The National Association of Evangelicals said in a statement that the move is detrimental to religious liberties and violates the country’s First Amendment.

Leith Anderson, president of NAE said, “Jews, Muslims, and Christians all trace our spiritual heritage back to Abraham. Biblical circumcision begins with Abraham. No American government should restrict this historic tradition. Essential religious liberties are at stake,” CNN reported.

Anderson also said, “The proposed ban violates the First Amendment’s guarantee to exercise one’s religious beliefs,” according to CNN.

While the Jewish and Islamic faiths necessitate circumcision of all believers, not all Christians are required to do so.

The originator of the measure promoting the ban is Matt Hess, who lives in San Diego and is the creator of a comic called Foreskin Man, which has been slammed by critics as being anti-Semitic.

Foreskin Man is a blond superhero who saves a baby boy from the evil, knife-wielding Monster Mohel, a character who wears a traditional Jewish prayer shawl and hat.

In the Jewish faith a mohel performs circumcisions.

Hess has denied that Foreskin Man is anti-Semitic, and claims that the comic is told from the point of view of a baby.

Hess tweeted, “People who forcefully cut the genitals of children are not reasonable. If they were reasonable, they would have stopped doing it by now.”

Hess, through his organization MGMbill, managed to gather 12,000 signatures of support, the number that is required for it to qualify being voted upon in the pending November ballot.

Under the proposed bill it will be “unlawful to circumcise, excise, cut, or mutilate the whole or any part of the foreskin, testicles, or penis,” of any person who is 17 years old or younger.

Anyone violating the law may face a penalty of one year in jail, or be fined a maximum of $1,000.

Sponsors of the bill claim that circumcision wreaks damaging psychological and physical effects on men, not unlike genital mutilation on women.

Many doctors disagree with this, however. Health benefits have been linked to circumcision and complications rarely occur. If ever, they are only temporary and usually minor.

By contrast, World Health Organization has said that there are no health benefits that are linked to female genital circumcision, and in fact there are long-term consequences including higher mortality rates of mothers and newborns, higher incidence of infection, difficulty urinating and fistulas.

Circumcision is widespread in the U.S., with 65 percent of male American infants being circumcised in the hospitals where they were born as of 1999, statistics from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate.

However, while the percentage of circumcisions nationwide remains steady, there has been a strong drop in the West by 64 percent in 1974, and then a 37 percent drop in 1999.

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President Barack Obama hosted recently the second Easter prayer breakfast for Christian leaders, and said he plans to make it an annual event.

The president also said that having an annual Easter breakfast provides him with a chance to gather together great friends and those who have strongly influenced his life, Christianity Today said.

Obama told his guests, “I’m going to make [the Easter prayer breakfast] annual. The Easter Egg Roll, that’s well established. The Prayer Breakfast, we started last year,” USA Today reported.

Obama also said in his opening remarks, “[The Easter breakfast is a] good excuse to bring together people who have been such extraordinary influences in my life and such great friends,” Christianity Today reported.

The Easter prayer breakfast was held at the East Room of the White House. Those in attendance included Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright, North Point Community Church pastor Andy Stanley and National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson, Christianity Today said.

Others in attendance were Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, Suzan Johnson Cook (Obama’s recently-confirmed ambassador of international religious freedom), and other Protestant, Catholic, and other religious groups leaders, Christianity Today reported.

Obama told the audience, “Everybody in this room has weighty responsibilities, from leading churches and denominations, to helping to administer important government programs, to shaping our culture in various ways. And I admit that my plate has been full as well,” according to Christianity Today.

However Obama called Holy Week a time to remember God’s grace. Referring to Isaiah 53:5, he said, “This ‘Amazing Grace’ calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I’ve not shown grace to others, those times that I’ve fallen short,” Christianity Today reported.

Obama dwelled on the events that led to the crucifixion and said, “[W]e’re reminded that in that moment, He took on the sins of the world — past, present and future — and He extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through His death and resurrection,” the Baptist Press reported.

Obama said, “It calls me to praise God for the gift of … his Son and our Savior,” according to Christianity Today.

Obama added that when times are difficult in one’s personal or professional life, faith helps. He said, “There’s something about the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ that puts everything else into perspective,” USA Today reported.

Other speakers at the Easter prayer breakfast were T.D. Jakes (senior pastor of The Potters’ House in Dallas, Texas), and Tim Keller (pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City), Christianity Today said. Bishop Vashti McKenzie (African Methodist Episcopal bishop) and Rev. Sharon Watkins led the group in prayer.

While feasting over a breakfast of muffins, bagels and mini yogurt parfaits, attendees viewed performances by gospel singer Wintley Phipps and the Washington Performance Arts Society Children of Gospel Choir, Christianity Today reported.

The breakfast was held on Tuesday before Easter, so as not to conflict with Holy Week services. It comes one year after polls showed that one out of every five Americans mistakenly believe that Obama is Muslim, USA Today said.

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A survey of Evangelical leaders showed recently that most of the respondents don’t believe that the bible requires that Christians tithe.

The February Evangelical Leaders Survey, conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals, showed that 58 percent of evangelical leaders do not believe the tithe is required by the bible, CNN News said.

Some 42 percent of responding evangelical leaders said they believe tithing is a biblical requirement, Star Tribune said. The NAE, which is the U.S. biggest Evangelical umbrella group, included among respondents its 100 board of directors, CNN said.

However, it did not say how many members of its board answered the survey. Members include highly influential people such as the heads of the Assemblies of God, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and the Salvation Army, CNN reported.

Origin of tithe

Leith Anderson, president of the NAE said in a statement, “The Old Testament called for multiple tithes, sort of combining government taxes with religious stewardship. Many churches later adopted 10 percent as the standard,” Star Tribune reported.

Anderson added, “Since there is such a strong evangelical tradition of tithing I was a little surprised that a majority of our evangelical leaders say the tithe system of the Old Testament does not carry over to the New Testament or to us,”
according to Star Tribune.

NAE leaders said the survey findings do not mean that Christians need not tithe. Alan Robinson of the Brethren in Christ Church told Star Tribune, “While tithing is not ‘required’ today, it is my view that Christian generosity will, at a minimum, reflect the Old Testament requirements of the law and should, in fact, greatly exceed it.”

Dan Olson, a sociology professor of Purdue University told CNN, “Most Christians would say the laws of the Old Testament are not what save you – you’re supposed to be giving out of a spirit of freedom, not because you’re bound to laws.”

The study also showed that while most leaders don’t believe that Christians are required to tithe they themselves, at 95 percent,
give at least 10 percent of their income, Star Tribune said. Of those who do not tithe, one respondent said it depends on his situation and needs.

Anderson, head of NAE, told Star Tribune, “For many American Christians, sacrificial giving encouraged throughout the Bible would mean giving over 10 percent. Personally, I believe that the New Testament teaches ‘proportionate giving’ that may be more or less than 10 percent depending on income.”

Anderson told Star Tribune that he personally gives more than the biblical 10 percent. “My hope is that in coming years we will see more generous, proportionate, cheerful and sacrificial giving among American evangelicals.”

The Evangelical Leaders Survey is conducted every month. Respondents usually include the NAE board of directors, denominational CEOs, and representatives of various evangelical organizations including universities, churches, missions
and publishers, Star Tribune said.

Another study by Empty Tomb Inc. revealed a different tune where church followers are concerned. Findings showed that
evangelical church members on the average give four percent of their earnings to the church. Olson suspects the average may even be lower, at perhaps two percent or less, according to CNN.

Sources:

http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/119403279.html

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/07/survey-minority-of-evangelical-leaders-say-bible-requires-tithing

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The Hispanic community has the potential to drive the Christian movement forward in the U.S.

Recent findings from the Census Bureau showed that the U.S. Hispanic population is the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. today, and now exceeds 50 million. In the last decade the growth rate of Hispanics rose by 43 percent, from just 35.3 million in 2000, PR Newswire reported.

Hispanics now comprise the largest minority segment in the U.S. at over 16 percent of total population. One out of six U.S.  Americans is now Hispanic, and among U.S. children, it is one in four, according to PR Newswire.

What’s more, PR Newswire noted that more than half of the population growth in the country this past decade was from Hispanics, increasing by 15.2 million, compared to the total overall 27.3 million total population growth, PR Newswire said.

Faith community

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of The National Hispanic Christian leadership Conference, told PR Newswire, “The Hispanic faith community is rising up. We are on the precipice of a multiethnic-multigenerational movement, an awakening. The Hispanic community is the firewall of righteousness.”

The NHCLC is the largest Christian Hispanic organization in the U.S., also called the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals. It represents some 30,454 born again, Evangelical churches with 16 million members, PR Newswire said.

Included among their member churches are The Foursquare Church, Church of God, Assemblies of God, and National Association of Evangelicals, among others. The NHCLC has partnerships with Liberty University, Oral Roberts University, and Promise Keepers among others, according to its website.

Rev. Jim Tolle of The Church on the Way in Los Angeles, CA told PR Newswire, “The exploding Hispanic presence in the United States should be viewed as one of the greatest opportunities God has given for the increase and health of his Son’s Church in this country.”

Rev. Mauricio Elizondo, Sr. Pastor, Walnut Park Assembly of God in Texas told PR Newswire, “The message of the Hispanic community is about becoming ‘one’ and crying out, bringing America back to its core values that this great country was founded on. We are going to be the reconciling voices for the people who have been impoverished, the voices for the unborn, and the voices for people who have been marginalized.”

Elizondo told PR Newswire, “It is our time to rise up and shine–50 million voices shouting together for the sake of our Lord, for the sake of our Lord, for the sake of Humanity and for the sake of America, bringing country back to revival.”

Voting strength

Through sheer numbers the Hispanics carry special voting strength that is good for the next 10 years, PR Newswire said. The largest number of Hispanics is in Florida, New York, Texas and California, and they account for 143 electoral votes—more than half of what is required to be elected president.

Rodriguez told PR Newswire, “It is a community that can no longer be ignored. The Hispanic community will rise up and shout for righteousness and justice.” Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor said, “The United States is becoming a Hispanic country. And it’s happening much faster than anyone expected…than demographers had estimated.”

On the downside, Christian Today noted that the Hispanic segment is largely undereducated. In response, NHCLC launched the Alliance for Hispanic Christian Education which has formed links with several learning institutions including Oral Roberts University for a minimum 25 percent Hispanic student enrolment, the website said.

AHCE has also partnered with Regent University for graduate school education, and Liberty University for online services, the website reported.

Immigration

Another problem Hispanics face is immigration reform, with 12 million undocumented Hispanic residents in the U.S. for whom Rodriguez is lobbying for integration, Christian Today said.

Rodriguez said that his proposal, A Just Integration Solution, “reconciles Romans 13, adherence to the rule of law, with Leviticus 19, treating the stranger amongst us as one of our own,” according to Christian Today.

Rodriguez’ proposal has been presented to some members of Congress. He told Christian Today, “We are currently negotiating with Congress to push an immigration reform of integration to incorporate the 12 million people in a very suitable way for our country.”

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Leaders from America’s largest Hispanic Christian organizations met recently with President Barack Obama to discuss immigration reform.

The leaders who met Obama came from the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, National Council of La Raza, League of United Latin American Citizens and others, La Voz Nueva said.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the NHCLC said they applauded Obama for his commitment to immigration reform even as they said the need for immediate action is urgent. Rodriguez also commended the “moral imperative” that Obama noted in the pursuance of immigration reform, La Voz Nueva said.

Citing the spiritual and moral aspects of espousing immigration reform, Rodriguez stressed, “President Obama and evangelicals, yes, even conservative evangelicals stand as allies as it pertains to immigration reform that secures our borders, our communities and our values,” La Voz Nueva said.

Others have however cited other dimensions to what has largely been called Obama’s “evangelical cabinet.” Religion Dispatches magazine cites findings by the Center for American Progress Action Fund which states that Hispanics will triple in number to 133 million by 2050.

The same paper sees their percentage doubling to 30 percent of population, exceeding Asian Americans (9 percent) and blacks (15 percent).

Also 53 percent of Hispanics are Democrats compared to 21 percent Republican. It was touted that should Democrats push immigration reform today, considering the strong historic ties to Hispanics and their current strong percentages, they may lock what may be the country’s key demographic for the next 50 years, RD says.

Evangelicals on the other hand are pushing immigration reform because it “helps them keep their base and with any luck, expand on it,” RD says.

In a speech before the American University recently which was attended by many evangelical leaders, Obama rejected both amnesty and the deportation of illegal immigrants. He also said that trying to seal American borders would not work as the borders are too vast, Baptist Press said.

Obama did say that immigration reform would call for the need for illegal immigrants to have a legal work status, become citizens, acknowledge they broke the law, pay a fine and taxes, register and learn English the Baptist Press said.

Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission applauded Obama’s speech and said “The president [made a proposal]. It’s up to the Congress to now accept that proposal or to construct its own proposal and to bring forth a bill that will consummate the marriage. We need to call upon our congressmen and senators to behave like statesmen. Politicians think about the next election; statesmen think about the next generation,” the Baptist Press said.

Rodriguez said Hispanic evangelicals will apply several strategies for immigration reform including lobbying in Congress, establishing Fuerza 2010 (Voter Registration Campaign), mobilizing African Americans and Hispanics, meeting with Republicans, coordinating with conservative faith groups and utilizing radio, television and the internet, La Voz Nueva said.

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Ted Haggard is going to start a new church, nearly four years after he was embroiled in a sex scandal that caused him to resign from the megachurch he founded in Colorado Springs.

Haggard’s new church, St. James, will be launched from his home where he had been holding sporadic prayer meetings since May.

After the 2006 sex scandal Haggard kept an agreement with New Life Church not to speak to media or to start a new church for a period of time, according to USA Today.

New Life under Haggard grew to become a megachurch of 14,000.  Haggard was also president of the National Association of Evangelicals before the scandal which involved a male prostitute, USA Today says.

“This is my resurrection day,” he declared, according to the AP.

He said the ordeal he and his wife, Gayle, went through has prepared them to help others.  “I have an incredible heart for broken people,” he said. “I think we’re qualified to hold people’s hands” in times of trouble, the AP reported.

Haggard said the 2006 scandal was embarrassing and heartbreaking.  He said he was in counseling from 2006 until recently, and that his counselors told him he is heterosexual but that his behavior was influenced by a childhood incident when he was molested by an adult male, the AP said.

Haggard said he takes responsibility for his actions as an adult.  His new church will teach that God intended marriage to be a monogamous union of a man and a woman, the AP reported.

He also said that biblical ideals are sometimes hard to live up to.  “There is a complex process people have to go through between their personal beliefs and their own ideals that they themselves fail at, and I am a glaring example of that,” the AP reported.

Haggard said a television documentary on the birth of his new church was a possibility, although nothing is certain, the AP said.

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