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4. Another Episcopal church leaves

Christ Church Episcopal in Plano, Texas, is one of the largest Episcopal churches in the country. And it's leaving the Episcopal Church (its new acronym is TEC), The Dallas Morning News reports. "The mission of Christ Church is to make disciples and teach them to obey the commands of Christ," said a statement approved by Christ Church's leaders this weekend. "The direction of the leadership of the Episcopal Church is different, and we regret their departure from biblical truth and the historic faith of the Anglican Communion. … We declare our intention to disassociate from ECUSA as soon as possible."

It will be interesting to watch how the church tries to keep its property. "They bought it. They paid for it," Dallas Bishop James Stanton said. The conservative bishop plans to allow the church to l keep its building, which technically belongs to the denomination. The church says Stanton is still its "apostolic leader."

Another interesting point some bloggers have made is that the church is larger than the entire diocese from which the new TEC presiding bishop came.

5. Oh yeah, the First Amendment

D. C. officials have dropped their objections to a 850-pound monument of the Ten Commandments outside a row house across from the Supreme Court. The group Faith and Action had earlier been threatened with a $300/day fine for not removing the monument, which was erected without a permit. Feeling they were being singled out for religious discrimination, the group refused. According to The Washington Post, the most recent letter sent by the city stated, "In view of the First Amendment interests reflected in the installation of the Ten Commandments sculpture … and upon further consideration of applicable law," D.C. officials don't think there was any violation of permit requirements.

China | Religious freedom | Politics | Same-sex marriage | Religion & homosexuality | Christian convention on poverty | Education | ECUSA | Church life | Creation care | Missions & ministry | Abortion | Catholicism | Islam | Other religions | Film & theater | Superman | Television | Music | People | Spirituality | Family | History | Books | Terror suspect grew up in Christian family | World Cup | More articles of interest

China :

1. Keeping faith in China | The fastest-growing churches are the underground ones that are independent of the government. (Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times)
   
   
2. China: 1,958 Evangelical Christians arrested in one year | The worst persecution took place in Henan, where 823 Christian pastors and followers were arrested. Those hardest hit were community leaders and teachers: the government fears they may corrupt new generations. (AsiaNews)
   
   

Religious freedom :

1. Abuse of Hindus reported | Foundation hopes to raise awareness of human rights violations (The Argus, Ca.)
   
   
2. Bible study Web site among those blocked by state | A site dedicated to Bible study was included on a government "blacklist" of Internet pages blocked to state employees in an effort by administrators to boost workers' efficiency. (Associated Press)
   
   

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June (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50