Global Warming Survey

Do you believe the earth is warming as the result of human activity?

• white mainline Protestants - 48%
• all Americans - 47%
• white evangelical Protestants - 34%
• black Protestants - 39%

Source: Pew Research Center

Rapture Pet Service

An atheist group insists it isn’t a joke. They are offering pet services for Christians who have been taken in the rapture. Eternal Earth-Bound Pets says it will take care of dogs and cats left behind for $110. The animals will be taken care of by people with no criminal record but are not too saintly, according to the website. The offer expires in ten years if the rapture hasn’t taken place by then.

See You at the Pole

Students at Pace High School gathered around their flag pole this morning to pray as did many students around the country. But the event was especially significant at the Pace, Florida school. The principal and athletic director had been accused of violating a court agreement against the promotion of prayer at the school. Principal Frank Lay asked Athletic Director Robert Freeman to say a prayer at a school athletic banquet. Last week, the judge found them not guilty. Some 700 students skipped school to encourage the men as they entered court.

Church Boycott Poll

A Florida church’s boycott of Pepsi has local newspaper readers split. Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon decided to pull away from the soft drink company after it refused to drop its support of organizations that "oppose traditional family values.” Specifically, it has sponsored gay pride parades and opposed California's same-sex marriage ban. A Tampa Tribune readers poll found 45% of readers agree with the church and 55% disagree. Some 50 area churches are joining the boycott.

ORU Debt

Oral Roberts University says it’s out of debt. The Tulsa evangelical school went from $55 million down to just over $700,000 during the summer.

Local Church Fights Denomination

California congregation fights Reformed Church of America. SF Gate has the story.

Controversial Megachurch Pastor Survives Vote

The new pastor of Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church will stay in the pulpit. The congregation voted overwhelmingly yesterday to keep Tullian Tchividjian. The grandson of evangelist Billy Graham was battling a group that tried to remove him, including the daughter of church founder D. James Kennedy. The group was banned from the church but they paved the way for the vote which was 940-422.

Christianity Today Redesign

Christianity Today will soon sport a redesign that the editor says could leave some readers disoriented. Senior managing editor Mark Galli says the redo is aimed at a younger audience. One thing that won't change is that the online version will lag behind the print publication. CT will continue posting print articles on line gradually through the month after the print magazine comes out. The publication will re-launch in January.