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"We still have the invocation. We just don't have a sectarian invocation," Assistant City Attorney Juli C. Scott told the Associated Press. "They are usually very benign, positive expressions of thanks asking for divine guidance so legislators do a good job."

Other cities say they'll probably do away with invocations altogether.

The court still hasn't announced whether it will hear an appeal on whether requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance's "under God" phrase unconstitutionally promotes religion.

1. Rebels target aid workers in Afghanistan | In the last month alone, seven Afghan mine-clearers have been shot and one killed in four separate ambushes in the south of the country (Associated Press)
   
   
2. Adopt-a-Family tests Jews, Christians | Walkathon seen as political by some (The Boston Globe)
   
   
3. Pray as you spray: Christian paintball | Paintball is an effective tool for conveying Gospel truths, says Jim Wilson, founder of the Palm City chapter of the Christian Paintball Players Association (TCPalm.com, Fla.)
   
   
4. Eclectic worship service aims to close racial gaps | The first Gathering drew 7,500 people to the Gaylord Entertainment Center. That almost doubled last year, when more than 13,000 people attended the event some organizers said was as diverse as the city of Nashville (The Tennessean, Nashville)

1. In harm's way; in Jesus' name | Despite controversy, danger, New Tribes still sends missionaries into the field (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
   
   
2. DOJ official to meet Gracia Burnham | Or at least she'll try (Today, ABS-CBN, Philippines)
   
   
3. Military officers accused of colluding with Abu Sayyaf summoned for pre-trial probe | Officers, accused of letting the rebels and their captives escape from a security cordon around the hospital in Lamitan, could face court-martial (Associated Press)

1. Missionary doomed by ignorance | Keen to put in some work on a proposed new shop, Lance Gersbach did not know the site was the subject of a long-festering land dispute (The Australian)
   
   
2. Also: Slain in paradise | Lance Gersbach's killer waited until he was alone before ambushing and beheading the Australian missionary as he was building a store in the Solomon Islands (The Daily Telegraph, Australia)
   
   
3. Also: Beheaded missionary's family coming home | "His family is coping with this, they're shattered and shocked, but they are receiving care and support." (The Sunday Times, Australia)
   
   
4. Also: Missionary murder points to deepening crisis | Matthew Wale says leaders must take responsibility for the deterioration of law and order (Radio Australia, listen)

1. Persecution is increasing in developing countries—and going unnoticed | The murder May 6 of a man named Jamil Ahmed Rifai unveiled the face of 21st-century Christian martyrdom (Kansas City Star)
   
   
2. Four Christians murdered in Colombia | Twenty-five armed men entered a rural church in northern Colombia the evening of May 6 and murdered its 80-year-old evangelical pastor and three other believers (Compass Direct)
   
   
3. Service held for victim of Tripoli mission bomb | Speakers called for stopping attacks against the Evangelical community (The Daily Star, Lebanon)

1. U.S. wants groups to receive housing aid | The Bush administration wants to allow religious groups to receive federal housing aid even if they hire or fire employees based on their religion (Associated Press)
   
   

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May (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47