c. 2007 Religion News Service
Mennonite Farmer Settles With State Over Animal ID Tags
(RNS) A Mennonite farmer from Pennsylvania does not have to comply with a state animal identification program after arguing that numbering his ducks would bring about his “eternal damnation.”
Pennsylvania officials now say the identification program, which is designed to protect against disease outbreaks among fowl, is not mandatory.
James Landis, of Lebanon County, Pa., had argued that the program’s requirements would force him to violate his religious beliefs.
“He sincerely believes that if he, as a Christian, were to participate in such a numbering system, it would result in his eternal damnation,” Landis’ lawsuit said.
Leonard Brown, Landis’s attorney, said the settlement “is a victory for all farmers and for people of faith in this country.” Brown is affiliated with Alliance Defense Fund, a network of conservative Christian lawyers based in Scottsdale, Ariz.
After international outbreaks of mad cow disease and avian flu, some state and federal programs ask farmers to track and number their animals. Amish dairy farmers in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have objected to programs that would have forced them to number their cows.
They say the Bible’s book of Revelation warns of a numbering system from the Antichrist that “causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.”
Landis is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, a conservative spin-off from the more mainstream Mennonite Church. It has about 6,600 members.
Theological cousins of the Amish, conservative Mennonites such as Landis do not enjoy worldly pleasures like radio and television, and wear plain clothing and educate their children at small, private schools.
_ Daniel Burke
Orthodox Jews to Launch Kosher Cooking Channel
NEW YORK (RNS) You say potato pancakes, they say latkes. Now, Orthodox Jews will help viewers practice what they preach _ in the kitchen.
The Orthodox Union, which certifies most kosher food products, is preparing to launch a Web-based cooking channel this summer and is negotiating to provide programming for the Food Network and Jewish Life TV.
The channel will begin with a variety of culinary and kosher experts hosting weekly 5-minute Web video segments, highlighting OU-certified products and dietary staples ranging from horseradish to marinara sauce, OU officials said.
“It’s a Rachael Ray recipe-type program,” said Barry Mase, OU media sales director. “The idea is to take the old-view kosher, which is traditional and old fashioned, and be hip about the whole thing with new recipes using some of our products.”
The channel will launch in late August or early September, with a Simply Kosher show hosted by Jamie Geller, author of the upcoming “15-Minute Kosher Cookbook: Fast and Easy Recipes from the Bride Who Knew Nothing.”
“Hopefully, it will be in time for the Jewish holidays,” Mase said, referring to the Sept. 13 start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
One of channel’s first guest chefs, Ashley Farnell, has served as a personal chef to the British royal family, President Bill Clinton, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner, and The Rolling Stones.
The channel will be featured on the Orthodox Union’s Web site, http://www.ou.org.
_ Nicole Neroulias
Baptist Group Says Number of Women Clergy Up
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of ordained women in prominent leadership roles in “moderate to progressive” Baptist groups has grown to more than 600, according to a report released Thursday (June 28) from Baptist Women in Ministry.
In its second “State of Women in Baptist Life,” the group found that 117 women serve as pastors, co-pastors or church planters (starters of new churches) in the Alliance of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and moderate conventions in Virginia and Texas in 2006. In addition, the American Baptist Churches USA reported 490 women serving as pastors, co-pastors and interim pastors.
The total of 607 women is an increase from 2005. The first Baptist Women in Ministry report had found 102 women serving in top pastoral roles and the American Baptists reported 403 women pastors in prominent roles, for a total of 505.
“Although the novelty of women entering professions of law, medicine, and teaching has long since waned, ministry remains one of the last professions to be entered in any significant numbers by women,” states “The State of Women in Baptist Life _ 2006,” which was released during the group’s annual meeting in Washington.
Pamela Durso, a leader of Baptist Women in Ministry and co-author of the report, said her group was elated at the recent decision of First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., to name the Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell as its senior minister on June 17. The historic church is affiliated with both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the more conservative Southern Baptist Convention, whose members have generally opposed women clergy.
“This is Julie’s third church so she’s kind of broken through,” said Durso. “We see a slow but steady increase of the number of women who are pastoring.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Quote of the Day: U.S. Catholic Bishops Spokeswoman Sister Mary Ann Walsh
(RNS) “There are lots of groups talking about celibacy. Don’t waste the bishops’ time with it _ they can’t do anything about it. You might as well have a great discussion on what goes on on Mars.”
_ Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on the lay reform group Voice of the Faithful’s call for the Vatican to review celibacy requirements for priests. She was quoted by The New York Times.
KRE/CM END RNS
