DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Idaho Town Over Religious Discrimination Toward Church

DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Idaho Town Over Religious Discrimination Toward Church

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Troy, Idaho, for religious discrimination after denying Christ Church's application for a permit to hold services in the C-1 zone. In a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, the department contends that Troy violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) when it rejected the church’s permit application, which would have facilitated worship services for the growing congregation in Troy.
  • Over 5,500 Sign Petition Against NJ Town’s Seizure of Episcopal Church Property
    Thousands of people have signed a petition to oppose a plan by Toms River Township in New Jersey to seize the property of Christ Episcopal Church through eminent domain. Last month, the Toms River Township Council narrowly approved a proposal to take control of the church’s 11-acre property and convert it into a recreational facility. The petition, recently posted by the church’s rector, the Rev. Lisa Hoffman, has collected over 5,600 signatures as of Tuesday morning.
  • PCUSA to Require Clergy Candidates’ Views on LGBT Issues
    The Presbyterian Church (USA) has introduced a new requirement for ordination candidates to be questioned about their views on LGBT issues. A majority of PCUSA presbyteries, or regional bodies, have approved Amendment 24-C, which modifies G-2.0104b of the Book of Order to mandate that candidates be asked about their perspectives on matters including sexual orientation and gender identity.

Alfred Street Baptist Church Donates $132K to Help Pay Off the College Debt

A historic and predominantly African American megachurch has donated approximately $132,000 to help pay off the college debt of 11 graduates from Saint Augustine’s University (SAU). Founded in 1803 and currently boasting around 10,000 members, Alfred Street Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, made the generous donation of “$132,469 to eliminate the college debt of 11 graduates of Saint Augustine’s University,” according to a press release.
  • NJ Town Moves to Seize Property of Church Operating Homeless Shelter
    Toms River’s town council has moved to forcibly acquire the 11-acre campus of Christ Episcopal Church for “public use,” despite the parish's ongoing efforts to obtain approval for a homeless shelter. During a contentious meeting on April 30, the council voted 4–3 to proceed with a plan that would allow the town to purchase the church and five other properties—or take them by force if the owners refuse to sell.
  • Bishop T.D. Jakes Transfers Leadership of Potter’s House to Daughter and Son-in-Law
    Bishop T.D. Jakes announced during a church service on Sunday that he is handing over the leadership of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, to his daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and son-in-law Touré Roberts. “I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd,” Jakes, who suffered a heart attack in last November shared with his congregation at the end of his sermon.
  • NC Church Calls on Trump Administration to Halt Deportation of Afghan Christian Refugees
    Members of a North Carolina church are urging the Trump administration not to deport nearly two dozen Christian refugees from Afghanistan. Julie Tisdale, a seminary student who attends Church of the Apostles in Raleigh, is among those advocating for the Afghan Christians who received emails instructing them to leave the country by a deadline that passed about a week ago.
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  • James River Church Announces Departure from Assemblies of God

    Missouri's Mega Church, James River Church, has announced its unanimous decision to end its affiliation with the the Assemblies of God(AOG). In a statement to The Christian Post on Thursday, the church clarified that while it will no longer be part of the Assemblies of God, it remains committed to its doctrine.

  • UK Church Reaffirms Dedication to God Following Hate Crime Attack

    The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has expressed his prayers for the parishioners of St. James’ Church in Leyland after the church fell victim to an apparent hate crime, believed to have been committed by one or more atheists. On Good Friday morning,

  • Jamal Bryant Rejects Target's DEI Settlement Proposal, Announces Full Boycott

    Pastor Jamal Bryant has declared that Target's commitment to invest $2 billion into black-owned businesses by July 31 is inadequate to resolve the ongoing dispute regarding the retail giant's decision to reduce its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This rejection of the offer comes shortly after Target CEO Brian Cornell held a meeting in New York City with Rev. Al Sharpton.

  • John MacArthur Declares He's Ready to Return: ‘Rumors of My Death Have Been Exaggerated’

    Pastor John MacArthur has announced his readiness to return to the pulpit at Grace Community Church after a year fraught with significant medical challenges. In a video shared on Grace to You's social media platforms, MacArthur, 85, remarked, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” expressing enthusiasm for resuming his ministerial duties.

  • Greeters and Pastor Meetings: Top Ways to Welcome Guests at Churches

    A recent survey conducted by Lifeway Research has revealed the most effective methods used by U.S. Protestant churches to make guests feel welcome. The survey, which included responses from 1,003 Protestant pastors and was conducted from August 8 to September 3, 2024, found that having greeters at entrances and offering the opportunity to meet the pastor after services were the most popular practices, each supported by 91% of the pastors.

  • At Least Seven Liberian Properties at Center of UMC and Global Methodists Legal Battle

    The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) are engaged in a legal dispute over at least seven properties in Liberia. Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., head of the UMC Liberia Conference, confirmed to UM News that the church property cases are being litigated in the country’s courts.

  • Judge Dismisses Gender Bias Lawsuit Against Abyssinian Baptist Church

    A federal judge has dismissed a gender discrimination lawsuit against Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City and its search committee chair, Valerie S. Grant. The dismissal was based on the First Amendment's "ministerial exception." The ruling was issued on Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho of the Southern District of New York. It follows a lawsuit filed in December 2023 by Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, a Yale Divinity School professor and the youngest pastor ordained at Abyssinian in 2

  • NewSpring Church Leaves Southern Baptist Convention Over Women Pastors Debate

    NewSpring Church, a megachurch based in South Carolina, has officially announced its decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) due to its support for women in pastoral leadership roles. In an update on its website titled “SBC Withdrawal Update,” the church mentioned that “our involvement with the SBC has been questioned, particularly regarding our stance on women in ministry.”
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