News Channel 11 in Johnson City, Tenn., interviewed several people for a story last week after it learned “Milligan University had forced a gay professor to resign or renounce their lifestyle” during spring semester. A number of students and alumni sent a form letter to Milligan’s administration and trustees several months ago asking that they commit to several promises relative to sexual orientation and “anti-discrimination” policies involving LGBTQ+ individuals.
The lengthy news report said Milligan president Bill Greer met with a current student and a recent alumnus about the situation over the summer. Greer declined to be interviewed for the story, but he provided a statement to the TV station that concluded with this:
“While Milligan’s position may run counter to trends in popular culture and society, we remain committed to our interpretation of scripture and the protection of religious freedom that is provided by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Likewise, we remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming educational environment for everyone.”
Greer’s statement, the form letter that was sent to Milligan’s leaders, and Milligan’s “Statement Concerning Human Sexuality” (approved by trustees in 2015) are available for download as part of Channel 11’s story package.
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News Briefs
Compiled by Jim Nieman
Three churches that are reopening for larger, in-person gatherings recently were featured in two TV news reports and a newspaper article. Two of the churches are in Nevada, which recently raised the ceiling on gatherings from 50 to 250 people.
At Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Drew Moore’s sermon touched on the theme of “impactful gatherings” during two in-person services Saturday and two Sunday—the first larger gatherings since March, the Review-Journal reported.
“It’s good to see a lot of familiar faces and some new faces, too,” executive pastor Mitch Harrison told the paper. “Some people are just ready to get back in church, ready to gather again.” (The newspaper also published a story in advance of weekend services.)
Summit Christian Church in Sparks, Nev., also gathered a larger group over the weekend.
“It is so much better to actually be in person . . . to experience the connection with our people,” lead pastor Steve Bond told News4. “Online church—there is a place for it, but it’s really one dimensional.”
In Tucson, Ariz., lead pastor Glen Elliott told KGUN9 about all of the safety and cleaning precautions that go in to hosting in-person services at Pantano Christian Church, including having a rotating set of toys for children’s services.
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Adventure Christian Church plans to expand its campus by 7.4 acres in east Bradley, Ill., according to a story in the Daily Journal.
Lead pastor Andy Hamilton told the village’s planning board recently that the additional outdoor green space will allow for program expansion related to church ministry programming, such as summer day camps, student ministry, and athletics.
“This has been part of our strategy from the start,” Hamilton said after the board OK’d the special use permit to develop the property which will soon be formally purchased by the church. “Now that the inside of our facility has been renovated and remodeled, we are turning our attention to the exterior development.”
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Valley Christian Church in North Platte, Neb., hosted an American Red Cross blood drive last week for the eighth consecutive year. The six-hour drive was “extremely successful,” even while requiring donors to schedule appointments prior to the event in order to follow Center for Diseases Control guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic, KNOP reported.
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Great Lakes Christian College asked for prayers for the school and for president Larry Carter, who contracted COVID-19 last week. Students and staff who have had prolonged interaction with Carter were notified and are being tested, according to GLCC’s Facebook page. The school canceled classes Monday and switched to virtual learning for Tuesday and today while awaiting test results.
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MANNA! Educational Services International, founded in 2017 by Rick Chromey, officially launched MANNA! Life Groups on Sept. 17 in Star, Idaho, with 20 people. These reproducible, nondenominational, Acts 2:42 parachurch home groups are interactive, collaborative, and experiential Christian communities for the “spiritually curious,” Chromey says. They are designed to attract, retain, and multiply friendships, deepen faith, reveal spiritual gifts, and equip for ministry.
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An expanded Kidztown area at First Christian Church in Elizabethtown, Ky., is reopening this weekend.
According to an article in the News-Enterprise, the Kidztown area for newborns through fifth-graders was approaching maximum capacity several months ago when the church decided to make improvements. The layout has changed, more space has been added, and technology has been improved, said children’s minister Tim Hurd.
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