Southern Baptist leaders OK adding 'Great Commission' to name

Nashville, Tenn.— Some Southern Baptists worry that their denomination's name still carries the stigma of a 19th century split with northern Baptists over slavery. Others who fought hard to build the brand and its conservative theology and politics don't want to see it go.

Catholic churches learn their fate

Detroit— Just days before the beginning of holy season of Lent, local Catholics learned the fate of their parishes from their priests during Sunday Masses that were tinged with curiosity and sadness.

Latino Mormons speaking out against Romney

Albuquerque, N.M.— When Honduran-born Antonella Cecilia Packard converted to the Mormon Faith 20 years ago, she said it was like "coming home."

Louis Farrakhan to speak at Grand Rapids church

Grand Rapids— Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is expected to speak at a Grand Rapids church on the topic of self-sufficiency.

Southern Baptists to hear proposed name change

Nashville, Tenn.— A panel for the Southern Baptist Convention recommended Monday that its leadership endorse a new, add-on description for the denomination — "Great Commission Baptists" — but stopped short of a complete, legal name change.

St. Leo, St. Cecilia priest to faithful: Merger is opportunity

Fr. Theodore Parker told parishioners he hopes to build one parish, St. Cecilia and St. Leo, which will be maintained at both churches.

Saudi female athletes challenge Muslim norms

Behind concrete walls and out of sight of men, Saudi women wearing shorts and short-sleeve shirts meet three times a week to play soccer in an all-female club in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah.

When you find Jesus, you will find home

Lately, one of Jesus’ more cryptic phrases has been making laps inside my head. I came back across his words while reading the Passion accounts in the Gospels, this year quickly speeding toward the Lenten season as it is. These words were spoken on the last night Jesus was with his disciples: “Abide in me, and I will abide in you.”

22 cardinals join club to elect pope's successor

Vatican City— Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday brought 22 Catholic churchmen into the elite club of cardinals who will elect his successor, cementing the Italian majority in a future conclave but also giving New York's garrulous archbishop a position of prominence.

Metro Detroit churches face closures

Detroit — Metro Detroit Catholics are receiving mailed notifications this week about which parishes will close as a result of a massive reorganization.

GP South students will sing at Vatican

Detroit — They have been putting in marathon practices and making everything “just so” as they prepare for the performance of a lifetime.

Archdiocese of Detroit finalizes list of area churches to close

Detroit— Priests throughout Metro Detroit have been informed about which parishes will close as a result of a massive reorganization plan for local Catholic churches.

Israeli library has Newton e-texts

Jerusalem — He’s considered to be one of the greatest scientists of all time. But Sir Isaac Newton was also an influential theologian who applied a scientific approach to the study of scripture, Hebrew and Jewish mysticism.

Birth control issue is political football

The furor over President Barack Obama’s birth control mandate has swiftly entered a new phase, with supporters and opponents alike calling the subject a potent ...

Humanist soldier seeks recognition

Soldiers who don’t believe in God can go to war with “atheist” stamped on their dog tags, but humanists and others with various secular beliefs are still ...

Jesus tells us heaven is in our reach now

While travelingin Central America, I had the opportunity to worship at an international, interdenominational, English-speaking church. The congregation ...

Salvation Army drive raises record $8.2M

Detroit — The Salvation Army announced Wednesday it raised a record $8.2 million during its holiday Red Kettle Campaign in Metro Detroit.

Romney’s Mormon faith still an issue

Mitt Romney’s front-runner status in the race for the GOP presidential nomination has once again raised questions about his religion and voters’ acceptance of ...

Priest who improvised prayers loses job

For 18 years, the Rev. William Rowe has done a little improvising while celebrating Mass on Sunday mornings at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, Ill.

God is easier to hear in quiet

It is golden. It is a virtue. It is more musical than any melody, rest for the mind, and sometimes it has the loudest voice. It is often the best possible ...

Jewish leaders offended by Atlanta megachurch preacher’s ‘king’ ceremony

Atlanta — Jewish leaders are criticizing a ceremony that involved a controversial megachurch leader being wrapped in a religious scroll and exalted as a ...

Tim Tebow cancels speech at prosperity pastor's revival

Tim Tebow has canceled an appearance at a revival organized by a controversial Ohio preacher, a spokesman for the star athlete said Wednesday.

Turkish film highlights gay honor killing

Ankara, Turkey— Shortly after telling his parents he was gay, Ahmet Yildiz was gunned down inside his car by his father in Istanbul. It was Turkey's ...

Romney not alone in tithing promise

Politics and religion share a need. Whether from campaign contributions or tithing, both need to raise money.

Faith calendar

Today:Free Scholarship Awareness Day. Shayla Price and Matthew Jones will share how they were able to go to college debt-free. This all-day session includes ...

God’s love defies rejection

Months ago, a friend handed me a little book titled "Have a Little Faith," written by Mitch Albom.

Pastor charged with embezzlement to keep preaching in West Michigan

Grand Rapids— A West Michigan pastor who authorities say embezzled from his church plans to preach there on Sunday.

Supreme Court ruling vexes religious workers

The high court ruled last week that religious workers can’t sue for job discrimination, but didn’t describe what constitutes a religious employee — putting ...