JourneyOnline
The Journey team selects stories that got us talking this week. Check back in every Friday to see the latest wrap up of religious news that made us think and reflect.
Adelaide church breaks up over same-sex relationship
BuzzFeed reports on an Adelaide church which has split from the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) denomination due to a disagreement over LGBTI people in the church as well as the ACC joining the Marriage Alliance which is perceived as an anti-marriage equality group.
Oprah meets Hillsong
Supersoul.tv has uploaded an online video conversation between media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey and Carl Lentz, lead pastor at Hillsong Church in New York. A number of American high-profile celebrities have attended Hillsong including Kendall Jenner, Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber and Vanessa Hudgens.
30 minutes to leave Mosul
Open Doors Australia features a report on Christians evacuating Mosul as Islamic State terrorists were taking over the city. After receiving a text message informing him to convert to Islam or die, Amer chose to flee his home than his Christian faith and evacuated the city. A chilling reminder of the immense threat Islamic State poses and the religious repression Christians face in the region.
A rebuttal to What God Has Joined Together
News.com.au runs an opinion piece from feminist freelance writer Jane Gilmore in response to the news of the Anglican Church releasing the What God Has Joined Together booklet, which we reported on last week.
Gilmore cites passages from Exodus and Leviticus to make her case that, “strict adherence to the few passages relating to homosexuality looks hypocritical when so many other passages are clearly recognised as mistaken assumptions, based on an ancient understanding of the world and social tenets of a bygone age.”
Commenting on the News.com.au page is now closed but leave us a comment below to let us know what you think of Gilmore’s article.
Church pews and stained-glass find new home
The Daily Telegraph reports on the Oxford St Uniting Church in Epping, NSW providing 30 timber pews for the Wesleyan Church in Tonga and their nine stained-glass windows for aged care facilities in Leichhardt and Narellan.
The Oxford St church is set to be demolished to make way for an apartment development.
The faith behind Fixer Upper
Popular US home renovation television show Fixer Upper has become a worldwide hit, no thanks to the dynamic presence of its stars, Chip and Joanna Gaines. A recently released YouTube clip of the duo explores their faith journey and their Christianity; a must-see for fans of the show.
