tial conversion to Christianity, com- plete with biblical-reference-filled songs, said Michael J. Gilmour, asso- ciate professor of New Testament and English literature at Providence Col- lege, Manitoba, Canada, and author of Gods and Guitars. Fan reaction has evolved so that listeners now feel more at ease dealing with the deeper questions raised in music by Dylan, who appears to have returned to Juda- ism based on his latest activities.
Spiritual scientists
More than 20 percent of atheist sci- entists consider themselves to be spiritual, according to a study by Rice University, Houston. The study’s lead author said it shows that spiritual- ity is not solely a pursuit of religious people. “Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought. It’s not an either/or,” said Elaine Howard Ecklund, assistant professor of sociol- ogy. “This challenges the idea that sci- entists, and other groups we typically deem as secular, are devoid of those big ‘Why am I here?’ questions. They, too, have these basic human questions and a desire to find meaning.”
Assistance for troops
First lady Michelle Obama is asking religious leaders to help military fam- ilies as part of their outreach efforts. Obama, who launched her “Joining Forces” initiative (www.whitehouse. gov/joiningforces) in April to sup- port veterans and their families, told religious and community group lead- ers to do even more to send care pack- ages to troops overseas and to work with families on counseling and home chores. Other outreach can be done through youth ministries and career- mentoring programs, she said.
For more news, visit www.
thelutheran.org/feature/july
Presbyterians lift ban on gay clergy A
s of July 10, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitution
will no longer ban ordination of gay and lesbian ministers. At presstime, a majority of presby- teries (regional church bodies) had voted 90-69 to ratify the mea- sure, with 14 still to vote. The change was first approved by the church’s General Assem- bly in 2010, but presbyteries did not ratify similar measures by the 1997, 2001 and 2008 assemblies. “What has changed is that per-
sons in a same-gender relationship can be considered for ordination,” General Assembly Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons told the Presby- terian News Service. “The gist of our ordination standards is that officers submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and ordaining bodies (presbyteries for ministers and ses- sions for elders and deacons) have the responsibility to examine each candidate individually to ensure that all candidates do so with no blanket judgments.” More at
www.pcusa.org.
Juicy ministry Forty members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Creve Coeur, Mo., are helping
restore their music director, Kevin Weichman, to health. Weichman, 44, was diagnosed with an aggressive malignant type of brain tumor in 2009. Che- motherapy left him tired, discouraged and losing weight, said member Diana Schramm. As part of an alternative therapy, he’s on a strict regimen of organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Led by choir member Elizabeth “Peachie” Prange (left) and Jane Ristau (right), the group known as Jehovah’s Juicers prepares special foods for his diet—initially a fresh juice drink every hour and requiring 40 pounds of carrots weekly.
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