Religion Today Summaries - May 10, 2007

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Published: May 09, 2007

Religion Today Summaries - May 10, 2007

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

  • Coalition to Advocate Environmental Balance
  • Christian Endeavor International Launches "Pray21" National Prayer Movement for Teens and Adults
  • ETS Executive Committee Statement on Resignation of President Dr. Frank Beckwith
  • Church Must Keep Fighting Abortion, Poverty, Pope Says


Coalition to Advocate Environmental Balance

A coalition of evangelical Christians from various fields is preparing public policy recommendations designed not only to foster stewardship of the environment but to promote economic progress, Baptist Press reports. The newly named Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation has announced that a task force will be addressing the areas of "poverty and development" and "climate and energy" with policy proposals based on the biblical principles included in an earlier document. Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy and research of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Stephen Livesay, president of Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn., were introduced as co-chairmen of the task force.
 
Christian Endeavor International Launches "Pray21" National Prayer Movement for Teens and Adults

Timothy Eldred, Executive Director of Christian Endeavor International, announced today the launch of "Pray21," a national youth initiative to encourage teens and adults to pray together during 21 days in September, while empowering youth ministry in their church and community. Eldred proclaimed, "On September 9th of this year, thousands of churches across the country will join together to build stronger faith in their young people - and their adults - by encouraging them to pray together. Pray21 Sunday is the first step to strengthening the future of our youth and the church. We invite 10,000 churches, youth and adults, to join us with this exciting national event." National leaders such as Josh McDowell, Tony Campolo, Paul Fleischmann, Cornell Haan, Howard Hendricks, Paul Cedar, Barry St. Clair, Chuck Klein and many others have joined together in support of Pray21.

ETS Executive Committee Statement on Resignation of President Dr. Frank Beckwith

A release from A. Larry Ross Communications contains the following statement from the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS): "On May 5, 2007, Dr. Frank Beckwith resigned as President of the Evangelical Theological Society. This resignation has come as a result of his decision to be received into full communion in the Roman Catholic Church, which he did on April 29, 2007. Dr. Beckwith has informed the Executive Committee that this was a decision he came to 'after much prayer, counsel, and consideration.' Subsequently, after further prayer and reflection, Dr. Beckwith has voluntarily withdrawn his membership from the Society as well. The members of the Executive Committee wish Dr. Beckwith well in his ongoing professional work... On behalf of the Society, we want to express our gratitude for his work organizing and coordinating the 2006 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., with the theme, 'Evangelicals in the Public Square'... Regarding the Presidency of ETS, Dr. Hassell Bullock, President-elect will also serve as acting President until the annual meeting at which time elections for the officers for 2008 will take place.

Church Must Keep Fighting Abortion, Poverty, Pope Says

Catholic News Service reports that Pope Benedict XVI recently called Latin America "the continent of life and hope" and said the church must keep up the fight against abortion, poverty and injustice. The Pope denounced the Latin American drug trade and said liberation theology has changed with the political times. In remarks about the recent legalization of abortion in Mexico, the pope appeared to support Mexican church leaders who held out the possibility of excommunication for Catholic legislators who voted for the legislation. Asked whether he agreed with the excommunication penalty, the pope answered: "Yes, these excommunications were not something arbitrary, but are foreseen by the Code (of Canon Law)."

Religion Today Summaries - May 10, 2007