c. 2007 Religion News Service
Donald Lawrence Wins Big at Stellars Two Years in a Row
(RNS) For the second year in a row, gospel artist Donald Lawrence walked away with the most honors at the annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for his work with his choir, the Tri City Singers.
The vocalist won Saturday (Jan. 13) in eight categories, including Artist of the Year for “Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri City Singers _ Finale: Act One.” He was honored as the producer of that recording, and it also was recognized for the Choir of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, and Contemporary Choir of the Year awards. Lawrence’s other honors were in categories for special event CD, record music packaging, and music video.
The choir staged its final tour last year.
The ceremonies at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., included the awarding of a lifetime achievement award to the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The legendary gospel group has produced 35 albums and performed for 44 years.
The event, which was co-hosted by Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett and Mary Mary, honors black gospel artists.
Other honorees included:
_ Male Vocalist: Myron Butler, “Set Me Free”
_ Female Vocalist: Dorinda Clark-Cole, “Live From Houston _ The Rose of Gospel”
_ New Artist: Myron Butler & Levi
_ Group/Duo: Myron Butler
_ CD: “Hero,” Kirk Franklin
The awards ceremony will air in syndication on cable and broadcast outlets from Jan. 27 through March 4.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Seinfeld Must Pay Real Estate Agent Who Wouldn’t Work on Sabbath
NEW YORK (RNS) A New York judge has ordered comedian Jerry Seinfeld to pay his real estate agent, an observant Jew, her commission even though the agent would not show a $3.95 million property on the Sabbath.
New York Supreme Court Justice Rolando T. Acosta ruled that Seinfeld, who is also Jewish, should pay agent Tamara Cohen the fee, which could be as much as $98,000, even though Cohen was not available when the comedian and his wife wanted to see potential properties.
Seinfeld said Cohen did not deserve the fee because she did not return phone calls and was unavailable when he and his wife, Jessica, wanted to view the house. Seinfeld testified he did not know the agent was an observant Jew who did not work on the Sabbath.
Cohen began showing properties in September 2004 to Seinfeld’s estate manager. On Feb. 11, 2005, Cohen showed the townhouse to Jessica Seinfeld and the estate manager. When they were unable to reach the agent for about 24 hours that weekend, the Seinfelds visited the house alone and agreed to purchase it. According to court papers, the comedian did not think Cohen was entitled to a full commission because she could not show him the premises when he wanted to see it.
Acosta ruled Jan. 2 that the agent was entitled to the commission. “The evidence clearly indicates that she served as the Seinfelds’ real estate broker,” he wrote.
“Apparently the court understood the difficulty of dealing with secular tradition and non-secular tradition, and I believe the court recognized that there must be some understanding on the part of the business community to be afforded to observant Jews in New York,” Cohen’s attorney Steven Landy, who specializes in real estate litigation, said in an interview.
Richard Menaker, Seinfeld’s lawyer, said “the Seinfelds are very respectful of the Sabbath.” He also contended that Cohen was a leasing agent who was inexperienced with sales, and that Cohen had rejected a finder’s fee for locating the property.
“If someone is an active real estate broker and they go out of commission for the Sabbath,” Menaker said, “you’d expect them to pick up their messages on Saturday evening, but there was no callback.”
_ Marilyn Henry
German Court Says Head Scarves Can’t Violate Christian Values
(RNS) Muslim teachers in southern Germany may not wear head scarves or any other symbol of their faith that could be construed to clash with Western or Christian values, according to a recent court ruling.
The decision on Monday (Jan. 15) by the Constitutional Court of Bavaria puts the German state _ one of Germany’s largest, richest and most culturally Catholic _ clearly against expressions of Muslim faith in school life.
The lawsuit had been filed by Islamic Religious Community of Berlin to protest a Bavarian ban on teachers wearing head scarves. Ali Kizilkaya, head of the Islamic Council, called the judgment “very regrettable,” according to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. Church officials and members of Germany’s Christian Democratic party praised the decision.
Karl Huber, president of the Bavarian Constitutional Court, told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that various rights in the Bavarian constitution had threatened to collide with one another in this case. The Bavarian constitution calls for religious freedom, but also calls for children in public schools to be raised by Christian standards.
The court ultimately decided that a constitutionally endorsed education was the more important goal, and that allowing certain clothes and symbols could endanger the educational system in Bavaria.
But the court ruling still means a nun’s habit is acceptable garb for a teacher, since that garment adheres to the constitution’s Christian standards.
Huber also told the paper that the ruling does not bar all head scarves. Various school bodies will now have to decide on a case-by-case basis whether women wearing scarves are making fashion or religious statements and then act accordingly.
The case will likely be appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court.
This was the first time the question of head scarves in public offices has been decided by a German constitutional court, although other states have laws regulating the wearing of such garments.
_ Niels Sorrells
Palestinian Church Leaders Condemn Factional Violence
JERUSALEM (RNS) The heads of the leading Christian churches in the Holy Land say they are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between two rival Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, who are vying for power.
Thirteen patriarchs and bishops representing the Jerusalem-based Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican communities released a joint statement in early January voicing “anxiety for all our people _ Christian and Muslim alike _ at the deteriorating relations between Fatah and Hamas leaders and the armed forces.”
Although church leaders often denounce violence in this troubled region, they have until now refrained from explicitly naming specific armed Palestinian factions as the aggressors.
Comprising just 2 percent of the population, Palestinian Christians are well aware of their status as a minority and have traditionally steered clear of political activities and statements.
Fatah is loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who recognizes Israel’s right to exist and advocates negotiations with the Israeli government. Hamas, which holds the majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature, refuses to recognize Israel and advocates its destruction.
Members of the two factions recently began to wage war with each other, and several Palestinian civilians have been hurt or killed in the crossfire. Some believe civil war is imminent.
“It would appear that all kinds of mediation and attempts at reconciliation have so far failed, resulting in a deadlock in the situation,” the religious leaders noted. “So we feel that the time has come to call for intense prayer to almighty God for peace and an opportunity for calm in order that all parties can consider carefully the various issues at stake.
“Instead of hurling accusations at each other, we would urge everyone to pray for their neighbors in the widest possible sense,” the leaders said, referring to Christians, Muslims and Jews. “It is surely time to unite rather than collide.”
The clerics said “fighting and kidnapping opponents” will do nothing to bring down Israel’s controversial security wall or end an Israeli embargo or security checkpoints.
The leaders offered to act as “possible mediators or in whatever role deemed necessary and helpful by our people” to establish Palestinian unity, remove weapons from Palestinian streets and encourage Israelis and Palestinians “to return to the negotiating table.”
_ Michele Chabin
Quote of the Day: Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria
(RNS) “Whoever has not collected the voter’s card after February 7 has automatically alienated himself or herself from the community, the church and will not be allowed to receive the Holy Communion.”
_ The Catholic diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria, in a bulletin circulated Sunday (Jan. 14) in churches telling Catholics to vote or be prevented from receiving Communion. The bulletin was quoted by the Nigerian newspaper The Day, according to the Reuters news agency.
KRE/PH END RNS
