• Christians-only health plan Medi-Share will continue operating in Kentucky after a judge ruled it could not be regulated as insurance. Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate said in January that Medi-Share, which splits medical bills among 50,000 Christians nationwide, fits a religion exemption in the state’s insurance regulations. In 2002, Kentucky sued Medi-Share, which assumes no legal obligation to pay participants’ medical bills.
• Britain’s largest airline has reversed its policy restricting religious jewelry. In September, British Airways asked an employee to conceal her cross necklace under her uniform. She refused, and the airline placed her on unpaid leave. Public anger over the incident, including threats of divestment by the Church of England, convinced the airline to revise its policy and allow employees to wear religious symbols as necklaces or lapel pins.
• Palestinian Authority police linked with the Fatah party seized Gaza Baptist Church in February. They evacuated about one week later after using the six-story building as an observation deck in their fight against rival Hamas. Damage includes three broken windows, one shattered by gunfire celebrating the latest ceasefire agreement. Police also damaged the door after church leaders refused to give them the key. Intermittent gun battles in the streets have killed dozens in the crossfire, including the bus driver for Gaza Baptist Church’s Awana children’s program on January 28.
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Related Elsewhere:
Although Medi-Share will not be regulated as insurance in Kentucky, Oklahoma ruled on March 14 that the state will treat Medi-Share as an insurance company
Christianity Today‘s earlier articles on Medi-Share include “Healthcare: Bearing (some but not all) Burdens” and “No Cost-Sharing Allowed: Kentucky says Medi-Share’s insurance alternative is unauthorized“
“Cross Dress” was about Nadia Ewedia’s lost suit over wearing a crucifix to work at British Airways. She has returned to work.
Other related articles include:
When Religious Needs Test Company Policy | looks at controversies like the British Airways jewelry policy. (The New York Times)
British Airways caves in on cross ban | British Airways today bowed to public pressure by announcing that it is to change its uniform policy to allow staff of all religions to display symbols of their faith (The Telegraph, London)
Christianity Today covered the seizure of Gaza Baptist Church in February.
DeAnn Alford wrote about their Awana program.
