In The Faith – A Chronicle of the Christian Faith

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The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of his desire to see women ordained as bishops in the Church of England in a way that does not “violently disrupt” the common life of the church.

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USA (MNN) — This week, the Supreme Court ruled five to four against the pleas of the Christian Legal Society in the highly anticipated Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. The effects of the decision could be significant for many.

The case began when CLS, a college campus ministry, barred a homosexual student from leadership in the group's California Hastings College of Law chapter. Hastings College redacted its recognition of CLS on campus as a result, and CLS in turn sued. After two federal court decisions held conflicting rulings, the case was taken to the Supreme Court. (For fuller case details, click here.)

When the case went to the Supreme Court last April, Mission Network News spoke with Alec Hill, president of campus ministry InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. At the time, Hill predicted grave implications if the case were to turn out against CLS. His fears have now been realized.

Hill says the court's ruling essentially overlooked the ways CLS had been wronged and focused more on the loaded concept of discrimination. Hill points out that although CLS had been wronged in three specific breeches to the First Amendment (Freedom of Association, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion), the Supreme Court still ruled against them.

"The five members [who voted against CLS] found the idea that a recognized student organization could discriminate based on religion or based on sexual orientation to be so offensive that that trumped the First Amendment rights or issues," explains Hill.

The ramifications of this decision could be immense. The ruling suggests a step back in freedoms for various organizations in the future.

"I think [the ruling] is a significant step for American culture away from its Judeo-Christian roots," says Hill. "It does represent a secularization of a marginalization of faith to the edges. I didn't think that I would see that from this Supreme Court in my lifetime." Hill, who is a lawyer and has watched cases like these for years, notes: "The court, without saying it, really has reversed itself on 30, 40 years of its past ruling with this decision."

The four justices that voted for CLS seem to agree. According to the American Center for Law and Justice, in a dissent written by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia and Thomas, Justice Alito calls the decision "a serious setback for freedom of expression in this country."

From a ministry perspective, the ruling does not bode well–not for CLS, nor for other campus ministries like InterVarsity. InterVarsity has 860 chapters compared to CLS' 30 and is therefore at high risk of future consequences due to this ruling. Hill says the certainty that their ministry will be affected is based on past Supreme Court decisions that have changed the way they do ministry, including a ruling allowing them to meet in public places and one granting them access to incoming students. InterVarsity is still assessing just how this recent decision will affect their ministry; they know it will indeed leave its mark.

"This will have a significant impact on how we do our ministry," says Hill. Hill believes ministry will be harder, but says he's convinced InterVarsity will continue to do ministry regardless.

Pray for wisdom for InterVarsity, the Christian Legal Society, and other similar ministries as they continue to reach out to students and live out the Gospel. Pray that the Lord would protect these vital ministries and that any future persecution would only reap more fruit.

To read the opinions of the American Center for Law and Justice on the case, click here.

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Children are attending Bible Clubs all over India and, in turn, sharing Christ with their families and communities. (Mission India photo)

India (MNN) — Yesterday, we brought you the story of eight ministry
workers going back to court on July 2 for the charge of "deliberate and
malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings."

The eight were attacked and then arrested during a 4-day
training session for the Year-Long Children's Bible Clubs in August of last year.
Click here to read the rest of this story.

Despite the attacks and arrests, Children's Bible Clubs
training continues, and more and more workers are being equipped to help
children during these after school clubs.

"Our staff in India train people in every state of India–north
and south. There is a great movement to the Lord in India, and it seems to
be happening simultaneously everywhere," said Dave Stravers of Grand
Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India.

Bible Clubs are contributing to this revival. Stravers said
at each club, between 40 and 100 kids meet each week day where they get help
with school work and learn about the saving power of Jesus Christ. Saturdays are game days, and then after several weeks, worship service are held on
Sundays.

It is not just kids who are making decisions for Christ: children who attend are bringing Christ back to their families. For example,
Stravers shared the story of Rohan who had severe headaches and probably a
brain tumor. His family allowed him to go to Children's Bible Club because they
wanted him to have as much fun as he could in the time he had left.

"The children in the Bible Club started praying for him, and
he gradually, very gradually started getting better. After three months, he was
completely healed," Stravers said. During this time, Rohan accepted Christ as
his Savior. After he was healed, his father came to Christ: "He and his wife
and his children all became believers, and so far, eight other families in the
village have come to the Lord,"said Stravers.

When people commend Mission India for teaching future leaders about Christ, Stravers says: "We're not
helping the future leaders of India; we're helping the present leaders of
India. Leaders are people who have influence, and children have great
influence in their families."

And together these families are transforming entire
communities. Hindu extremists hate it and are saying: "Hundreds of temples
are closing and hundreds of churches are starting; what is happening to our
country?"

Pray for Children's Bible Clubs to continue to prosper,
leading children and in turn their families and communities to Christ.

You can also help send a kid to Bible Club for an entire
year for just $10. Click here to begin.

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Last Saturday, Oasis Hospital began a yearlong celebration of its 50 years of ministry. (CURE photo)

United Arab Emirates (MNN) — In 1960, the infant mortality rate of the United Arab Emirates was a disturbing 50 percent. The maternal mortality rate was 35 percent. Clearly something was not right in the arena of maternal health and births.

When the Oasis Hospital went up that year, however, these rates began to change drastically. The hospital, which specializes in maternal health, is in the key location of the city of Al Ain, a vital link between the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf. Due to its prime location and excellent reputation, the hospital has been able to deliver over 83,000 babies to families from the UAE, Oman, and a host of other countries.

The Oasis Hospital is now celebrating its 50th year of service in the UAE. Since it opened in 1960, the infant mortality rate in the country has dropped to less than one percent, and maternal mortality is rare.

Furthermore, CURE International acquired the hospital in 2006, so the message of Christ can now be spread through the power of healing. Celebrate with CURE and the Oasis Hospital by praying for their ministry and for those that enter their doors.

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex “marriage” and civil unions.

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The son of a Hamas leader, who worked as an agent for Israel before converting to Christianity, has been granted asylum by a San Diego judge.

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Christian author and disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada is recovering after undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

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Don’t be fooled by the mild-mannered demeanor of a group of atheists who are on a search-and-destroy mission against any vestige of religion in public life.

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Conservative military watchdog Elaine Donnelly doesn’t believe Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan successfully defended her anti-military bias during this week’s confirmation testimony.

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Filed under: One News Now