Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 24, 2010

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Crosswalk.com | Published: Feb 23, 2010

Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 24, 2010

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

  • Spring Breakers to Pack 1 Million Meals for Haiti Relief
  • Boozy Jesus Picture Leads to Church Burnings in India
  • Haiti: Quake Sparked Greatest Revival in Recent History
  • Wis. Presbytery Approves Ordination of Openly Gay Man

Spring Breakers to Pack 1 Million Meals for Haiti Relief

Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) plans to turn spring break into aid relief for Haiti with the help of more than 2,500 college students. Similar to CCC's efforts after Hurricane Katrina, students will meet in Panama City Beach, Fla., to prepare and pack meals for 1 million Haitian earthquake victims. Campus Crusade for Christ is partnering with Kids Against Hunger and the Global Aid Network (GAiN) to pack and ship the million meals to Haiti. "I'm hearing from students around the country who are excited about this opportunity to help ease the suffering in Haiti in a tangible way," says Mark Gauthier, national director of the U.S. Campus Ministry for Campus Crusade for Christ. "I'm thankful for both the students and for the thousands of partners whose generous gifts will help pay for the meals and the shipping costs."

Boozy Jesus Picture Leads to Church Burnings in India

Christian Today reports that the controversy over a picture of Jesus holding a beer and a cigarette has caused physical altercations in India. Two churches in Batala, Punjab, were burned as a result, though the printer of the controversial poster has been arrested. "In most of the places the protest was peaceful but ... some youth demanded the downing of the shutters in Hindu dominated market," Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported. "Resistance on the part of these shopkeepers led to clashes between the two communities. The violence gradually spread to the entire city when Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena came out on the roads with weapons and indulged in arson, looting and violence."

Haiti: Quake Sparked Greatest Revival in Recent History

Mission News Network reports missionaries in Haiti are witnessing the greatest revival in the island's recent history. Missionaries Sarah and Brian Bennetch with TouchGlobal, who communicate with Haitians in French, say the awakening is almost unbelievable. "Last weekend revival broke out, and pastors agree on that. Missionaries who have been here long-term report it as being never seen before. This weekend, a week later, you heard spontaneous praise meetings bursting out all over throughout the whole day," Sarah said. "It doesn't matter how much the earth shakes anymore, they put their trust in God." Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is still experiencing aftershocks, including a 4.7 magnitude quake on Monday.

Wis. Presbytery Approves Ordination of Openly Gay Man

The Christian Post reports that the Presbyterian Church (USA) has restored the ordination of a resigned, partnered gay pastor. Scott D. Anderson stepped down from the pastorate at Bethany Presbyterian Church in 1990 after two church members outed him. On Feb. 20, John Knox Presbytery commissioners in Wisconsin restored his position in the church, almost four years after Anderson "conscientiously object[ed]" to the denomination's clause on marriage. The denomination's constitution requires clergy to live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." While the move allows Anderson to return to the clergy for the time being, the decision will likely face final judgment by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the PC(USA)'s highest governing court.

Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 24, 2010