c. 1997 Religion News Service

Church-state separation group asks IRS to question Falwell

(RNS) A public policy group concerned with church-state issues has called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a”church-based partisan political campaign”pushed by the Rev. Jerry Falwell and other Virginia pastors who supported a candidate for state attorney general.

Falwell, in a statement, denied charges by the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State that he violated the IRS tax code.

In a July 2 letter to the IRS, the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said”a number of churches across the state, prodded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, apparently intervened in the attorney general’s race on behalf of Mark Earley, a state senator from Chesapeake.” Earley won the June 10 Republican primary.

Lynn directed the IRS’ attention to a copy of”The Falwell Fax,”a briefing sent by Falwell to evangelical pastors in which he reported that he”challenged the pastors to get personally involved in this primary.”Falwell pointed to the example of George Sweet, Earley’s pastor and the spiritual leader of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

Sweet mailed a letter to more than 2,000 pastors in Virginia, urging their support for Earley, noting the candidate’s history as a missionary and Sunday school teacher.”I am asking you to join me in not only voting for Mark Earley on June 10th, but to also join me in sharing with your congregation how you personally plan to vote,”Sweet wrote in a letter that contained the words”Authorized by Friends of Mark Earley ’97″at the bottom.

Included in Sweet’s mailing was a”Sample Personal Endorsement Announcement for Sunday, June 8th”that cites Earley’s legislative record and reads,”I am voting for Senator Mark Earley who has been our true pro-life, pro-family standard-bearer.” Lynn said although both Falwell and Sweet say in their writings their efforts fall within IRS rules, they are violating tax code provisions banning political campaigning by exempt organizations.

Falwell, in response, called Lynn’s charges”grandstanding.””Mr. Lynn knows very well that Jerry Falwell did not violate any tax laws in the Sen. Mark Earley campaign or any other campaign,”Falwell said in his statement.

UCC reaffirms sexual standards for its clergy, members

(RNS) The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has reaffirmed the sexual and relational standard for its members but took no action on another resolution that would have”encouraged fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness”as a standard for its ordained ministers at its annual meeting Monday (July 7) in Columbus, Ohio.

The action by the denomination’s top policy-making body withstood objections from the Biblical Witness Fellowship, a conservative caucus within the liberal denomination that exhorts members to uphold the”historic Christian faith”against what it sees as a relaxing and broadening of standards in the denomination.

The overwhelming vote on the membership sexuality standard called for”integrity and fidelity”in marriage and in other”covenanted relationships”or singleness, and in all relationships in life.

The vote was a reiteration of existing standards of behavior and a celebration of diverse relationships, said the Rev. Jana Norman-Richardson of Winter Park, Fla., who led the committee of delegates offering the two resolutions.

On the ministerial resolution, the Synod concluded that existing UCC documents that include a code in which ordained ministers pledge faithfulness and also pledge to”live a life which honors my commitments to my family”was sufficient.

But the Rev. David Runnion-Bareford of Candia, N.H., director of the BWF, called the Synod action an”arrogant”attempt to”redefine alternative relationships”on a par with heterosexual marriage.

The debate continued 20 years of tension over matters of sexuality between the UCC and BWF. While the BWF believes the Bible sets clear and absolute rules in human sexuality and wants the church to urge members to follow them, the Synod has preferred to allow individuals, families and local churches to consider matters of sexuality in the context of faith.

The Synod has encouraged the denomination to be”open and affirming”to gays and lesbians.

In other action, the General Synod:

_ Approved a governance system for restructuring its nine national offices into four larger ministry units to”prepare for the mission challenges of the 21st century.”If approved by the 39 regional conferences, the new structure will be put in place in June 2000.

_ Condemned the 1996 federal welfare reform act as”unconscionable”and called on the denomination to be better informed about how the new welfare system will challenge ministry.

_ Voiced alarm at the financial plight of seminarians, many of whom have amassed debts of $50,000 or more before graduation. A plan is being formulated recommending that local churches commit 2 percent of their operating costs to seminary support.

As a byproduct of the meeting, 250 Synod delegates marched Monday to the Federal Building in Columbus to protest U.S. funding for the School of the Americas, which trains military officers from Latin and Central America who have been accused of being involved in terrorism and torture, including the deaths of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador.

British Methodists adopt anti-sexual harassment policy

(RNS) Better think twice in British churches about giving the”kiss of peace.”Or hugging that visitor. In Great Britain’s Methodist churches, it could be considered sexual harassment.

Tough new measures to prevent sexual harassment and to cope with its effects were accepted by the 570 clergy and lay delegates to the British Methodist Conference, the denomination’s top policy-making body, meeting in London June 28-July 5.

In other action, the church discussed interfaith issues, shrinking funding for clergy training and the problem of”alcopops”as the latest manifestation of underage drinking by British youth.

The conference accepted new proposals in dealing with sexual harassment and abuse complaints, including exploring the use of a telephone helpline. The conference also agreed that stronger disciplinary measures will be established, as well as new programs to support victims.

Two areas discussed as opportunities for sexual harassment included the kiss of peace at more”exuberant”communion services, and how it can be considered embarrassing and demeaning to be hugged and kissed in church as a greeting by total strangers.

The conference action followed a report revealing a higher-than-expected number of cases of sexual harassment in the church in the last 15 years.

A”significant number”of the 65 cases ended in the resignation of the minister without reference to the church’s disciplinary proceedings.

The Rev. Jane Cook, a former policewoman, said she found sexual harassment in the ministry”far more insidious than I had encountered in the macho workplace of the police.” The conference also ruled that no one convicted of sexual offenses against children should be appointed to any office in the denomination.

In condemning underage drinking, the conference urged the government to help create a code of practices and to better enforce current drinking laws. The conference especially deplored the latest rage _”alcopops”_ soft drinks like lemonade or cola spiked with alcohol and targeted to young people.

Update: Jury selection begins in trial of pastor helping homeless

(RNS) Four of nine nuisance charges have been dropped against a Southern Baptist pastor who is helping homeless people in the shadow of Disneyland.

Jury selection began Monday (July 7) in the case of Wiley Drake, who was one of the lead supporters of his denomination’s recent decision to boycott Walt Disney World for corporate practices that include offering benefits to partners of homosexual employees.

Prosecutor Gregory Palmer said the four charges were dropped as part of a”trial strategy.” Drake has been struggling with Buena Park, Calif., officials for more than a year about a homeless encampment his church operates.

The five remaining charges accuse him of letting people sleep in tents, an enclosed patio and automobiles at the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, the Associated Press reported.

Each count has a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.”Paul the Apostle ran the church from jail,”Drake said earlier.”I’ve seen enough Mafia movies to know that I can run this ministry from jail.” Palmer called the trial necessary, but unfortunate.”We don’t want him to go to jail, of course, but what are our options?”the prosecutor said.”We have no other option. We have worked with him until we were blue in the face.”

Benefits law for same-sex couples in Hawaii takes effect

(RNS) A new law in Hawaii, effective July 8, brings the state a step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage.

But a constitutional amendment, being pushed by religious conservatives, could make the legislation academic.

The nation’s most comprehensive rights package for domestic partners allows same-sex couples and opposite-sex unmarried couples over age 18 to qualify for health and other benefits. Couples who cannot marry will be recognized by the state as”reciprocal beneficiaries”(RBs), which entitles them to many rights reserved for married couples, including family leave and joint auto insurance.

Three gay couples denied marriage licenses in Hawaii have a lawsuit pending before the state’s Supreme Court. The reciprocal beneficiaries bill was a compromise by legislators who fear the court could legalize non-traditional marriages, USA Today reported.

The bill was accompanied by a 1998 ballot measure for a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would give the legislature power to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.

The Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, which opposes same-sex marriage, said he is confident voters will approve the constitutional amendment.”Western civilization is built on marriage,”he said.”When you go to change that and redefine it and remove this clear gender distinction, you’re tampering with social factors.” Gay marriages are not legal anywhere in the United States. But more cities and businesses have begun extending limited benefits to domestic partners.

Witches’ war: Salem witches dispute over money, spirituality

(RNS) Salem, Mass., the city infamous for burning so-called witches, has a new problem with witchcraft. Now the witches wouldn’t mind burning one of their own.

At stake is that old religious bugaboo of”show me the money.”And according to her sisters, there is no doubt as to which witch is which.

It’s Laurie Cabot, 63, who has been charged with losing touch with the spiritual side of witchcraft and paganism.

She has made her witchcraft the subject of books, TV appearances and college lessons, and she is opening an art gallery and shop on the wharf downtown.

About 30 leaders from the Wicca religion and pagan groups met last week and agreed to stop referring students of witchcraft to Cabot, according to the Associated Press.

Saying Cabot’s emphasis on making money has made the witches competitive, Maria Guerriero, a high priestess of the Wicca religion, said,”Spirituality is something that can’t be sold. It’s like a witch war out here.” Cabot, said to have overlooked filing state income tax returns from 1991 through 1995 and alleged to have threatened to shoot a sister witch, is nonplussed by the bewitching situation.

Other witches run shops and charge for services like tarot card readings, she said.

There is no indication as to when this burning issue will be resolved.

Quote of the day: Dr. Majed Nassar, founder and director of a Greek Orthodox medical clinic in Beit Sahour on the West Bank

(RNS) Dr. Majed Nassar, a Greek Orthodox doctor who founded a medical clinic in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, wrote to President Clinton July 3 asking him to take steps to re-ignite Middle East peace talks. In the statement, passed on to Clinton by the Rev. Joe Hale of the World Methodist Council, Nassar spoke of Palestinian despair:”Many who were thinking that the peace process is going to bring peace to the area are thinking now it is going to bring the `last peace’ for the Palestinians.”

MJP END RNS