Crystal Cathedral filed for bankruptcy protection from court

In Garden Grove, California, the Crystal Cathedral, founded by televangelist the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, filed for bankruptcy on Friday. The megachurch is looking to get out from under its debts by selling the church and grounds for a proposed $47 million from a local real-estate group.

Reportedly, the plan would allow the church to lease back most of its core buildings for the next 15 years, so congregants would not overtly notice a change in either worship or outreach services provided by the church.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Death toll mounts in wake of Joplin tornado

The death toll from a gigantic tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, has risen to 132, as of today. According to local government officials, the death toll rose by more than 60 between today and yesterday. Still, officials are working around-the-clock to account for those missing.

Fortunately, about 90 people who were originally listed as missing were found alive, heartening rescuers about the ability of finding even more people alive in the wake of the storm. Authorities say they believe many of those who are still missing are believed to be alive and safe, though out of contact with their family and loved ones.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

PCUSA vote opens up door to the ordination of gay clergy

In a dramatic 205-56 vote, openly gay people can now be ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA, after a regional decision on May 10. With the support of the Twin Cities region of the denomination, Amendment 10A won the approval of 87 of PCUSA's 173 presbyteries, which amounts to a simple majority.

Previously, in 1997, PCUSA adopted a statute that mandated all Presbyterian clergy "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman" or to "observe chastity in singleness."

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Ex-Nazi death camp guard convicted in Munich courtroom

A 91-year-old retired U.S. automobile worker was convicted on Thursday of being an accessory to the deaths of 28,060 prisoners at the Sobibor death camp, in Poland, for six months in 1943. John Demjanjuk was sentenced to five years in prison, but has been released pending his appeal of the conviction.

Demjanjuk's case was heard in a Munich, Germany courtroom. Demjanjuk was born in the Ukrain and served as a Soviet Army soldier until being captured by the Germans in the Crimea in 1942. Subsequently, he agreed to serve as a "Wachmann," or guard, who was subordinate to German SS men.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

'Leadership without Borders' to be held May 17 at Yale Club

Intersections International Power and Values Project is presenting "Leadership without Borders: Globalization and the Quest for Freedom" on Tuesday, May 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY.

Full-day registration for the event is $400, with an additional $9.95 fee. The half-day registration for the event is $200, with an additional $11.99 fee. Sales for the event conclude on May 17.

Speakers at the event include: Heather Schultz, vice president at Senn Delaney; Tachi Kiuchi, the renowned evangelist and former CEO for Mitsubishi Electric America; Dr. Jacob Needleman, a philosopher and auth of The American Soul; Alan Lurie, managing director for Grubb & Ellis NYC and George Bickerstaff, entrepreneur and former CEO of Novartis.

Muslim scholars taken off flight to conference

Two Muslim scholars headed to an American Fears of Islam conference were pulled from a flight on Friday, and were later told that the pilot had refused to fly with them aboard.

The men, Masudur Rahman, a professor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, and Mohamed Zaghloul, Imam at the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis, were reportedly asked to deplane Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 5452 from Memphis to Charlotte. They were subjected to additional security checks after the plane had pushed back from the gate.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Churches lending a hand in the wake of disaster

People are coming together in America's heartland in the wake of killer tornadoes that ravaged several communities only 10 days ago. At the First Baptist Church in Clanton, Alabama, parishioner Gordon Smelley and his "chainsaw gang" of 11 load up in a trailer and simply go out to help people.

Throughout the "Bible Belt," churches are spearheading efforts at community clean-ups and assisting people after more than 300 people were killed.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Gays are openly discriminated upon by Aussie churches

In Australia, churches are permitted to openly discriminate against homosexual, lesbian and transgender people despite the fact these churches receive millions of dollars in state support each year. In addition, gays can even be denied social services and employment opportunities by churches.

In both the United States and Great Britain, there are anti-discrimination laws that disallow such behaviors by organizations which receive money from the government. Reportedly, Anglicare Sydney received more than 55 million Australian dollars.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

A Special Message from NYTS President Dr. Dale Irvin

Dr. Dale Irvin

The death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of an elite U.S. military team this past week has been the occasion for an outpouring of national pride. Given the continuing pain so many experience regarding the attacks of 9/11, it is understandable.

Osama Bin Laden became the face of evil and terrorism in the United States. Unfortunately he also became the face of Islam for many as well. “Muslim” and “terrorist” became synonymous in the minds of far too many people. The fact that Muslims have made up the majority of those who have died around the world over the past decade in the violence that al-Qaeda has unleashed ought not to be lost in all of the celebration. The fact that vast majority of Muslims living around the world do not support terrorism and violence, and that the overwhelming majority of Muslims living in the United States support their nation in its war against terrorism needs now to be lifted up like never before.

The death of Bin Laden provides us with the opportunity to say more clearly than even that, in the words of President Obama, the United States is not at war with Islam. People of all faiths, and even those of no faith need to come together anew to assure that Muslims are not singled out for discrimination, and that we respect the rights of all people to practice their religious faith freely in the United States. More than our national pride is at stake. It is our very soul as a nation that we need now to protect.

French Muslim rector: Islam is not a faith of violence

In the wake of the death of international terrorist Osama bin Laden, Muslims consider the world without the notorious figure. According to Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, it was bin Laden who popularized the link between Islam and violence.

France is home to about five million Muslims, the largest Muslim minority in Europe, and Islamic leaders there have issued many denunciations against the violence bin Laden advocated and conducted.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Pope John Paul II beatified at Vatican City

In Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI has beatified the late Pope John Paul II, as witnessed by about 1.5 million Catholics in St. Peter's Square and the surrounding area on Sunday. Consequently, this moves Pope John Paul one step closer to sainthood during one of the most-attended events in Vatican history.

The landmark crowd erupted in cheers during the proceedings, and the choir at St. Peter's Basilica offered a hymn associated with the first-ever Polish born pope.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.