| | Senate Republicans signal support for same-sex marriage bill | | Curated for you byCP Editors | | Good afternoon! It's Wednesday, July 27, and today's headlines include five Senate Republicans who have indicated they plan to support the House-passed "Respect for Marriage Act," Lambeth Conference organizers nixing a resolution to define marriage as between "a man and a woman," and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin crediting God after breaking her own world record. | | On the heels of the Democrat-controlled House passing the "Respect for Marriage Act" last week, at least five Senate Republicans have indicated that they plan to support the measure. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., are reportedly in favor of backing the same-sex marriage bill, with several other Senators undecided. Meanwhile, CNN's Manu Raju has listed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as confirmed "Nos." Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, along with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., responded to CNN’s inquiries about their position on the bill by characterizing themselves as probable or definite "Nos." | | Tony Perkins, president of the socially conservative think-tank Family Research Council, has cautioned that support for the Respect for Marriage Act could "eat into the margins the GOP needs in November," referring to the upcoming midterm elections. "If Republicans want to stick their finger in the cultural winds to decide where they stand on timeless truths, then they are throwing away everything the American people have come to respect about today’s party—their courage, their common sense, their conviction," Perkins wrote. Read more. | | P.S. Looking for a way to close out your week? Stay in the know with In Case You Missed It, a Friday-only newsletter that features a roundup of the top stories of the week and a selection of faith-based highlights. Subscribe here. |
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| Lambeth Conference nixes resolution language reaffirming biblical definition of marriage | | Shortly before the beginning of the Lambeth Conference in London, organizers announced significant changes to a resolution that would have reaffirmed a 1998 statement opposing same-sex marriage. Following an outcry from liberal attendees over the inclusion of a call that would have defined marriage as being "between a man and a woman," the conference instead shared on Tuesday updated language of the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity that is more neutral in rhetoric, noting that some provinces in the communion affirm same-sex marriage while others do not. The conference—a major gathering of Anglican bishops that occurs around every 10 years—runs from July 26 to Aug. 8. Read more. | | Whitehead explodes after jewelry heist is compared to Tyler Perry movie | | Bishop Lamor Whitehead defended himself and his church from jokes and criticism after hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry were stolen by gunmen at a worship service Sunday. During a Facebook Live interview with online media personality Larry Reid and his guest, Genesis Warren, Whitehead aggressively defended himself for several minutes before telling the duo they "can both kiss my a**." The robbery has been a popular topic on social media, with some speculating that it could have been a set-up. Warren, who poked fun at the appearance of Whitehead's church, has been among those to suggest a potential set-up. "It did look kind of Tyler Perryish to me," she said in reference to the work of movie producer Tyler Perry, adding, "I'm not saying that the pastor had anything to do with [it], I don't know. Maybe someone that knows him had him set up because he said in one of the videos that they took one of the chains from him that was inside of his robe. Well, how would someone even know that that was there? So that made me think that it was someone that he knew." Read more. |
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| Can the center hold? | | A recent poll revealed that more than half of Americans think they are "in imminent danger every day." Wallace B. Henley writes about the importance of "centering" and how cultures that lose focus and spiral downward and out of control are at the root of such worries. "This means we must anchor ourselves and our world to a coherent worldview. It must be transcendent, coming from beyond our own sanity-shaking minds, and thus outside ourselves. Our worldviews form our values, and values lead us to soar upward, or, if they are corrupt, send us 'gyring' downward with such furor we no longer hear the voice of the Holy Spirit who gives us the truth that sets us free from delusion and its distortions," Henley explains. Read more. | | Be the church that embraces children, not just tolerates them | | In this op-ed, Pastor Sam Rainer, president of Church Answers, likens churches to restaurants: some welcome children, and others merely tolerate them. Rainer discusses the importance of being a church that is truly welcoming of children, which means understanding that messy is healthy, noise is more important than perfection, and children's ministries are worth the investment. Read more. |
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| JD Hall loses church membership | | Fellowship Baptist Church in Sidney, Mont., has removed its former pastor, Jordan "J.D." Hall, from membership. In a statement online, the church indicated it voted to remove Hall from membership "in poor standing due to a failure to demonstrate repentance for sins that he had committed against his family, his church, and his God." Earlier this month, Fellowship Elder Caleb Snodgrass told The Christian Post that Hall's wife, Mandy, reported to church officials in early June that Hall physically abused her and her son. In Monday's statement, church leaders noted that Hall's wife asked them not to report the abuse to authorities. But after reviewing Montana law, the leaders felt it was "necessary for this information to be shared with authorities." They noted that it was not the church's intention to make the abuse public. Read more. | | Also of Interest... | | Christian critic JD Hall was abusing Xanax, church reveals after pastor’s removalFirebrand Christian critic JD Hall removed from church, media ministries due to ‘serious sin’Pastor JD Hall arrested for DUI hours after threatening to disrupt SBC annual meeting |
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| McLaughlin breaks her own world record, praises God | | U.S. Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin credited God as she made history again this month by breaking her world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore. The athlete took to Instagram to celebrate her win, writing, "'So let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.' - Hebrews 4:16. Praise. His. Name." Read more. | | | | | | | | Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors |
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