American Idol has a distinct church connection–Most of the show’s winning contestants have hailed from the “Bible belt,” and many of them having been trained by singing in evangelical or Pentecostal churches.

This season’s top contenders were the exception, as Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze are from the Midwest.  However Aaron Kelley, Michael Lynche and Tim Urban got their “singing legs” by performing in their churches, the LA Times said.

In season eight, half of the top 10 were worship leaders in their church.  Churches also became a big part of the contestants’ fan bases with congregations launching viewing parties and vote drives for their favorites, the LA Times reported.

Danny Gokey got serious about music when he was 19 after attending FaithBuilders, a nondenominational church in Milwaukee.  Mandisa of season 5 also has church roots and is currently recording under EMI Christian Music.  Jason Castro of season seven used to sing at Lake Pointe, a suburban Dallas mega-church that’s known for its sophisticated musical performances.

Jordin Sparks performs on American Idol in 2007. She got her start singing in church. Credit:Wikimedia Commons.

Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks and Taylor Hicks, all Idol winners, also got their training largely by singing in churches before they became famous through the show, the LA Times said.

The fact that many contestants honed their vocal skills at black churches and suburban megachurches is also one of the reasons why “Idol” has been embraced by Christian communities across the nation.

The show has projected to an audience of tens of millions an image of heartland youth driven by faith and strong family values, which has become an important source of appeal, according to the LA Times.

All of the winners from the previous eight seasons came from the Bible Belt states except for Arizona native Jordin Sparks of season six.  Of note, “Idol” ratings are highest in such southern cities as Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala. (which produced “Idol” winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks); and Winston-Salem, N.C., according to the Nielsen Co.

Music is a huge part of modern American church culture, particularly in its praise and worship services.  According to Mandisa, “There are always so many Christians that go on ‘American Idol’ and I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” the LA Times said.

Churches provide a natural training ground for prospective “Idol” contestants, and have gained even more importance as school boards have slashed budgets for arts programs in recent years.

During Season five, Mandisa made a gesture pointing to her heart, head and the sky that she took from the work of the evangelist Beth Moore. “A lot of people recognized that and were rooting for me,” she said.

She performed the gospel song “Shackles (Praise You)” for the Top 10 week. She even cited the example of Jesus’ life in telling judge Simon Cowell that she had forgiven him for making cruel on-camera remarks about her weight, the LA Times reported.

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Church leaders complained about Arizona’s newest immigration law recently, which grants greater power to local police to question and arrest suspected illegal immigrants, saying it is ineffective and will promote discrimination.

Because of the passage of Arizona's new "immigration" policy, people who look Hispanic may be subject to racial profiling/Credit: Garrison Photography

Rev. James Flaaten, executive director of Arizona Ecumenical council, issued a statement saying, this law “will demonize anyone who looks suspiciously like an undocumented person, leading to inevitable racial profiling,” according to The Christian Post.

Flaaten added, “Our religious traditions ask us to treat people with dignity and respect, and we look for a more enlightened and hopeful way of working with the undocumented people who live alongside us.”

The law, which was signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents with them at all times, and gives police the power to question someone’s legal residency and arrest anyone who cannot prove that they are legal residents.

The law also cracks down on those who hire illegal residents or knowingly transport them.

Penalties for illegal immigrants under the law include arrest, jail for up to six months and a $2,500 fine. It includes other provisions for lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws.

Religious leaders are urging federal lawmakers to pass comprehensive immigration reform, denouncing the current federal system as broken and the new Arizona law as “mean-spirited.”

“It is not only mean-spirited – it will be ineffective and will only serve to further divide communities in Arizona, making everyone more fearful and less safe,” said the Rev. Jim Wallis, president and CEO of Sojourners.

“Enforcement without reform of the system is merely cruel. Enforcement without compassion is immoral. Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable.”

“This law will make it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona, and will force us to disobey Jesus and his gospel,” the progressive evangelical leader contended. “We will not comply.”

Critics say the bill fails to address border security concerns and called the bill divisive as it encourages racial profiling.

They note police officers may more frequently suspect Hispanics to be illegal immigrants.

Some support the bill but worry that it may hurt Arizona’s economy which has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants.  Should they leave the state, they would no longer be spending money there.

Prior to the bill’s passage President Obama, said it was misguided and directed the Justice Department to see if it is legal.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. appealed for Obama’s continued support against the bill and called instead for reform.

Gutierrez has loudly called for comprehensive immigration reform creating citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants now in the United States.

Rev. Al Sharpton in New York said he would organize “freedom walkers” to challenge the Arizona bill.

“We will go to Arizona when this bill goes into effect and walk the streets with people who refuse to give identification and force arrest,” Sharpton said, according to the Associated Press.

“It divides our whole community,” said Mary Hoffmann, 54, a landscape architect in Phoenix. “If people are divided they make decisions on fear and anger,” she was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, urged the Obama administration not to cooperate when illegal immigrants are picked up by local police.

Under the new law, Arizona officers who arrest undocumented people will turn them over to federal immigration officers.  Opponents said the federal government can block the law by refusing to accept them.

Brewer, in defense of the law, said she wouldn’t tolerate racial profiling.  She called on the state’s law enforcement licensing agency to create a training course so that police can enforce the law without discriminating against any race, color or ethnicity.

Brewer also ordered a reallocation of state National Guard and law enforcement resources, and called on the federal government to deploy National Guard troops.

Brewer, who signed the new law, is facing re-election amid growing anger in the state over illegal immigrants.  She blamed federal lawmakers’ inaction and misguided policy for forcing Arizona to pass the new bill.

The bill, sponsored by state Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, passed the House 35-21 and the Senate 17-11.

Arizona’s border with Mexico is the nation’s busiest stretch for illegal border crossings.

Supporters of the bill blame illegal immigrants as partly responsible for the state’s high crime rate.

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In November 2009, city officials in Gilbert, Arizona sent a “cease and desist” order to a pastor and his wife holding small group Bible studies in their home.

After seeing neighborhood signs for the Bible study, a city official reported the event to authorities.

According to a Gilbert city law, assemblies of religious groups and private schools are not allowed in private homes.

Reasons such as the city’s Land Development Code, zoning, building and parking codes are being cited.

The Bible study group, led by Pastor Joe Sutherland from Oasis of Truth Church, consists of seven people. The Church holds Sunday services at a school.

This month, attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed an appeal on behalf of the church group.

According to World Net Daily, spokespeople from ADF said Gilbert’s law does not prevent Cub Scouts meetings, large group football parties or business events from being held on a regular basis in private homes.

KTAR.com news radio in Phoenix carried a statement from Senior ADF legal counsel Douglas Napier. Napier said that the group was not cited for any violation of ordinances. There were no neighborhood complaints and no traffic violations.

Litigation Counsel Daniel Blomberg writes in an ADF Press Release: “Christian church groups shouldn’t be singled out for discrimination and banned from meeting in their own homes.”

Attorneys from ADF will appeal by using the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment Free Exercise and Freedom of Speech clause, alongside Arizona’s own Free Exercise of Religion Act. They will argue that the town’s zoning code doesn’t authorize banning in-home church gatherings while other groups are approved.

Both World Net Daily and KTAR report that in responses from the city, the town council does find the ordinance troubling and has scheduled it for review at a council meeting.

Updates:
The Oasis of Truth Church Web site now states that the City of Gilbert’s Mayor and City Manager recently attended a Sunday service, apologized and hope to revise the code  soon.

However, the newest World Net Daily report said the city continues to hand out warnings even though changes are in the works.

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