Pastors

A controversial sign was placed outside Rose City Park United Methodist Church in Portland, Ore., last week reading "God Prefers Kind Atheists Over Hateful Christians," and has attracted a variety of responses to the pastor's message.

The Rev. Tom Tate of Rose City Park UMC decided to put up what he calls a "non-churchy" message, the United Methodist Portal reported, and which he hoped would offer passersby a different view of atheist-Christian relations. The sign has garnered attention at a viral pace, thanks to a posting on the church's Facebook page, in which the photo appeared under the heading "This is how WE roll...how do you?"

The Rev. Tate commented on the sign the following day, writing on Facebook, "What's all the fuss about? That God prefers kindness over hate? I would think that's a given. Isn't that the meaning of one of the most often quoted parables: the Good Samaritan? As far as Jesus' crowd was concerned Samaritans were atheists. What was Jesus meaning? Did the Samaritan convert to the 'right beliefs.' Not according to the story. As a matter of fact, it was the teachers of law, those with 'right beliefs' who didn't get it; who 'passed by.'" more >>

Since the three weeks Crystal Cathedral Ministries founder the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his family left the California megachurch, the mood within the congregation has become "very positive," the church's new president and CEO, John Charles, told The Christian Post Thursday. In the past two Sundays alone, the congregation's size, as well as donations, has doubled, he added, emphasizing that his focus is returning the church to the traditional worship style it originally became known for.

Crystal Cathedral "was founded on sound Biblical preaching; it was founded on sound excellent biblical preaching and teaching. It was founded on excellent sacred music. Today, we return to those traditions," Charles said in a recent church service.

Charles' appointment as president and CEO of the iconic ministry the Rev. Schuller founded in 1955 came after the elder minister and his wife stepped down from the board over money disputes on March 10. more >>

Joseph Walker III, leading pastor of one of Nashville's largest churches, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, faces a second lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct involving a congregant and violating the trust of another church member, it emerged Thursday. A church spokesman told The Christian Post the claims are nothing but "fabrications."

Corey Lamont Corbin, a former member of Mt. Zion, claims that Walker betrayed his trust and broke his marriage. The plaintiff alleges the pastor had a years-long affair with his wife, which led to their divorce. The pair had reportedly turned to Walker for marriage counseling not long after getting married. Corbin is asking for $5 million in retribution.

Walker is already facing another sexual misconduct lawsuit, filed by four female former congregants earlier this month. The women accused the pastor of sexual misconduct and violating their trust over the past 10 years. Only one of the accusers, Valencia Batson, has revealed her identity, while the other three women have chosen to remain anonymous. The women are also suing for $5 million. more >>

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has made Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen its latest big-name target in a bid to promote veganism and end animal cruelty in light of the Easter holiday.

The animal-rights organization apparently sent a letter to Osteen with a large "Go Vegan" banner featuring a photo of a piglet at his Houston, Texas megachurch. In return, the animal rights activist group has offered to "prepare a delicious Easter Sunday faux-ham meal with all the trimmings for his parishioners," a press release revealed.

"Thank you for encouraging your parishioners to eliminate pork from their diets," PETA wrote. "We would like to reinforce your message by offering you a banner – which features the image of a little pig and reads, 'Blessed Are the Merciful: Go Vegan' – to hang inside or outside the church in time for Easter." more >>

Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, has taken to national television to promote his new book, Let It Go, and to express his views regarding the Trayvon Martin case, which has attracted worldwide attention since details of the Florida teen's shooting death were made public. The minister, whose book deals with forgiveness, says, in light of such cases, "Forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator."

In Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven, The Potter's House senior pastor speaks on the importance of forgiveness in living a full, happy life. Naturally, correspondents questioned Jakes about the topic of forgiveness in direct reference to the Trayvon Martin shooting, which has upset many Americans, including his parents, who are demanding justice.

Martin, 17, was walking home the night of Feb. 26 in a Sanford, Fla., gated residential community when he got into a violent confrontation with neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, 28. Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and white, shot and killed the African-American teen in what he says was self-defense, because Martin allegedly attacked him. However, the incident has given rise to a heated national discussion on racial profiling and has put Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows for use of deadly force as self-defense, under the microscope. more >>

The "Hour of Power," Crystal Cathedral's landmark television program, will air its first new episode Sunday under new leadership, after the church's founding family, the Schullers, quit the ministry. However, in some markets, the long-running program will be cut to just half an hour.

"You can sense a growing excitement in our congregation," John Charles, CEO and President of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, said in a statement emailed to The Christian Post. "Attendance has been up since we returned to the traditional worship style on which the ministry was founded."

The popular televised ministry program, which has been on the air since 1970, will also air a shortened, 30-minute version, for the first time on the Discovery Channel, church officials said. The traditional 60-minute version will continue to air on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The version aired on Lifetime will shift from 60 to 30 minutes on May 13. The shorter version will include the entire sermon and a few minutes of worship through music, church leaders said. more >>