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There are several unanswered questions in this. Is Robertson shaping conservative Christian opinion on Liberia? Have conservative Christians even given much thought to what's happening in the country? Might evangelical leaders like Land, who truly care about international human rights, be proactive in countering Robertson's comments? Might this controversy demonstrate that Robertson is "way out on his own, in a leaking life raft," in another way, that is, that he's seen as a spokesman for the evangelical movement only by those outside the movement?

Minnesota pastor released from Laos prison:

• Laos frees St. Paul pastor from prison | The exact purpose of Naw-Karl Mua's trip to Laos remains in dispute (Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.)
  
  
• St. Paul pastor and journalists freed in Laos (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
  
  
• Pastor's wife awaits his return from Laotian custody (Minnesota Public Radio)
  
  
• Pastor's wife paid Laos $2,500 to help secure his release (Associated Press)
  
  
• Release of Mua could affect Laos trade bill (Associated Press)
  
  
• Jailed pastor's wife, friends wearily await his U.S. return following Laotian custody (Associated Press)
  
  

Faith-based initiative:

• The importance of believing in charity | Stripping away the First Amendment rights of religious groups threatens everyone's civil liberties (Joseph Loconte, The New York Times)
  
  

• Drug czar: Give faith a chance | The U.S. official, speaking in Riverside at a Christian rehab clinic's graduation ceremony, backs federal funding for such centers (Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• Also: Drug czar speaks at Riverside program (The Press-Enterprise, inland Calif.)
  
  
• Faith-based aid providers lukewarm about federal aid | Upstate religious charities lack one thing in getting on board with President Bush's faith-based initiative — faith. Faith in the government, that is. (The Greenville News, S.C.)
  
  

Church divisions on homosexuality:

• Anglicans to meet amid homosexuality row | Bishops, clergy and lay members of the 470-year-old church will gather in the historic city of York for a General Synod — effectively a meeting of the church's parliament (Reuters)
  
  
• Evangelicals' money is root of problem | The decision by Dr Jeffrey John to step down as Bishop of Reading does not end the financial threat from evangelicals to the future of the Church of England (The Times, London)
  
  
• Church's two wings are locked in moral combat | Ignoring the plea of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, that there should be "pause for thought" to reflect on all that has happened, liberals and evangelicals issued combative statements over the direction of the Church of England (The Times, London)
  
  
• Schism could be a saving grace for the Church | Rowan Williams seemed like a wild card, an inspirer, a holy man from the West come to revive the faith. Alas, the dreadful suspicion grows that he is just another Archbishop of Canterbury. (Libby Purves, The Times, London)
  
  
• Archbishop look-alike teddy weeps | One of the limited edition teddy bears made in the image of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has started to weep (BBC)
  
  
• Gay choir leader's firing turns into a test of faith | Dismissal of popular director has brought disharmony to the flock at Rockford parish (Chicago Tribune)
  
  

Education:

• Survey highlights dissent at Baylor | Majority of tenured professors don't support school's direction (Houston Chronicle)
  
  
• Also: Missing player increases Baylor's woes | The disappearance of Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy comes at a time when the nation's largest Baptist university was already embroiled in controversy or intrigue (Associated Press)
  
  

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July (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47