Church

Rick Warren's Saddleback Church celebrates 50,000 baptisms
In an email to the congregation before the service, Warren said reaching the milestone 'brought tears to my eyes'.

Former monk held over killing of bishop at Egyptian monastery
The killing last month of Bishop Epiphanius, a 64-year-old scholar who had led the Abu Makar Monastery in Wadi Natroun, prompted the church to impose strict new measures on its clergy.

Survivor regrets Iwerne abuser John Smyth died before being brought to justice
Smyth, who was accused of sadistically beating young men he groomed at the Iwerne camps, died at his home in Cape Town aged 77 following a heart operation.

St Lawrence: The Christian martyr who died telling a joke
Today is the feast day of St Lawrence (225-258), one of the earliest Christian martyrs and one of the few who died telling a joke.

Archbishop of Canterbury to address UN Security Council
Archbishop Justin Welby will address the UN Security Council later this month in a debate on 'mediation and its role in conflict prevention'.

Sex abuse inquiry: Leading Catholic schools 'put their own reputations over protection of children'
'The blatant openness of the activities demonstrates there was a culture of acceptance of abusive behaviour.'

Now Willow Creek's entire board resigns following more Bill Hybels allegations
Missy Rasmussen, one of nine elders, told a church meeting last night: 'These painful and troubling events have scarred these women, their families, and tarnished our church.'

Do pastors prefer preaching because they just don't like people very much?
A Barna survey may say something rather worrying about the kind of people who wind up in ministry.

Most pastors enjoy preaching â and they believe they're pretty good at it
Most US pastors believe they're excellent preachers and teachers â and for most of them, it's the part of the job they enjoy most.

It's not just the money: Five long-term threats to church as we know It
If we grasp the issues now we could become lived-out prophetic challenges to some of the worst extremes of our culture.

August 6, 1945: A prayer for Hiroshima Day
On August 6, 1945, the Little Boy atomic bomb was dropped from the US Air Force B-29 bomber Enola Gay on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Patrick Sookhdeo found not guilty of indecent assault
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, founder of the Barnabas Fund, has been found not guilty of indecent assault at his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Thousands of churches convert to green energy
More than 5,500 churches have switched to green energy, according to Christian Aid â including 15 Anglican cathedrals.

Police investigating suspected rape at HTB Focus Festival
The man was arrested on Wednesday and is being questioned by Hampshire Police.
Tarot, palm readings are idolatry, says Francis
Tarot cards and palm readings are idolatrous, according to Pope Francis, and should be shunned alongside other modern 'idols'.
Vatican changes teaching to oppose death penalty in all cases
The Vatican said it had changed its universal catechism, a summary of Church teaching, to reflect Pope Francis' total opposition to capital punishment.