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.

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.

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.

Prop 8 sponsors seek to disqualify gay judge hearing case

In San Francisco, California, sponsors of California's gay marriage ban are reportedly seeking to disqualify Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker because he has been in a long-term, same-sex relationship. Meanwhile, experts are reportedly claiming that sexual orientation is an untried judicial disqualification.

However, the authors of Proposition 8 are allegedly claiming that Walker did not disclose his relationship while he presided over the case and has not stated whether or not he has any interest in marrying his partner.

The NY 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.

Battling Episcopalians take fight to Virginia courtroom

In Fairfax, Virginia, a long-running dispute between the Episcopal Church and several so-called "breakaway congregations" over homosexuality and Christian doctrine was back in a court on Monday, where real-estate and contract law took center stage.

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.

Important 'Save the Date' for 9/11 survivors, families

The WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program will hold a conference for 9/11 workers and volunteers and their families. Information about health findings, benefits and the Zadroga Act will be presented on Saturday, May 7, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The event will take place at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters in Manhattan, 52 Broadway, New York, NY.

For more information or to register, call 1 (888) 702-0630, or go to wtc exams.

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.

Tibetan lama makes his home in suburban New Jersey

Geshi Dakpa survived the Chinese invasion of his homeland, Tibet, in 1959.

Photos by Jim Purcell

A Howell Township Tibetan Buddhist temple is the home to Geshi Dakpa, a lama who has survived the Chinese invasion of Lhasa, Tibet, studied Buddhism in India and Thailand, and taught at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dakpa is the spiritual shepherd of more than 300 families now and discusses life, death and loss as he reveals his insights about living a full and happy life. Are there secrets about enlightenment and living life happily? Surprisingly, nothing each of us do not already know.

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 walk of life, for careers in ministry.

Benson awards control of $114M to polygamous church members in controversial federal court decision

WARREN JEFFS

In Salt Lake City, Utah, a federal judge has turned control of $114 million in communal assets over to leaders of a polygamous church founded by jailed religious Warren Jeffs. U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson said that church leaders, and not the state of Utah, should manage the assets being held by the United Effort Plan Trust.

Utah courts previously authorized the seizure of trust money during 2005. The following year, a state judge permitted the trust to be stripped of its religious tenets and opened its class of beneficiaries to former church members. About 6,000 church members then sued in federal court.

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.

Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church to reopen in Atlanta

In Atlanta, Georgia, the sanctuary where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, is being re-opened to the public after being closed since 2007.

The sanctuary will be re-opened by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Friday. The site is managed by the National Park Service and has been designated as a National Historic Site. The Rev. Dr. King, Jr., had co-pastored at the church with his father, beginning in 1960 and concluding with his assassination in 1968.


The NY 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.

Church of England creates special prayer for the royal couple

The Church of England has created a special prayer for the royal wedding of Great Britain's Prince William and future Princess Kate Middleton, in advance of the 'wedding to end all weddings' thus far in this short century.

According to church leaders, this newly-minted prayer can be used in private prayer or during group worship. This new prayer petitions God's assistance in strengthening the couple's will and deepening their faith and love for one another.

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.

Florida Quran burning sparks deaths during Afghani riots for 2 days

In Afghanistan, Saturday marked a second day of protests in the wake of a small Florida church burning a Quran publicly. Nine people died in Kandahar and more than 80 were injured during a wave of violence, which was fueled by anti-foreign sentiment. Many have said this was the last thing needed in the region after nearly a decade of war.

During Friday, 11 people were killed, including seven foreign United Nations employees in the northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif. The desecration by the U.S. church has further strained already tenuous ties between Afghanistan and the West.

The NY 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.

Muslim girl reportedly terrorized because of her Islamic religious beliefs

A 13-year-old Muslim girl was reportedly terrorized in Staten Island because of her religion. Most recently, her head scarf was yanked off by an 11-year-old, according to published reports. The girl allegedly said she has been labeled with the name "Terrorist" by her peers, due to her Islamic heritage.

Meanwhile, the girl is an eighth-grade honors student at Berta Dreyfus Intermediate School 49 in Stepleton. The abuse has reportedly been going on for three months. During the most pronounced of the attacks, it is reported that the girl's lip was busted and her headdress was tattered.

The NY 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 walk of life, for careers in ministry.

British archeologists unearth what may be an important find in Jordan

A new discovery from 1st century?

Key clues to the life of Jesus Christ may have been uncovered by British archeologists, who are seeking to authenticate 70 lead codices that could have been made during the 1st century CE. The codices were discovered in a remote area of Jordan.

 The wire-bound volumes reportedly contain a number of accounts of the crucifixion and the resurrection. It is being speculated that it is possible these codices may have been in the possession of early Christians who fled during the Roman sack of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

While this discovery could very well have deep meaning, experts are quick to add that such hopes should be suspended pending verification.

The NY 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 walk of life, for careers in ministry.

Nuclear drama deepens as radioactivity reportedly infiltrates water table in Japan

Concerns mount that radioactivity may have spread.

Reporting from Tokyo, Japan, nuclear plant workers allegedly reported that radioactive water is leaking from a crippled nuclear complex. Emergency workers are attempting to pump hundreds of tons of radioactive water and bring the situation back under control.

Reportedly, government officials are concerned that contaminated water may have sent radioactivity levels up and fear there may have been infiltration into soil and seawater. It is also being reported that trace elements of plutonium in the soil outside of a plant has been detected today. Plutonium is a vital component within nuclear weapons.

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 walk of life, for careers in ministry.

Carter to meet with Castro, religious leaders in Cuba

An upcoming religious summit on the island-nation of Cuba will include not only leaders of the country's Jewish and Catholic communities but also former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Cuban President Raul Castro (the brother of Fidel Castro).

President Carter is the first American leader who has held the top office to visit the island since the 1959 revolution in Cuba. Reportedly, the meeting will be "private" involving "non-governmental" business. However, topics will reportedly include ways to improve U.S.-Cuban relations.

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.

Facebook comment questioning hell's existence reportedly cost NC pastor his job

A new book by Rob Bell has stirred debate.

The Rev. Chad Holtz, a former pastor to a United Methodist congregation in North Carolina, wrote a note on his Facebook page supporting a new book that challenges popular ideas about hell's existence. Days later, Holtz was informed his job at Marrow's Chapel, in Henderson, was at risk, allegedly because of the Facebook comment.

The controversial book involved is "Love Wins," by the Rev. Rob Bell, a Michigan evangelical pastor. In his book, Bell critiques the perspective that a select number of Christians will spend eternity in peace and bliss while the majority of the world's people will endure an eternity in hell.

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.