Religion Today Summaries - June 28, 2006

Black Leaders Criticize Christian Conservatives over Moral Issues

According to a story in The Christian Post, prominent black leaders said they will combat Christian conservatives they say have used gay marriage and abortion to distract from larger moral issues such as the war, voting rights, affirmative action and poverty. The Revs. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Joseph Lowery and hundreds of other black leaders are focusing on mobilizing black voters for the fall elections. "There are no gay people coming to our churches asking to get married," Sharpton said. "But there are plenty of people coming with problems voting or their sons in jail." Sharpton said tours are planned of swing states starting in July to bring out black voters and push Democrats to take a tougher stand on social justice issues.

Texas Episcopal Megachurch to Leave Denomination

Christ Church Episcopal of Plano, TX, has announced that it will leave the denomination because it can no longer abide by the national church's decisions, The Christian Post reports. Leaders of the conservative congregation announced their plan Monday, a week after the ECUSA elected Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as its first female presiding bishop. Jefferts Schori supports the creation of locally authorized blessings for gay unions. Christ Church released a statement saying: "The mission of Christ Church is to make disciples and teach them to obey the commands of Christ. 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." A spokesman for the Episcopal Church did not immediately return phone messages left by the Associated Press early Tuesday.

FFH's Homan Appointed by President Bush to the HELP Commission

On June 20, 2006, Benjamin Homan, president of Food for the Hungry, was appointed by President Bush to the "Helping Enhance the Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission." As challenged by Congressman Frank Wolf, the original sponsor of the HELP Commission legislation, the Commission will think boldly and openly as it seeks to define ways to make foreign assistance more effective for the taxpayers and the recipients. Ben Homan's in-the-field experience with Food for the Hungry has taken him to more than 30 countries over the past five years, including war-torn places such as Iraq, Congo, Afghanistan, and Sudan's Darfur region. He has also served in tsunami-ravaged Indonesia and other places touched by famine and poverty. Homan is also the president of AERDO - the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations - and has earned a reputation fo rhis practical knowledge of international relief and development issues.

Superman a Type of Christ?

As Superman Returns hits theatres this week, some think the Man of Steel is being cast in a decidedly spiritual light, says a Family News in Focus story. Many who see the film will leave thinking there was something familiar about quotes like: “They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I’ve sent them you, my only son.” Dr. Reg Grant of Dallas Seminary comments, “Now that just sounds like something right out of the Gospel of John. It sounds like God the Father saying that he’s going to send his son, Jesus, to the world to save the world... [D]irector Bryan Singer just offers up... a golden opportunity for us to use this as a gospel starter with our friends.” That said, Grant does admit that this savior with the "S" on his chest comes not to redeem, but to help mankind achieve its potential.