a 998-834 secret ballot vote, the resolution stipulates that the denomination will only consider applicants who were divorced before conversion. They have to "present evidence to prove that it truly was a pre-conversion divorce." No word on what evidence would be.

Oddly, before that amendment passed, the council defeated another resolution that would have allowed a minister to be ordained if his or her spouse was once divorced.

Defeated by a vote of 879-1,049, the resolution may have died because it did not have the luxury of a secret ballot like Resolution 15. Delegates stood to signify their vote.

Archbishop hubby shows up at Vatican, ultimatum suspended

In July, the Vatican gave Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo until August 20 to give up his wife, sever ties with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, and reaffirm his vow of celibacy or else face excommunication. On Tuesday, he showed up on the Pope's doorstep.

Earlier this year, Milingo was married to a South Korean woman in one of Moon's Unification Church mass weddings. After Milingo's audience with the Pope on Wednesday, the Vatican released a statement saying the matter was complex and needed time. The August 20 deadline was suspended. Talks between the Pope and Milingo are expected to continue.

First he's accused of taking without citing, and now the opposite

Last week, The Los Angeles Times reported that Trinity Law School dean Winston L. Frost had been accused of plagiarizing an encyclopedia. Now an author is claiming he cited what he didn't use. John W. Montgomery claims Frost listed Montgomery's book Human Rights and Human Dignity as a source for an article but didn't really use it.

Trinity International University Provost Dr. Barry J. Beitzel told Christianity Today that, contrary to Times and wire reports, Frost has not been suspended with pay but voluntarily stepped down during the investigation.

Persecution:

• Lebanese Cabinet supports crackdown on Christians | Pro-Syrian Cabinet stresses in a stormy 5-hour session that it still controls the government. (Associated Press)
• Taliban Reports Pardon Plea for Held Aid Workers | German leader asks for pardon as diplomats await permission to visit the detainees. (Reuters)
• Also: Taliban OK Aid Workers Visits | Diplomats will get to see prisoners but visas not offered yet (Associated Press)

Race:

• St. Sabina to remain in sports conference | Despite vehement objections to "changes to an agreed-upon policy," church stays. (Chicago Tribune)
• Also: Church vandalized over Sabina issue | Graffiti found at St. Christina's Church after grappling in sports conference debate. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Also: Catholic League Faces Race Tension | Conflict is really lingering bitterness over a decades-old racial shift within the parish. (Associated Press)

Other stories of interest:

• Debate rages over publishing of Lewis' work | Author questions handling of estate of Christian author (Associated Press) The article cites a recent Christianity Todayeditorial.
• N.J. Church Prays for John Gotti | Pastor regularly gives updates on the gangster. (Associated Press)
• Stealing a Nation's Very Soul | Guatemala's religious icons are vanishing, and with them, worshipers' identity. Some blame simple greed; others see a warning to the church. (Los Angeles Times)
• Lutherans Discuss Homosexuality | Anxieties emerge during national legislative assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Associated Press)
• Leading a mission to change Bible phrase "the Jews" to "some Jews" | Retired magazine publisher urges publishers to re-translate portrayal of the Jewish people (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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August (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45