Christianity Today

Christian college settles whistleblower suit

Grand Canyon University's parent company announced it will settle a lawsuit with a former employee, paying Ronald D. Irwin and the Department of Education $5.2 million. Irwin had sued the online Christian school for allegedly violating federal regulations that prohibit schools that receive federal financial aid from giving enrollment-based pay incentives to recruiters.

Churches protest donations monitoring

INDIA Christian organizations in India are upset about a recent bill that requires NGOS to register and work in the "national interest" in order to receive foreign contributions. Churches and religious organizations will also have to account for overseas money they receive. The All India Christian Council expressed concern that the bill unfairly targets minority religions. Supporters say the bill will provide needed regulation of NGOS.

Charity commission defines 'public benefit'

NEW ZEALAND Exodus Ministries has been denied charitable tax status in New Zealand because of its mission to support anyone "wishing to leave the homosexual lifestyle." The New Zealand Charities Commission said homosexuality is not a disease and cannot be cured, and therefore the group is not performing a public benefit or conducting charitable work. Since 2007, the charity commission has denied charitable status to more than 2,600 groups.

High-profile Christians split after referendum

KENYA The former leader of a violent Kenyan sect has left his well-known denomination after a falling out over the country's new constitution. Mungiki convert Maina Njenga left Jesus Is Alive Ministries after its high-profile leader Margaret Wanjiru opposed the revisions. Njenga is now a leader in little-known Amazing Grace International Ministries, which mainly comprises former Mungiki.

Bishop defrocked after consecration

FINLAND Bishop Matti Väisänen, head of the Luther Foundation in Finland, was removed from state clergy ranks after traditionalist bishops from Sweden and Africa consecrated him in August to provide leadership to 17 congregations who left the state church over women's ordination. Väisänen said the Church of Finland, which subordinates church leadership to state sexual discrimination laws, is no longer ordaining people who hold an "apostolic view" of ministry. Some observers believe the Luther Foundation may break with the Church of Finland soon.

Copts decry Islamic 'Bible'

EGYPT A new version of the Bible printed by the Islamic Enlightenment Publishing House has caused an uproar among Coptic Christians. Publisher Abuislam Abdullah said his version of the Bible was written before the Book of Genesis and proves that the Christian Bible was forged. Coptic leaders threatened legal action and asked that the book be taken out of circulation.

Doughnuts get students in hot water

Students from a New Mexico youth ministry were disciplined for leaving doughnuts with religious messages in teachers' lounges at Roswell high schools. The district placed 25 students from Church on the Move on detention or suspension for "showing kindness," said parents who protested. The ministry previously sued the school district after it disciplined students for distributing plastic fetuses to promote pregnancy services.

New law leaves Christians out in the cold

AZERBAIJAN Legal changes requiring religious communities in Azerbaijan to re-register with the state on a periodic basis have left only two Protestant churches approved. Unregistered communities, including the 1,500-member Cathedral of Praise in the capital of Baku, cannot meet in buildings not registered to them, preventing them from holding worship. The Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights called the re-registration superfluous and cumbersome.

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