Christianity Today cuts back. Christianity Today International, citing hard times in the publishing industry, is shutting down four publications and laying off 31 workers. Two magazines will fold later this year—Today’s Christian Woman and the Campus Life College Guide, which targets Christian undergrads. CTI will also cease to publish Glimpses, a worship bulletin insert with stories from Christian history, and Church Office Today, a bimonthly newsletter read by church administrators. CTI will continue publishing nine print magazines and newsletters, including its flagship Christianity Today and Leadership Journal.
Liberty won’t recognize Democratic group. Liberty University no longer will recognize a Democratic Party student club as an official campus organization. Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of the university and son of its late founder, said the club has not been disbanded and can continue to meet on campus but no longer will be officially recognized. In a statement on the university’s website, Falwell said, “Liberty University will not lend its name or financial support to any student group that advances causes contrary to its mission.” Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who also is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued a statement urging the school to grant student Democrats the same rights on campus it grants student Republicans. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, sent a letter to the IRS seeking a review of the school’s tax-exempt status in light of the decision not to recognize the Democratic club.
Scots OKs gay minister. The Church of Scotland has approved a two-year moratorium on issues related to openly gay clergy, but only after approving a gay man to serve as pastor of Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen. The church’s General Assembly voted 326-267 to approve the appointment of Stuart Rennie, who was elected minister of Queen’s Cross last year with the support of 86 percent of the congregation. But delegates also approved a two-year moratorium on same-sex questions. The moratorium was proposed to give breathing room to a nine-member commission scheduled to study the issue and report back in 2011.
Wikipedia to Scientologist editors: Keep your distance. Wikipedia, the user-edited Internet encyclopedia, has banned the Church of Scientology from editing entries about the controversial religion. Internet addresses known to be “owned or operated by the Church of Scientology and its associates, broadly interpreted, are to be blocked,” according to the decision by Wikipedia’s arbitration committee. The decision comes amid an ongoing battle between admirers and critics of Scientology over more than 400 articles on the topic. While Wikipedia aims to be a site for “neutral” information, Scientology entries have been slanted to fit particular views, and partisans on both sides have “resorted to battlefield editing tactics,” according to the arbitrators. The Internet-based encyclopedia has policed similar efforts by corporations, government offices and colleges.
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