Hundreds Leave Megachurch

Hundreds of members of a Florida megachurch have left to form a new congregation. Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church has faced a battle between new pastor Tullian Tchividjian, a grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham, and those who object to changes he’s made at the church founded by D. James Kennedy. Nearly 500 people attended the first meeting of the new congregation last Sunday. Leaders of the group lost a vote last month to oust Tchividjian. Among those who’ve left the church: Kennedy's daughter, several church elders, the organist, choir director and hundreds of choir members.

Vick Speaks at Church

NFL Quarterback Michael Vick spoke this week at Covenant Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He played in his first official game for the first time since 2006 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick served a 23-month prison term for his involvement in dog fighting. About 75 people came to hear Vick speak about his regrets and mistakes.

Bible Banner Banned

A Georgia high school football team will not take the field tonight by running through a banner with a Bible verse written across it. District officials have banned the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High team in Fort Oglethorpe from using the banners after a parent complained. Hundreds of people in the north Georgia town showed up for a rally in support of the banners and many of the 900 students wore t-shirts today bearing Bible verses. The tradition was started right after 9/11.

High Court to Rule on Cross

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in one week on whether a 7-foot cross in the middle of the desert should be removed. The World War I memorial is located in California's Mojave National Preserve. The ACLU has sued to get it taken down. The case is Buono v. Salazar.

Dan Brown's Faith

Da Vinci Code Author Dan Brown tells Parade Magazine about hs loss of faith as a child.

I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in
eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the
universe. I remember saying to a minister, “I don’t get it. I read a book that
said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created
heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?” Unfortunately,
the response I got was, “Nice boys don’t ask that question.” A light went off,
and I said, “The Bible doesn’t make sense. Science makes much more sense to me.”
And I just gravitated away from religion.

Read more here.

Transgendered Pastor

A Portland pastor revealed to his congregation he was born a woman. David Weekley of the Epworth United Methodist Church says he under-went surgery to become a man in his early 20s. Weekly decided to go public when he won an award for making anonymous blog entries about church inclusion.