LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (AP) – A meeting of the United Methodist Church’s bishops has unanimously reaffirmed that “homosexuality is not a barrier” to membership.

The bishops were responding to the denomination’s highest court, which reinstated the Rev. Edward Johnson of South Hill, Va., and ruled he had the right to bar a practicing homosexual from membership.

The bishops said the church endorses “inclusiveness and justice for all as it relates to church membership.” They did not address the church’s policy against gay relationships, which Johnson said he was upholding.

Johnson was suspended without pay by Virginia’s clergy conference after rejecting orders from his bishop and district superintendent to accept the gay member.

Apparently disputing the court, called the Judicial Council, the bishops stated that “pastors are accountable to the bishop, superintendent, and the clergy on matters of ministry and membership.”

Billy Graham: Crusades history

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Though long-assumed, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has given its first official word that the ailing evangelist would no longer hold crusades.

The association said in a news release that Graham is enjoying quiet time at his home in Montreat, where he turned 87 on Monday. His most recent crusade was in New York in June.

“Ruth and I have enjoyed our time together these last few months, and we both feel at peace about the decision to have the New York meetings be our last,” Graham said in the release. “We know that God can still use us to reach people with the Gospel message in other ways, and we look forward to seeing how he will do so.”

Southern Baptists break meal record

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief announced that church volunteers served more than 10.5 million meals so far this year, a record number boosted largely by response to Hurricane Katrina.

The previous annual record was last year’s 3.5 million meals served.

The agency of the Georgia-based North American Mission Board said more than 9,000 volunteers from 41 states joined efforts following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and provided 121,283 worker days. Donations topped $18 million.

Even now, 365 Baptist teams are preparing meals and handling cleanup and recovery in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

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http://www.namb.net

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Poll: Teens say hurricanes and disasters do not affect faith in God

NEW YORK (AP) – Three-fourths of teens say disasters such as Hurricane Katrina did not affect their faith in God and those who were affected overwhelmingly report their faith became stronger, according to an American Bible Society poll.

Asked whether recent hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides and wars point to the end of the world as foretold in the Bible, 17 percent said definitely, 34 percent possibly and 33 percent no.

A 35 percent plurality thought the disasters were coincidences, not “acts of God,” while 29 percent believed they were directly caused by God, 22 percent said maybe and 14 percent were uncertain.

The October random sample of 1,000 was polled by Synovate market research with a margin of error of plus or minus about 4 percentage points.

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http://www.americanbible.org

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Reform Judaism president proposes effort to boost synagogue affiliation

NEW YORK (AP) – Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, will ask next week’s biennial convention to launch an effort promoting lifelong synagogue membership.

Yoffie said synagogues are “the foundation of our communal existence,” which makes low affiliation rates “the most serious challenge facing North American Jewry.”

A recent U.S. Jewish population survey showed 46 percent of Jews currently belong to a synagogue. Reform, the largest of Judaism’s three major branches, suffered the worst dropout rate.

Yoffie said half the unaffiliated Jews formerly belonged but have drifted away while the other half have never belonged and “demonstrate little interest in joining.”

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http://www.urj.org

AP-ES-11-09-05 1151EST

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