Clergy

Dear Editor: I don't understand the clergy in the military. Where is their faith? Do they want to be right in the sight of men or God? I think it's time for some backbone by the military clergy and all Christians. It's really plain in the Bible. If we deny the name of Jesus, he will deny us to his father in heaven! In the name Of Jesus, I pray for boldness in the body of Christ. Patti James Danville

Dear Editor, Even though I do not know Herb Brock personally, I have always enjoyed his satirical style of writing and the way he uses humor to illustrate a point. I am appalled at the reactions from some of the clergy as related to his article concerning his obtaining a religious degree by the Internet. Most religious denominations require a degree before a person can act as a pastor. They do this so that the person will be educated in the religious beliefs and that they will have the ability to read, write and reason.

Dear Editor: In his letter to the editor on July 19, a writer said that he respected and admired the clergy. How can he respect and admire someone who he does not understand? Yes, I am one of those clergy. I did not take a position of being a pastor to be in power. I did not take the position to tell others what to do. Being a pastor is something that I was called to do. I left a good paying job to go right into poverty not just so that I could have power to tell others what to do. I was called to share the good news.

What is the Clergy and Laity Network of Kentucky? It is a group of Kentucky clergy and laypeople from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith traditions who have "joined together to advocate for social justice and peace" in and for the commonwealth of Kentucky and the nation as a whole. What is its vision? The network seeks a nation that: Treats all persons equally, regardless of faith, nation of origin, race, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability. Ensures that all who work earn enough to be self-sufficient and that no vulnerable person is in poverty.

The construction of the $27 million Creation Museum in Petersburg in northern Kentucky has created yet another angle for the longstanding, ongoing debate over the scientific theory of evolution and the biblical belief in creation. The former largely is taught from classroom lecterns with science textbooks as the main source of information while the latter mainly is reinforced from church pulpits with the Bible as the main source of information. Thus, media turn to science teachers and clergy for their views - and so do students and parishioners.

The Lincoln County Baptist Association is cooperating with United Methodist, Christian, Church of God and other denominations to create a Lincoln County Community Marriage Policy whose goal is to "radically reduce the divorce rate of area churches. " Pastors will sign the covenant at 1 p.m. April 20 on the steps of the courthouse. It will be the 219th city in America and the sixth in Kentucky to take this proven initiative to reduce both divorce and cohabitation rates. The Lincoln County Baptist Association will also hold an informational meeting at the Baptist Center on Tuesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. For more information contact Dan Gutenson at 355-2268.

When President Barack Obama took office on Jan. 20, he recited the prescribed oath - and then Chief Justice John Roberts will ask him to repeat four additional words found nowhere in the Constitution: "So help me God. " If Michael Newdow was watching, he wasn't happy. Last month, the high-profile atheist filed suit to enjoin the chief justice from adding "so help me God" - and to bar the Presidential Inaugural Committee from sponsoring clergy-led prayers. Newdow is unlikely to prevail.

Mayor Ed Burtner used his opening remarks at Saturday's annual community prayer service to remind Clark County residents the importance of helping one another. He pointed to Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," to explain the work of government and public officials within the community. "It pretty much summarizes what those of us in the public sector doâ?¦ the process that we go through," Burtner said. "It's the work of many people coming together.

Twenty-five years ago I wrote what was intended to be a satirical column aimed at knocking those University of Kentucky basketball fans who were calling for the ouster of then-coach Joe B. Hall. Unfortunately, the satire bombed and many readers thought I was knocking Hall. In fact, I heard that Hall wasn't too happy, either, with the column. The irony is that I was actually a big fan of Hall's. Now, I am celebrating the silver anniversary of a satire gone wrong with a satire gone nuts.

Many local pastors are beginning to prepare for some kind of time away from pulpits, meetings, funerals, weddings and all the other activities that make their jobs a 24-7 calling. So with summer vacation time just around the corner, clergy as well as their flocks are airing out luggage, double-checking reservations and pouring over road maps. Pastors are people, too, local clergy say, and just as they are not immune from the stresses and strains of every-day life, they also need to take time to recharge their mental, emotional and physical batteries, like everyone else.

Dear Editor: In his letter to the editor on July 19, a writer said that he respected and admired the clergy. How can he respect and admire someone who he does not understand? Yes, I am one of those clergy. I did not take a position of being a pastor to be in power. I did not take the position to tell others what to do. Being a pastor is something that I was called to do. I left a good paying job to go right into poverty not just so that I could have power to tell others what to do. I was called to share the good news.

The Nicholasville Police Department's Community Services Division partners with many organizations and agencies in an attempt to make Nicholasville a better place to live. Now the NPD is launching a program that will allow it to work closer with the community's clergy members as another step to reaching that goal. Last week, 28 officers and clergy members participated in the Uniting Clergy and Police Workshop designed to train the leaders within each organization to go and train others.

Roman Catholic dioceses and religious orders saw a rise in molestation claims against clergy last year, according to a new report from U.S. bishops. Nearly all the 803 cases involved adults who said they had been abused as children decades ago. Church leaders paid less in settlements, attorney fees and other abuse-related costs. Still, the amount reached just over $436 million, bringing the total payouts for abuse to more than $2.6 billion since 1950, according to studies commissioned by the prelates.

The Winchester Civitan Club is honoring local clergy during Clergy Appreciation Week, Feb. 8 to 14. Karen Woods, president of Winchester Civitan, said the club will recognize clergy of all faiths at its Feb. 9 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at The Steak House on Lexington Road. Guests will include the Rev. James Williams of the First United Methodist Church and Derek Hickman, the youth director of the same church. The ministers and youth directors from churches attended by Civitan members have also been invited to attend.

When President Barack Obama took office on Jan. 20, he recited the prescribed oath - and then Chief Justice John Roberts will ask him to repeat four additional words found nowhere in the Constitution: "So help me God. " If Michael Newdow was watching, he wasn't happy. Last month, the high-profile atheist filed suit to enjoin the chief justice from adding "so help me God" - and to bar the Presidential Inaugural Committee from sponsoring clergy-led prayers. Newdow is unlikely to prevail.

Mayor Ed Burtner used his opening remarks at Saturday's annual community prayer service to remind Clark County residents the importance of helping one another. He pointed to Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," to explain the work of government and public officials within the community. "It pretty much summarizes what those of us in the public sector doâ?¦ the process that we go through," Burtner said. "It's the work of many people coming together.

On Sunday evening the 2007 "Unity" series came to an end with the sixth and final service, this one at Danville High School. Although the series lasted just a week, scores of African American and white clergy and laypeople spent the last several months organizing the event and then helping put it on. A total of 13 Danville and Boyle County churches, representing not only black and white Christians but also 10 different denominations, participated in...

On Sunday evening the 2007 "Unity" series came to an end with the sixth and final service, this one at Danville High School. Although the series lasted just a week, scores of African American and white clergy and laypeople spent the last several months organizing the event and then helping put it on. A total of 13 Danville and Boyle County churches, representing not only black and white Christians but also 10 different denominations, participated in...

The construction of the $27 million Creation Museum in Petersburg in northern Kentucky has created yet another angle for the longstanding, ongoing debate over the scientific theory of evolution and the biblical belief in creation. The former largely is taught from classroom lecterns with science textbooks as the main source of information while the latter mainly is reinforced from church pulpits with the Bible as the main source of information. Thus, media turn to science teachers and clergy for their views - and so do students and parishioners.