Mainline clergymen are out of step with their congregations

Mainline clergymen are out of step with their congregations

VERBATIM: According to a new study by the Public Religion Research Institute, the pastors of America’s seven Mainline Protestant denominations overwhelmingly belong to the Democratic Party — 49% versus just 14% who are Republicans. But the folks in the Pews are a lot more balanced in their political affiliations: 34% are Republicans, 30% are Democrats and 26% Independents. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Christians are finding an unlikely ally in the battle over the gay agenda

Christians are finding an unlikely ally in the battle over the gay agenda

VERBATIM: Muslims. They don’t see eye to eye with Christians theologically, but they beginning to join them in efforts to curb the LGBT advance — especially in the schools. Earlier this year the city of Hamtramck, Michigan — whose city council is ALL-MUSLIM — voted to ban the display of the rainbow flag in all public spaces. This presents a real problem for gay activists, who have always aligned themselves with minority groups, without considering what those minorities believe. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A new poll provides insight into non-Christians and their beliefs about God

A new poll provides insight into non-Christians and their beliefs about God

VERBATIM: It comes from the Barna Group and it reveals that amongst non-believers in this country, 58% have faith in some kind of higher power. Only 21% of non-Christians state categorically that there is NO God. In fact, nearly 30% agree with the statement that God is “the all-powerful, all-knowing perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today.” Barna researchers say the number indicate that many non-believers would be open to the gospel. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A battle over transgenderism in Indiana

A battle over transgenderism in Indiana

VERBATIM: The Vigo County School system wanted a male middle school P.E. teacher to supervise the boys locker room where a girl, who is living as a boy, would be undressing. The teacher objected and got no where until he received help from Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group. Under threat of a lawsuit, the school system has reassigned the teacher, but Liberty Counsel says it is STILL letting the girl dress with the boys and hasn’t told parents. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Promise Keepers is getting canceled

Promise Keepers is getting canceled

VERBATIM: The popular Christian men’s organization is having trouble finding places to hold its events. In June, a planned Promise Keepers event at Belmont University in Nashville was canceled when the private Christian school expressed concern over the fact that Promise Keepers rejects the LGBT agenda. Hope Church in Cordova, Tennessee, and The Fountain of Praise Church in Houston have also canceled Promise Keepers events for similar reasons. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

America’s mothers call out Viacom

America’s mothers call out Viacom

VERBATIM: The group One Million Moms are demanding changes from the entertainment giant, after it aired the MTV Video Music Awards on Nickelodeon last week. The VMA’s are one of the most reliably filthy shows on TV and Nickelodeon is a network aimed at kids. One Million Moms says “The sexually explicit content on this program is inappropriate for anyone — especially children.” The group says parents might want to rethink Nickelodeon altogether. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A damning investigation of the web’s biggest pornography site

A damning investigation of the web’s biggest pornography site

VERBATIM: Sound Investigations has released undercover video of a man who identifies as an employee of Mind Geek — parent company of Porn Hub — admitting that rapists and human traffickers are doing brisk business on the site. He says its because of a loophole in Porn Hub’s verification process. The man also tells Sound Investigations that Mind Geek isn’t very motivated to fix the problem because they don’t want to lose business. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

The battle over transgenderism in school is not just an American thing

The battle over transgenderism in school is not just an American thing

VERBATIM: The British government keeps promising to tell the public schools how to handle the issue but the guidance has repeatedly been delayed and parents are getting angry. The latest to weigh-in in former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who says schools in the United Kingdom should NOT help children live as the opposite sex. She tells the Times of London school officials “should be clear about biological sex and not sanction transitioning”. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

European Christian leaders have an ambitious plan

European Christian leaders have an ambitious plan

VERBATIM: At a summit organized by the Global Church Network this month, a goal was set to raise up more than 100,000 new pastors over the next decade. GCN founder James Davis says “The European nations represent some of the most difficult places to plant churches, to network leaders and to equip pastors.” While the gospel has been spreading rapidly in the Third World, Christianity is on the wane in much of Europe. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

California establishes Transgender History Month

California establishes Transgender History Month

VERBATIM: Lawmakers have designated August as a celebration of people who are living as the opposite sex. A resolution passed by the state Assembly claims that transgenderism existed in California centuries before European settlers arrived and calls California “the epicenter of the trans liberation movement”. The state also has what it calls the world’s first transgender cultural district, located in San Francisco. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A “good news-bad news” report on America’s churches

A “good news-bad news” report on America’s churches

VERBATIM: According to The Unstuck Group, a consulting firm, church attendance is UP. Across the board, 22% more people are attending worship services regularly this year over land and Unstuck says America’s churches have essentially recovered from the pandemic. On the DOWN side, however, engagement is in decline. That means churches are having a harder time getting parishioners to volunteer for essential jobs. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

You can leave, but it will cost you

You can leave, but it will cost you. Oakdale Church in Olney, Maryland is quitting the United Methodist Church over its embrace of gay marriage and homosexual ordination. But Pastor Kevin Baker tells the Christian Post that the UMC wants four million dollars in fees, mission shares and other costs if the congregation wants to keep its church. Baker says the 250 or so parishioners have only two months to raise the cash and the UMC is unwilling to negotiate or even talk.

Christians, Muslims and Mormons are coming together in Maryland

Christians, Muslims and Mormons are coming together in Maryland

VERBATIM: And what could forge a coalition out of such diverse religious groups? Filthy books in the schools. A Maryland district court has ruled that parents in Montgomery County Public Schools have NO right to opt their kids out of classes that include LGBT topics and the use of books that have been widely deemed pornographic. Moms and dads of various religious stripes have joined the group Family Rights for Religious Freedom to try and protect their kids. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

America may be running out of pastors

America may be running out of pastors

VERBATIM: The Barna Group has been quizzing clergymen across the country and 75% of them say it’s getting harder and harder to find mature young Christians who want to become pastors. This is particularly troubling, given the fact that many of America’s clergymen are planning to retire in the not too distant future. The Barna poll also reveals that 71% of pastors are concerned about the quality of the men who will replace them. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

The American Medical Association would like you to pay for something

The American Medical Association would like you to pay for something

VERBATIM: The venerable doctors group says taxpayers should foot the bill for surgeries that would transplant a uterus into a man, who is living as a woman, so that man can give birth to a child. The AMA tells the Journal of Ethics that if men who are living as women cannot give birth, this may cause “psychological dissonance which undermines their health and well-being.” Each of the operations would cost about 300,000 dollars. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

The prosperity gospel is spreading

The prosperity gospel is spreading

VERBATIM: A new poll from Life Way Research indicates that a growing number of Protestant churchgoers are embracing that doctrine. In 2017, 69% of people who go to a Protestant church believed that God wants them to have a lot of money — today it’s 76%. More than half of poll respondents also say “My church teaches that if I give more money to my church and charities, God will bless me in return”. In 2017, only 38% believed that. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Another big company pays the price for backing the LGBT agenda

Another big company pays the price for backing the LGBT agenda

VERBATIM: The numbers are in and Target has reported a drop in quarterly sales for the first time in six years. This comes after an uproar in June when the company went all-in on Gay Pride Month, marketing special women’s swimsuits that could be worn by men and clothing for small children that was emblazoned with gay slogans. Target’s biggest competitor — Walmart — saw a quarterly increase in sales, as it opted to largely ignore Pride Month. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A new study of religion around the world

A new study of religion around the world

VERBATIM: The Pew Research Center poll essentially finds that while faith is in decline in the U.S., things are a lot worse elsewhere. Amongst the world’s wealthiest nations, America has the highest percentage of people who say religion is important in their life — 41%. Compare that to the United Kingdom, where only 21% of residents say that faith has value in their daily life. In South Korea it’s 17%, 15% in Australia, 5% in Sweden. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A lawsuit over bathrooms in Missouri

A transgender former student is challenging a Platte County School District rule that bars boys from using the girls bathroom. The plaintiff, who is a male living as a female, was afforded a single-stall gender-neutral bathroom by the school system — but was not satisfied, demanding that he be allowed to use the girls room. Similar legal battles are springing up all over the country as parents demand that their daughters be safe at school.

Franklin Graham is packing his bags

Franklin Graham is packing his bags

VERBATIM: He will be visiting the United Kingdom this month for several gospel festivals. Graham will preach in London beginning August 26th, just a year after he toured the U.K. for the first time in years. The popular evangelist says “We saw hundreds of people turn to Jesus Christ in faith last year, and we believe this is God’s timing for many more people to hear the message of God’s great love for them.” Thousands of churches are helping organize the event. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

The Women’s World Cup has its first transgender player

The Women’s World Cup has its first transgender player

VERBATIM: Or does it? Canadian midfielder Quinn is a biological woman, who calls herself “they” and identifies and non-binary and ALSO identifies as transgender. But if a person is non-binary, can she BE transgender — a designation which acknowledges the two genders? And if Quinn IS transgender, shouldn’t she be playing in the MEN’S World Cup — which she’s not going to do, because she’s actually a woman? We live in complicated times. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Michigan Democrats seek to enforce the LGBT agenda

Michigan Democrats seek to enforce the LGBT agenda

VERBATIM: Under a bill being considered by state lawmakers, any action that “threatens by word or act” gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person would be punishable by up to five years in jail and a 10,000 dollar fine. But critics wonder what kind of WORDS would trigger that punishment? They say quoting from the Bible or refusing to use a transgender person’s preferred pronouns might cross the line under this new legislation. Michigan Democrats say — don’t worry about it. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Can a robot be a Christian?

Can a robot be a Christian?

VERBATIM: It’s not just a silly question. The Pentagon admits that the day is coming when it will have weapons systems that are guided by artificial intelligence and an Air Force spokesman says those weapons will likely have programming that give them a “Judeo-Christian” value system. Lieutenant General Richard Moore says smart weapons that have to make life-and-death decisions in combat will have to be provided with a moral compass of some kind. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Some states are expanding their suicide laws

Some states are expanding their suicide laws

VERBATIM: Lawmakers in both Oregon and Vermont have dropped the requirement that a person be a state resident before he can seek physician-assisted suicide. That’s seen as a move to attract people from neighboring states where the procedure remains illegal. So far, 10 states offer physician-assisted suicide and pro-life advocates warn that there are groups seeking to expand it further. They nearly succeeded in Nevada, before the governor issued a veto. Michael Harrington, SRN News.