Religion scholar Martin Marty's latest Sightings column looks at a study out from the Alban Institute that measured how congregations are faring in terms of giving so far into the recession. Read the column at the jump.
On Wednesday afternoon, people of faith have been invited to participate in a live webcast call-in with President Barack Obama.
The webcast, called 40 Minutes for Health Reform, is sponsored by more than 30 denominations and religious organizations including Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews and Muslims.
People of faith who have struggled with the current health care system will share their stories.
Read the press release at the jump.
Religion scholar Martin Marty's latest Sightings column looks at a recent report on charitable giving, which found the first decline in giving since 1987. Read more at the jump.
The Lancaster papers have a feature about a job-loss support group at a church in Ephrata, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity.
Have you heard of anything similar started by local congregations?
The economic downturn is making it increasingly difficult for some clergy to relocate or even retire. Some congregations are choosing not to fill vacancies, or they call pastors who require smaller salaries.
The ELCA News Service has the story:
"People are not moving," said the Rev. Rudy W. Mueller, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod. "The whole call process seems to have slowed down to some degree."
Does a foul economy mean more foul language? Yes, according to Los Angeles psychotherapist Nancy Irwin. From MSNBC:
"There are a lot of elements that are out of our control right now and as a result, there's a lot more frustration, a lot more fear and anxiety," Irwin says. "When people feel that, many cuss. Swearing is something that gives us an instantaneous release."
Do you find yourself cursing more?
I've posted before about some of the challenges facing seminaries in this recession. USAToday had a piece by Jeff MacDonald about some of the things schools are doing to adapt.
He quotes the president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and a couple who moved from York to Charlotte for study at a Gordon-Conwell Theological School satellite campus.
The story notes that Salt Lake Theological Seminary; Vennard College in University Park, Iowa; Pillsbury Bible College in Owatonna, Minn.; and Far North Bible College in Anchorage, Alaska, have closed or will soon close.
