BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Church denied insurance over gay marriage stance]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/08/insurer-denies-church-coverage-becuase-of-its-stance-on-gay-marr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/08/insurer-denies-church-coverage-becuase-of-its-stance-on-gay-marr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/08/insurer-denies-church-coverage-becuase-of-its-stance-on-gay-marr/#commentsFiled under:

Brotherhood Mutual logo Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co., a major insurer of churches all over the country, has denied coverage to Michigan's West Adrian United Church of Christ, citing the national governing body of the church's support of gay marriage and ordination for gay ministers.

"Based on national media reports, controversial stances such as those indicated in your application responses have resulted in property damage and the potential for increased litigation among churches that have chosen to publicly endorse these positions," the insurer wrote to the church.

But consider this: The church's pastor says he knows of no acts of, or even threats of, violence against the church. And the church is actually among those that declined to support a resolution by its governing body affirming gay rights!

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Church denied insurance over gay marriage stance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>churchesfaith and businessFaithAndBusinessgay issuesgay marriageGayIssuesGayMarriageinthenewsreligionTue, 08 Jan 2008 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Church remakes itself in the image of Starbucks: God and coffee DO mix]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/16/church-remakes-itself-in-the-image-of-starbucks-god-and-coffee/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/16/church-remakes-itself-in-the-image-of-starbucks-god-and-coffee/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/16/church-remakes-itself-in-the-image-of-starbucks-god-and-coffee/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I was drawn to a story in my local paper about New Hope Community Church outside Portland, Oregon -- two of my sisters have attended services there regularly, and it's a landmark in the metropolitan area. But what struck me as culture-changing was a quote from the developer who's working with church leadership. He has one goal as he plans an entirely new church-centered commercial complex: "We hope this will be a Starbucks experience from one end to the other."

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) has a funny relationship with God; after all, the chain famously offended a woman so much she boycotted its coffee. So how is purchasing and drinking a caffeinated beverage in a Starbucks outlet similar to going to church? Part of it is about the audience; churches (at least in my hometown) have moved away from the formal experience in which the members of the congregation are simply watching a show put on by the "cast" of the church, and toward more interactive experiences in which small groups, focused around common interests, meet to discuss Bible passages or work together on a project -- from feeding the hungry to overcoming addiction. The parallels in retail? Yep, less convention center, more coffee shop.

This is where Starbucks comes in.

Continue reading Church remakes itself in the image of Starbucks: God and coffee DO mix

Church remakes itself in the image of Starbucks: God and coffee DO mix originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>churchchurchescoffee hourCoffeeHourcoffeeshopcommunityculturenew hopeNewHopeoregonpdxportlandreligionsbuxstarbucksTue, 16 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EST