c. 2007 Religion News Service

Beliefnet Names `Most Influential Black Spiritual Leaders’

(RNS) Seventeen African-American religious leaders _ ranging from megachurch pastors to spiritual advisers _ have been named the nation’s “most influential black spiritual leaders” by Beliefnet.

“Whether inspiring their congregations to stand up against social injustice or urging a focus on God-centered family values, African-American religious leaders are a crucial component of a rich and diverse spiritual landscape,” reads the introduction to the profiles written by editors at the interfaith Web site.

Among the megachurch pastors listed are:

_ Bishop T.D. Jakes, whose Dallas-based congregation is one of the largest in the country.

_ The Rev. Floyd Flake, a former congressman and pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Queens, N.Y.

_ “Prosperity Gospel” advocate Creflo Dollar, whose World Changers Church International has congregations in Atlanta and New York.

_ The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston and an adviser to President George W. Bush.

Denominational leaders cited include:

_ The Rev. William G. Sinkford, leader of the Unitarian Universalist Association and advocate for legalizing gay marriage.

_ Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, the former leader of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

_ Bishop Charles Blake, a member of the General Board of the Church of God in Christ and a Los Angeles pastor.

_ Bishop Vashti McKenzie, the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

_ The Rev. William Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA.

Spiritual authors recognized include Iyanla Vanzant, founder of Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Network in Silver Spring, Md., and Renita Weems, author of “Showing Mary: How Women Can Share Prayers, Wisdom, and the Blessings of God.”

Others listed include Bishop Carlton Pearson of Tulsa, Okla.; the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem; Imam Siraj Wahhaj, the first Muslim to offer an invocation in the U.S. House of Representatives; and the Rev. Johnnie Colemon, pastor of Christ Universal Temple in Chicago.

The Web site also recognized the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, who has counseled Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.; and the Rev. Gardner C. Taylor, senior pastor emeritus of Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, N.Y.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Move Over, Valentine _ It’s Time to Give St. Raphael a Chance

LONDON (RNS) The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has come up with another way of looking for love, just in time for Valentine’s Day _ with prayers to the little-known St. Raphael, identified as the patron saint of “happy encounters.”

In an age of speed-dating and lonely hearts columns, the Catholic Enquiry Office, part of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, has set up its own Web site, at http://www.life4seekers.co.uk, aimed at helping those who are “looking for a soulmate.”

The online campaign officially begins Feb. 14 _ Valentine’s Day _ when singles are invited to say one of several prayers, or novenas, for nine consecutive days, asking for assistance in the romance department from St. Raphael. The saint is credited with helping the biblical marriage between Tobias and Sarah, whose seven previous husbands were said to have been slain by a devil.

The Right Rev. Ambrose Griffiths, bishop emeritus of Hexham and Newcastle, in England, concedes that a love campaign on the Internet may have its doubting Thomases, but he urged them to give St. Raphael a chance.

“We are alerting people to a dimension of life that most people tend to overlook,” he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper in London.

Griffiths warned against praying to the saint simply for sexual gratification. “Prayer,” he said, “should not be used as a tool for people to find someone to jump into bed with.”

The campaign insists that St. Raphael is not in competition with the more renowned St. Valentine. “It’s not a question of being better, but just different,” it said. Valentine is the patron of those who have found their love, it added. Raphael is the patron of those who are still looking.

They also have different feast days. In the Catholic Church, St. Raphael’s is celebrated Oct. 24.

_ Al Webb

N.J. Groups Launch Gay Marriage Ban as Civil Unions Loom

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) A group of Garden State clergy and activists on Monday (Feb. 12) launched a petition drive aimed at persuading lawmakers to let voters decide whether marriage should be limited to one man and one woman.

Calling themselves “The Trenton Group,” members said their goal is a state constitutional amendment that would prevent either the state Supreme Court or a future legislature from legalizing same-sex marriage.

The petition drive comes one week before gay and lesbian couples will be able to enter civil unions (on Feb. 19) that carry all the benefits and obligations of marriage conferred by state law.

“We believe that the people should decide it,” said John Tomicki, a leader of the group and executive director of the League of American Families. He said the proposed amendment would not affect civil unions.

The petitions would carry no legal weight, but _ in this year when all 120 legislative seats are up for election _ a large number of signatures might persuade lawmakers to take up proposals currently stalled in committee. Proposed amendments banning same-sex marriage have been pending for at least a decade without getting a hearing.

“Many clergy are surprised that the people have no voice. That is going to change,” said the Rev. Clenard Childress, pastor of New Calvary Baptist Church in Montclair, N.J.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, state Sen. John Adler, said he does not plan to consider an amendment defining marriage anytime soon.

“I’m not expecting to focus my attention away from property tax reform and fighting corruption,” said Adler, a Democrat.

A Quinnipiac University poll released in December found although New Jerseyans oppose same-sex marriage, 50 to 44 percent, they oppose amending the constitution to ban it by an even greater margin, 58 to 37 percent.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of the gay rights group Garden State Equality, said, “Politically, the chances of a state constitutional ban on marriage equality succeeding in New Jersey are as great as (convicted former lobbyist) Jack Abramoff’s being elected our next president of the United States.”

_ Robert Schwaneberg

Quote of the Day: Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

(RNS) “I’m running for a secular position. I subscribe to what Abraham Lincoln called America’s political religion. The Constitution and the rule of law are the highest promises I would make in taking the oath of office.”

_ Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, discussing the potential impact of his Mormon faith in an interview with USA Today.

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