DALLAS (AP) – A new survey shows Protestant megachurches continue to grow quickly and draw younger Americans and families through contemporary programming and conservative values.

The study said that the number of megachurches, defined as having weekly attendance of 2,000 or more, doubled over the past five years to 1,210.

The churches have an estimated cumulative weekly attendance of nearly 4.4 million and income of $7.2 billion. The average megachurch posted attendance of 3,585, a 57 percent increase since 2000.

The research was published by Leadership Network, a Dallas-based nonprofit consultant on church growth, and a research institute at Hartford (Conn.) Seminary that conducted a similar survey in 2000.

The South has 49 percent of the nation’s megachurches and California alone has 14 percent.

Common megachurch traits: defined growth goals, orientation classes for new members, numerous programs serving varied demographic groups, contemporary worship styles, multiple services through the week, and emphasis on evangelism propelled mostly by word of mouth from enthused members.

Megachurches are “really one of the most influential factors of American religion at this point in time,” Hartford Seminary’s Scott Thumma said.

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On the Net:

http://www.leadnet.org/downloads/megasummaryreport.pdf

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Federal court allows schools’ Jewish and Muslim symbols, bans Christian nativity

NEW YORK (AP) – A federal appeals court has upheld New York City’s policy on school holiday displays, which allows symbols of Jewish and Muslim holidays but prohibits Christian nativity scenes. Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees are permitted.

The 2-1 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court judge, who said allowing secular symbols neither advanced nor inhibited religion.

The appeals court said no objective observer would believe the city wanted to communicate to its million-plus students “any official endorsement of Judaism and Islam or any dismissal of Christianity.” Instead, the court said, the purpose was to use holidays to encourage respect for diverse cultural traditions.

Dissenting Judge Chester Straub objected that the policy “utilizes religious symbols of certain religions, but bans the religious symbols of another.”

The original case was filed by Andrea Skoros, a Roman Catholic mother of two sons who attended public schools, who said the policy promotes Judaism and Islam while conveying disapproval of Christianity. Her purpose was not to bar Jewish and Muslim symbols but to have schools add Nativity scenes.

Skoros’ lawyer plans to ask the full 2nd Circuit to review the case or, if that fails, to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Clergy hope to link a new Christian campus with Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Clergy hope to establish a branch of a Christian college near the Pennsylvania State University campus where students could take religion classes that would count toward graduation requirements.

The Rev. Paul Grabill, an Assemblies of God pastor who leads the effort, has not announced an arrangement with a specific Christian college but said he hopes to operate with accredited professors and 50 to 200 students by next year.

Penn State’s undergraduate dean, Robert Pangborn, said communication with Grabill is preliminary and it’s too soon to tell whether the university would grant credit to courses from the planned school.

A somewhat similar credit-sharing arrangement exists between Messiah College, an evangelical school in Grantham, Pa., and secular Temple University in Philadelphia.

Grabill collected survey data from about 300 evangelicals attending Penn State. He wants to provide evangelical students “world-class scholarship that deals with faith-based issues they will encounter.”

Grabill said the project, originated last year, has support from Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians.

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National panel recommends separation of Norway’s church and state

OSLO, Norway (AP) – Norway has entered a debate on separating church and state after 469 years of Lutheranism as its official religion.

Under the current system, the church is funded by the central government, which employs bishops and clergy. This has led to conflicts, such as the state’s 2000 appointment of a pastor in a gay relationship to meet secular anti-discrimination laws, overriding church teaching.

Now a 20-member State-Church panel has recommended separation. The earliest a divorce could occur is 2014 because this requires a constitutional amendment approved by two successive parliaments.

Eighteen of the 20 panel members recommended ending the state church system, with 14 saying the church should retain special status while four said all faiths should be treated equally.

About 86 percent of the 4.6 million Norwegians were registered as Church of Norway members at birth. They continue on the rolls unless they request removal, so that figure does not tell how many are devout or even sporadic churchgoers.

“The government’s goal is to have an open and inclusive people’s church,” Minister of Culture and Churches Trond Gidske said in accepting the report. He said every congregation and city would be asked to comment on the report.

Denmark has a similar Lutheran state church. Sweden ended its Lutheran state church system in 2000.

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Britain’s top court asked to rule on schoolgirl’s right to wear Muslim gown

LONDON (AP) – A high school asked Britain’s highest court Monday to overturn a ruling that it was wrong to ban a schoolgirl for wearing a body-covering Muslim gown.

Denbigh High School in Luton, north of London, asked a panel of Law Lords – senior judges sitting in the House of Lords – to rule that the school had the authority to suspend 17-year-old Shabina Begum.

The school says the jilbab, which covers everything except hands and face, posed a health and safety risk and might cause divisions among pupils because those wearing traditional dress would be seen as “better Muslims” than others.

Begum was sent home in 2002 for wearing the jilbab. She first went to the High Court, arguing that the ban breached religious freedom under the European Convention on Human Rights. The court rejected that argument in 2004.

Last year, a Court of Appeal panel decided the school “unlawfully denied her the right to manifest her religion.”

Begum was represented by lawyer Cherie Booth, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

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Church of England considers selling stake in U.S. construction equipment firm Caterpillar

LONDON (AP) – The Church of England will consider selling shares it owns in companies believed to be profiting from work in Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

A resolution passed Monday by the General Synod – the national assembly and governing body of the church – will be examined by committees responsible for investing the church’s more than 900-million-share portfolio, church spokesman Louis Henderson said.

Members voted after the church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group questioned holding stock worth $4.39 million in the U.S. Caterpillar company whose vehicles were allegedly used by Israel to demolish Palestinian homes, Henderson said.

The resolution asks the church to “heed the call … for morally responsible investment in the Palestinian occupied territories and … to disinvest from companies profiting from the illegal occupation.”

Caterpillar previously said in a statement posted on the company Web site that it adheres to all “local, U.S. and international laws and policies” in areas where it sells products.

AP-ES-02-08-06 1217EST

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