Pastors

An openly gay Atlanta pastor previously removed from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and later reinstated has now been voted in by an overwhelming majority to the role of senior pastor at the biggest Lutheran church in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Rev. Bradley Schmeling, who in 2007 admitted he was in a committed same-sex relationship with Pastor Darin Easler, a former minister at the United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, Minn., was removed from ELCA's official clergy roster that year. His St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, however, decided to keep him on as pastor despite the ELCA's decision, and he has served there since 2000.

Schmeling and Easler were reinstated in 2009 when the ELCA voted to permit gay and lesbian ministers in monogamous relationships to be on the roster. The 559-451 vote created a split within the Lutheran church, as a fraction of member churches left to start the North American Lutheran Church, which rejects openly gay clergy. more >>

Acts 29 Network cofounder Pastor Mark Driscoll has stepped down from the reins of the successful global church planting organization to make room for Pastor Matt Chandler as president, it was announced Wednesday.

Later in the day, in another major move by Driscoll, the Gospel Coalition announced that they had received a letter of his resignation as a council member. A change in priorities was the reason given by Driscoll who plans to devote more time to his growing church.

Acts 29 is a network of church planters that "emerged from a small band of brothers" to more than 400 churches in the United States and networks of churches in multiple countries. more >>

Sheila Schuller Coleman, lead pastor of Hope Center of Christ, the congregation she founded with members who broke away from the Crystal Cathedral church in Garden Grove, Calif., preached about "looking forward" in this past Sunday's service, temporarily being held at a hotel.

Schuller Coleman's Sunday sermon, titled "Staying Salty" and based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, touched upon the trials and tribulations of maintaining a positive attitude and approach to life's complications, and emphaszied the importance of coming through those issues to remain a "mountain top dweller."

The sermon echoed themes relevant to what Schuller Coleman herself has been experiencing over the past few weeks, having left the iconic Crystal Cathedral church her father, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, founded decades ago. As previously reported by The Christian Post, Schuller Coleman departed from the ministry and congregation to build a new church from scratch due to internal discord over theological, financial and intellectual rights related to Crystal Cathedral Ministries and its long-running "Hour of Power" televangelism broadcasts.  more >>

A candidate to succeed influential pastor John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist Church was announced by the church's elders Tuesday. Piper said he is "overjoyed" at the selection while he continues to be a part of the succession process.

The leaders of the church, based in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota, nominated Jason Meyer, who is currently assistant professor of New Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary.

The congregation will first vote on May 20 in order to approve Meyer as an associate pastor for the church. His starting date to fall under Piper's pastoral mentorship and an "overlap" period between the two would be Aug. 1 if the church votes in favor of the decision. more >>

NEW YORK - Bishop T.D. Jakes, lead pastor of the Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, is currently visiting New York City to promote his new book, Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven, which was released nationally Feb. 28. He made a stop Tuesday at a local book store where the minister said he saw "lines wrapped around the block before the store even opened."

Jakes has previously written over a dozen titles, including the New York Times bestsellers Reposition Yourself and Making Great Decisions.

His newest book focuses on the importance of forgiveness in seeking spiritual truth. more >>

Sheila Schuller Coleman, the former senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., has announced that services for her new breakaway church, the Hope Center of Christ, will be taking place at a local hotel as opposed to the movie theater that was the setting for the congregation's first service.

Hope Center OC's worship service is scheduled to take place this Sunday at the Anaheim Marriott Suites at 10 a.m. in Garden Grove, the ministry announced on its Facebook page. Media reports indicate that Sunday services will be held at the Marriott Suites for the next month.

Pastor Harold Shaw will be leading the service and Grammy Award-winning producer Scott Smith will be on hand for the service along with his wife, gospel singer Debbie McClendon-Smith. A children's program will also be provided at the service, according to the Hope Center of Christ Facebook page. more >>