c. 2005 Religion News Service Islamic Scholars, Leaders Continue to Denounce London Bombings LONDON (RNS) The July 7 London bombings are being condemned by Muslim scholars in Britain as “utterly criminal, totally reprehensible, and absolutely un-Islamic.” Emphasizing that “there can never be any excuse for taking an innocent life,” a statement, signed by more than 50 leading imams and released Friday (July 14), said: “We are firmly of the view that these killings had absolutely no sanction in Islam, nor is there any justification whatsoever in our noble religion for such evil actions. It is our understanding that those who carried out the bombings in London should in no sense be regarded as martyrs.” The imams called on everyone to confront the problems of Islamophobia, racism, unemployment, economic deprivation and social exclusion _ “factors that may be alienating some of our children and driving them towards the path of anger and desperation.” At the same time, young people needed “understanding, not bashing,” the statement said. The scholars also called on the international community to work toward “just and lasting peace settlements” in the world’s areas of conflict and to help eliminate “the grievances that seem to nurture a spiral of violence.” In another Islamic denunciation of the bombings, the Sunni Council, Britain’s largest Sunni Muslim group, issued a “fatwa” or binding edict on Sunday (July 17). It condemned the bombings as anti-Islamic and the work of a “perverted ideology.” The council’s chairman, Mufti Muhammad Gul Rehman Qadri, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: “Who has given anyone the right to kill others? It is a sin. Anyone who commits suicide will be sent to hell. What happened in London can be seen as a sacrilege. It is a sin to take your life or the life of others.” _ Robert Nowell President of Evangelical Accountability Group to Retire (RNS) Paul D. Nelson, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, has announced that he will retire from his post after 12 years of service. The ECFA, a Christian accreditation agency focusing on financial transparency and proper use of charity resources, has announced its search for a new president. ECFA’s nearly 1,200 accredited ministries receive approximately $14 billion annually in contributions. “I have had an extraordinary opportunity to interface with a broad cross-section of the Christian community,” Nelson said. “Even with all its warts and imperfections, from my vantage point, the church is alive and well.” For nine years prior to joining ECFA, Nelson was executive vice president of Focus on the Family. ECFA Chairman John Brown expressed his gratitude for Nelson’s service. “Paul has clearly been God’s man to lead ECFA these past 12 years,” Brown said. “ECFA is profoundly grateful for his initiative, drive and dedication, which are inextricably linked to his humble sensitivity.” _ Hugh S. Moore Survey: Slight Decrease Seen in Sunday School Offerings (RNS) While Sunday school in Protestant churches remains popular, classes are less likely to be available to the youngest and oldest students, according to a recent study by the Barna Group. The study found that 95 percent of Protestant pastors polled in December 2004 said their churches offer Sunday school classes, while 97 percent said they did in 1997. Although the percentage of churches offering Sunday school has remained virtually constant, the availability of programs for children aged 2 to 5 declined from 94 percent to 88 percent. Classes for high school students showed a similar drop, from 86 percent to 80 percent. Vacation Bible School, which made religiously themed arts and crafts projects summer staples for generations of children, is also less common than before. According to the study, the percentage of Protestant churches offering summer camps has declined by 15 percent since 1997, with 69 percent of pastors saying their churches still offer Vacation Bible School. Pastors most frequently cited a lack of teachers as the main reason they chose not to offer camps. As for the content of Sunday school classes, most Protestant pastors _ 54 percent _ said their churches use curricula provided by their denomination. The study also found that curricula created by individual churches are becoming more popular. Eighteen percent of pastors reported using “customized” curricula, up from 10 percent in 2002. The 2004 poll was based on a nationwide random sample of 614 senior pastors of Protestant churches. Researchers said the margin of error was about four percentage points. The poll was part of an annual study sponsored by Gospel Light, a company based in Ventura, Calif., that produces Sunday school curricula. _ Nancy Glass Update: `Public Warning’ on Iliff School of Theology Removed

(RNS) A “public warning” that had been placed on a Denver school connected to the United Methodist Church has been removed after it was determined the school properly handled the abrupt retirement of its Hispanic president.

The Iliff School of Theology learned June 27 that the denomination’s University Senate had approved lifting the warning, in response to recommendations made by a review team.

Following the sudden retirement of former president David Maldonado in May 2004, the denomination’s University Senate and Commission on Religion and Race looked into questions of “perceived racial and cultural insensitivities.” Maldonado was the first Hispanic to lead a United Methodist-related seminary.

A team that reassessed the situation in April found that the school had followed recommendations. The team was satisfied by how the school had settled disputes with Maldonado and had made a “long-term commitment to model the values embracing diversity, mutual respect and accountability.”

In April, the school issued a joint declaration with Maldonado in which they expressed regret over the conflicts between them, a settlement over “the issue of injustice” regarding his departure and a pledge to move ahead with reconciliation.

“Obviously we’re pleased by the University Senate’s action,” said Interim President J. Philip Wogaman, in a statement. “Iliff values its United Methodist and ecumenical church ties very much, and we want to have the kind of positive relationships this action represents.”

_ Adelle M. Banks

Quote of the Day: Joel Osteen, pastor of the Lakewood Church in Houston.

(RNS) “The principles in the Bible will work for anyone. … If you give, you will be blessed. I talk about things for everyday life. I don’t get deep and theological.”

_ Joel Osteen, pastor of the nondenominational Lakewood Church in Houston. The largest congregation in the country, Lakewood moved over the weekend to its new home, the 16,000-seat Compaq Center. Osteen was quoted by the New York Times.

MO/JL END RNS