WATCH: Praise the Lord! Oprah Goes to the House of God with Christian Brother, Tyler Perry at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church

Oprah Winfrey created a buzz Sunday in Houston with a surprise appearance at the 11 a.m. service at Lakewood Church.

Trusting the Bible Historically, Culturally, and Personally

One of the things that most troubles people about Christianity is the Bible. They say something like this: “There are many good things in the Bible, but you shouldn’t take every word of it literally.” 

The Lifecycle of Pastors and Churches

by Thom Rainer

Almost twenty years ago, I began to note that the tenure of a pastor often follows a predictable pattern. Now, almost two decades later, I still see many of the same patterns, though I have refined the categories and time spans a bit.

Church Members from the Shiloh Missionary Baptist in Milwaukee Seek Restraining Order Against Pastor Over Church Property

For the third time in three years, members of a north side church have turned to the courts to mediate a dispute with their pastor.

Some 2,000 Somalis Die of Starvation Daily – Drought Isn’t the Reason

Drought is an ecological disaster, born of little or no rain. Drought is weather-made. Famine is man-made. It’s politically induced,”” said Brian Stiller, the new global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, after his recent trip to Somalia.

Today, the African American Ministers Leadership Council Will Launch a Nationwide 2012 Get Out the Vote Program

On Sunday, November 6, People For the American Way Foundation’s African American Ministers Leadership Council, a nationwide network of African American clergy, will launch a yearlong program to turn out the vote in the 2012 elections. The VESSELS program will work with at least 400 clergy from across the country to respond to widespread attacks on voting rights by educating, training and turning out voters.

Can We Restrict the Activities of a Transgender Church Member?

Question:

A man who has surgically changed his gender to a woman is active in our women’s ministry activities. Church leaders are increasingly uncomfortable with this arrangement because most of the women in the church are not aware of this person’s true gender. Could we be exposed to legal risk by restricting–or even excluding–this person from women’s ministry activities?