Christian hospitals could face crushing pensions
The US Supreme Court will decide this month whether Christian hospitals have to meet federal rules on funding pensions. Since 1980, the government has allowed the hospitals—and other church-affiliated groups like daycares and schools—to claim the same ERISA pension exemptions as churches. But lower courts ruled that three major religiously affiliated health care systems aren’t exempt, because their benefit plans weren’t established by a church. That precedent leaves the courts in the position of making “sensitive determinations” about what constitutes a “church,” argued the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in an amicus brief. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty noted that if the hospitals are ordered to make the billion-dollar back payments, they will have to cut programs for the poor or shut down altogether.
Evangelicals protest Trump cuts to foreign aid
More than 100 prominent Christians, including two who prayed at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, urged Congress to reject Trump’s proposed budget cuts to foreign aid. National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference president Samuel Rodriguez and Cardinal Timothy Dolan were among the humanitarian experts, denominational leaders, seminary presidents, and artists who signed a public letter asserting that international programs are “instrumental in saving lives, safeguarding religious liberties, and keeping America safe and secure.” One signatory, World Vision president Rich Stearns, issued an additional statement suggesting that cutting programs could halt or undo progress made in eradicating diseases, reducing poverty, and improving education—“wasting billions of dollars and decades of efforts.” Trump’s proposed “America First” budget is only the beginning of the process; lawmakers will spend months negotiating the details.
China: Scores of Korean missionaries sent home
In an unprecedented move, scores of South Korean missionaries have been kicked out of northeast China, where they were ministering to the poor or helping North Korean refugees. China gave no reason for the expulsions. Some pointed to the increasing red tape Christians face (26 new restrictions went into effect in October), but most observers blamed Beijing’s opposition to Seoul’s plan to build an American missile shield. The THAAD radar is meant to help protect South Korea from North Korea’s missile threats, but China has voiced concerns that it will be used to spy on or interfere with its own missile system. Some Korean missions agencies are recalling their workers, and the nation’s foreign ministry has counseled missions groups to use “extra caution.” South Korea ranks No. 6 on the Center for the Study of Global Christianity’s list of missionary-sending countries.
Tim Keller transitions
On July 1, Tim Keller will step down as senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian—the multisite Manhattan church he founded 28 years ago—as it transitions into three particular churches with their own leadership. The 66-year-old will instead teach full-time at a Reformed Theological Seminary partner program and train Redeemer church planters. “The gospel is a living force, always sending and giving,” said Keller. “And as I am sent in a new way now, so is every member of Redeemer.” The popular author and apologist’s reputation as “an innovative theologian” and a “catalyst for urban mission” earned him a featured lecture at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Abraham Kuyper Conference. However, the mainline institution rescinded the annual prize named after the neo-Calvinist theologian. As a Presbyterian Church in America pastor and complementarian, Keller’s stance against the ordination of female or LGBT clergy conflicted with the seminary’s position and led to a backlash.
