Criswell College vs 1st Baptist Dallas

Criswell College says the First Baptist Church of Dallas is trying to sell off part of the school to fund a new church building. First Baptist founded the college along with radio station KCBI. The Dallas Morning News reports Criswell President Jerry Johnson as saying First Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress is “trying to cannibalize Criswell College to fund his building program at the church, which will cost $170 to $240 million." Johnson claims there are plan to let Criswell be taken over by Fort Worth’s Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeffress denies there are any plans to sell the radio station or the college campus.

Most Conservative (major) Cities

1. Provo, Utah
2. Lubbock, Texas
3. Abilene, Texas
4. Hialeah, Florida
5. Plano, Texas
6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
7. Gibert, Arizona
8. Bakersfield, California
9. Lafayette, Louisiana
10. Orange, California
(based on the 2004 election results)

source: Bay Area Center for Voting Research

Most Liberal (major) Cities

1. Detroit, Michigan
2. Gary, Indiana
3. Berkeley, California
4. District of Columbia
5. Oakland, California
6. Inglewood, California
7. Newark, New Jersey
8. Cambridge, Massachusetts
9. San Francisco, California
10. Flint, Michigan
(based on the 2004 election results)

source: Bay Area Center for Voting Research

Controversial Professor Leaves Seminary

A theology professor is leaving Westminster Theological Seminary. Peter Enns was suspended from the Calvinist school this past March for the book he wrote about the Bible called Inspiration and Incarnation. The seminary, located in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, issued a statement saying a a deal had been reached with Ennes but no details were released. Emms has defended his views on his personal blog.

Salem buys Intercristo

Salem Communications is buying an online Christian employment website from CRISTA Ministries. Intercristo.com will join Salem’s Web Network which already includes ChristianJobs.com and ChurchStaffing.com. Although Salem owns 95 radio stations, its online presence includes:

• OnePlace.com
• Christianity.com
• Crosswalk.com
• TownHall.com
• SermonSearch.com
• CrossCards.com
• CrossDaily.com
• TheFish.com

McCain's VP Selection

Some Evangelical leaders are warning John McCain not to pick Mitt Romney as his running mate, according to the Washington Times. Novelist Tim LaHaye, Phyllis Schlafly and Rob McCoy, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, California says the move would alienate “the entire evangelical community”. One leader says McCain would lose between 7 and 10% of the evangelical vote. That would be enough to make McCain the loser in a tight race. Another points out that Romney’s selection would bring to the ticket as much enthusiasm from supporters as Mike Huckabee would bring, but “Romney's would be from fiscal conservatives and Huckabee's would be evangelicals.”

Megachurch pastor is Out

The pastor of a Nashville megachurch is stepping down. Jerry Sutton has been criticized in the last year at Two Rivers Baptist Church for his use of church funds. Some members sued to get access to the church’s financial record, after accusing him of failing to abide by church rules and punishing those who question his authority. Sutton and others denied the allegations. Two Rivers has admitted that it paid more than $4000 to hold a wedding reception for Sutton's daughter, a year after losing a bid to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Last year, church officials said there was no truth to the accusations that Sutton used church computers for pornography or carried on an affair at the church. The charges come from one of Sutton's former administrative assistants. The congregation's HR director says a church investigation gave no support to the claims. Sutton ends his more than 20 years at Two Rivers with a whopping $314,000 retirement package.

Between Jobs

More than a decade ago a pastor at Northwest Bible Church in Spring, Texas started Between Jobs Ministry. The group offers job-search assistance meetings weekly led by retired career experts and professionals. Besides offering emotional and spiritual support, volunteers give talks on job-search topics, help with networking, critique résumés, and even organize mock interviews.

Church Shooting Motive: Liberal Views

The man accused of killing two people at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville yesterday had a four-page letter in his vehicle that expressed anger toward "the liberal movement" and gay people. was motivated by anger over the church’s liberal social policies and did not have any personal connection to the congregation. Five people are still in serious or critical condition. Jim D. Adkisson is being held on charges of first degree murder. Witnesses say he shouted "something hateful" before opening fire.

Baptism Drowning

A Southern California man in his early 20's is believed to have drowned during a baptism in the San Joaquin Delta northeast of the San Francisco Bay. A Drowning Accident Rescue Team joined the weekend underwater search for the unnamed Hispanic man but officials called off it off last night.

Two Killed, 7 Injured in Church Shooting

Knoxville Police have a suspect in custody who they suspect of shooting and killing two people and seriously injuring seven others at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church this morning. He began shooting while several hundred people were watching a children's production of the musical Annie. Parishioners eventually tackled the gunman. No children were among the injured. One of the dead men shielded others from the gunfire. The seven were taken to a nearby hospital and a dozen others were treated for minor injuries. Local reports say the suspect did not put up a fight and was not a church member.

Gay Lutheran Pastor

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston has ordained an openly gay pastor. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America ordains gay pastors only if they agree to remain celibate. But Lura Groen isn’t planning to do so.