Faiths' beliefs on homosexuality vary

Faiths' beliefs on homosexuality vary
Source: Houston Chronicle - United States

Author:

Date: 20 August, 2008

United Church of Christ: In the 1970s the UCC allowed the ordination of the first openly gay man and the first openly lesbian woman. ...

Poll on race stresses need for ‘sacred conversations’

Poll on race stresses need for ‘sacred conversations’

Source: Dallas Baptist Standard - Dallas, TX, USA

Author:

Date: 14 August, 2008

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll revealing deep national divisions along racial lines is an urgent reminder of the need for “sacred conversations on race,” the head of the National Council of Churches said …

The call for sermons on race was issued earlier this year by John H. Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, and promptly endorsed by Kinnamon and other church leaders. Thomas made the call as church leaders gathered on the steps of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and defended Jeremiah Wright, then the target of a storm of criticism for remarks deemed unpatriotic and radical by critics.

People Profile--Nelsons are a tale of two pastors, one faith, one ...

People Profile--Nelsons are a tale of two pastors, one faith, one ...

Source: Brenham Banner-Press

Author: Bud Chambers/Staff Reporter

Date: 11 August, 2008

The former Karen Buck grew up in Burton as an active member of St. Johns United Church of Christ, Burton.

But only a year into teaching in Bryan ISD’s special services department — many of her duties involved in working with the district’s homebound students — Karen would answer the call into the Evangelical UCC Church’s ministry and very shortly qualify for enrollment at the Eden Theological Seminary, located in St. Louis.

Mainline Update

Mainline Update
The Bosque Boys: 02-21-2007


"...earlier I posted on the actions of the North Texas Association of the United Church of Christ in admitting the largest same-sex-practice affirming congregation in the U.S. Since the admission two congregations of the association have withdrawn from the UCC--Zion in Waco, and Ben Arnold."

And Speaking of Texas Women

And Speaking of Texas Women
Is America Burning blog: February 01, 2007

Four months ago, Baker was one of 71 people arrested during a protest in Washington for crossing a police line to sit on the steps of a Senate office building.

Diane Baker, who has a degenerative muscle condition, had to work 8 hours in freezing weather.

"I'm a rather fragile, small woman," said Baker, a hospice chaplain at United Church of Christ in Dallas. "Being a minister, I offered to do counseling, but this is what they gave me."

UCC President to Speak at Gay Megachurch

UCC President to Speak at Gay Megachurch
Gay Religion: news of religion and GLBT folks: 2 February, 2007

The president of the largest Christian denomination to endorse gay marriage will officially welcome a Dallas gay megachurch as a member Sunday. The Rev. John H. Thomas of the United Church of Christ will be the first leader of a mainline denomination to address a predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregation when he preaches at the Cathedral of Hope, said The Rev. Jo Hudson, the cathedral's rector and senior pastor. The cathedral, which claims 4,300 members and will be the fourth-largest in the UCC, decided to join last year after the denomination endorsed gay marriage in 2005.

UCC president to speak at Cathedral of Hope

UCC president to speak at Cathedral of Hope
KTRE-TV: 01-31-2007

"United Church of Christ will officially welcome Dallas' Cathedral of Hope into its fold on Sunday.

"The Reverend John H. Thomas will do the honors. The U-C-C president will preach at both morning services at the gay Dallas megachurch. He'll also participate in an afternoon induction service at the 43-hundred member church.

"The cathedral becomes the denomination's fourth largest church. It decided to affiliate with the U-C-C last year after the denomination's decision in 2005 to endorse gay marriage. It's the largest Christian denomination to do so."