By Jonathan Wynne-Jones,
Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last updated: 7:10 PM BST 15/06/2008

An Anglican church has held a homosexual "wedding" for the first time in a move that will deepen the rift between liberals and traditionalists, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Two male priests exchanged vows and rings in a ceremony that was conducted using one of the church's most traditional wedding rites " “ a decision seen as blasphemous by conservatives.

By Paul Majendie
Reuters
Monday, June 30 07:08 pm

LONDON (Reuters) - Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, battling to avoid an Anglican schism over the issue of gay clergy, warned conservatives on Monday of the risks in setting up an alternative council of bishops.

"How is effective discipline to be maintained in a situation of overlapping and competing jurisdictions?" asked the spiritual leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans.

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones
Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:44PM BST 05/07/2000

Senior Church of England bishops have held secret talks with Vatican officials to discuss the crisis in the Anglican communion over gays and women bishops.

Feeling the strain: Tension rises in York, where the General Synod will tomorrow debate whether to let women become bishops.

Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
www.olivetreeviews.org

The "religious left" has always troubled me. They seem to be focused on things that are unscriptural and unspiritual. Their world view is hardly that of the conservative, Bible-believing Christian. In the early days of my ministry I would now and then minister in these churches-at least those bold enough to invite a pro-Bible prophecy, pro-Israel speaker. I give that remnant credit! However, there were never more than two or three in attendance at my classes even though the church membership was in the thousands. Conclusion: I was not tracking with these people who wanted to hear about poverty, the environment, a Palestinian state, and human rights!

By Martyn S. Carless

A cowering Church is failing to come to terms with God's absence in the Tsunami; while an enquiring world encroaches us as it begins to find chinks in the armour of organised religions" response to the disaster. What answer can we possibly give to those who are now questioning God's love? And does the Church"s response to the situation reflect its failings to deliver an accurate portrayal of God's true nature?

By Brannon S. Howse
 ©Ã‚  2005  WorldNetDaily.com

To attract the largest followings possible and because they have bought the lie of the new tolerance, many of America's churches, Christian publishers and Christian radio stations " “ whether they know it or not " “ have rejected biblical Christianity and adopted the more popular but bogus gospel of Christian happy-talk. As a result, churches brim with converts committed only to their personal self-actualization, publishers lavish feel-good pabulum on their readers, and the airwaves ring with an emotive rendering of Christianity that would fit nicely alongside the corruptions of faith Jesus chides in the second and third chapters of Revelation. More than 30 years ago, Vance Havner, in his book "Playing Marbles with Diamonds," offered the following insightful:

Gospel Message via Tarot Cards

A provocative way of presenting the gospel in New Spirituality festivals is via tarot cards.  John Drane, Ross Clifford and Philip Johnson have developed this approach.  Understandably, most Christians will baulk at the idea because tarot cards have occult connections.   To properly argue why tarot cards could be used as a device for communicating the gospel would require a lengthy paper.  A few basic points may be summarised, but readers should consult the literature listed below for more details.  Many popular books by New Spirituality seekers and by Christian apologists on the subject of tarot present false historical data about their origins and purpose.

A Critique by Jim Harmon

Discovering the Secret of a Man"s Soul

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free " ” Jesus Christ (John 8:31, 32).

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus " ” Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:13, 14) .

by Mike Oppenheimer

Reinventing Christianity for our day

Numerous people are rethinking Christianity in contra-distinction to evangelical church.   Because we live in a Postmodern culture the church must adopt new ways to reach them. They believe they have answers for our generation and they call it Emergent.

by Mike Oppenheimer

As Worship in the Church

The Emergent church began as a grassroots movement of those seeking to understand what the Christian Church should look like in the 21st century. Their concept is - because the culture and thoughts have changed -we must adapt.

"We must imagine and pursue the development of new ways of being followers of Jesus " ¦ new ways of doing theology and living biblically, new understandings of mission, new ways of expressing compassion and seeking justice, new kinds of faith communities, new approaches to worship and service, new integrations and conversations and convergences and dreams." (www.emergentvillage.com)