Bishop Spong on the Road Again!

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You remember Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, now retired from the Newark Diocese, who used to routinely grandstand on television talk shows after denying Christian beliefs about the Virgin Birth, Resurrection and so much else?

Eventually he finally, and logically (according to his lights) renounced “theism,” i.e. he does not believe in a personal creator God.  Needless to say, Spong’s diocese in New Jersey lost 40 percent of its members under his “leadership.” Spong always claimed he was making Christianity “relevant” for a new generation.  In fact, Spong lost his faith and tried to persuade others to follow suit. Not very inspirational.  He was the icon of failed, imploding, liberal Protestantism.

Well, for some reason, some churches still want to hear his message!  He’s on a speaking tour, appearing at a United Methodist church in Wisconsin last week and speaking at United Methodist Drew Seminary in New Jersey next week.  Here’s IRD’s news release.

And here’s a piece I wrote about Spong that recently resurfaced.

And here’s good news from IRD’s religious liberty advocate Faith McDonnell about answered prayers on behalf of persecuted believers in China.

Commendably, United Methodists in the Holston Conference of east Tennessee and southwest Virginia are standing with persecuted Christians in southern Sudan, where the Islamist regime in Khartoum is always a threat.  Here’s an article from my assistant Connor Ewing, who attended a missions conference in Kingsport, Tennessee.

More controversially, Connor wrote about a United Methodist and Presbyterian -backed, ecumenical anti-war jamboree at New York’s famously liberal Riverside Church.  This event urged U.S. military personnel to become conscientious objectors.

More darkly, 9-11 conspiracy theorist David Ray Griffin of United Methodist Claremont Seminary is again out peddling his claims that the U.S. contrived the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings.  He’s speaking at Episcopal and United Methodist churches.  Here’s our news release.

Finally, read my article about British church prelates urging that Britain unilaterally abandon its nuclear weapons, without regard for possible consequences. Needless to point out, many church officials in the U.S. also want the U.S. to disarm unilaterally.

As always, there is good news and bad news among the churches.  God is faithful even when his churches are not.   IRD strives to report the facts and offer succinct commentary for church goers like you. We depend on God’s grace and your prayerful support. If you can support our ministry, please donate here.