THE MOST POPULAR TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE
What's the most popular translation or version of the Bible? According to Zondervan Publishing, the percentage of total Bible sales is:
New International:................................................ 40
King James:......................................................... 20
New King James:................................................. 10
Living Bible: .......................................................... 7
New American Standard: ...................................... 5
International Children's: ........................................ 4
The Message:....................................................... 3.5
New Revised Standard:......................................... 3
Others:................................................................... 7.5
NIV PUBLICATION OF AN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE EDITION
Controversy surrounds the publication of an inclusive language edition of the New International Version. Here is what a number of persons have to say about it:
"Everybody wants it." (Catherine Clark Kroeger, founder, Christians for Biblical Equality).
"We're pleading for it to be taken off the market." (Timothy Bayly, Executive Director, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood).
"This needs to be dealt with among scholars and linguists who can intelligently debate it and not have it tried in the court of public opinion." Steve Johnson, Communications Director, International Bible Society).
JEHOVAH WITNESSES ARE SUPER SELLERS
Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) are super sellers, according to My Business magazine, which listed them with people like former Demtel man, Tim Shaw. "But wait, there's more. When it comes to head-against-a-brick-wall, highlevel-rejection selling, nobody beats the JWs. Sure, it's not your conventional product they're pushing, but it's a product nonetheless, and it has to be sold. And in business, you must be as passionate about your product as they are about their religion."
UNITING CHURCH SAYS "NO" TO HOMOSEXUALS IN AUSTRALIA
A major storm is raging in the Uniting Church.
Reverend Dr. Gordon Moyes, head of Sydney's Wesley Mission, is trying to reverse a trend to accept gays and lesbians into ministry and leadership positions.
Dr. Moyes says over ten years there has been a push by gay lobby groups to recognize homosexual rights, leadership, and to get "marriage" services conducted within the church.
During this time, leaders have taken ascendancy in places of authority within the church. The Victorian Synod only narrowly rejected a self-confessed lesbian as the Victorian Moderator for 1997.
The struggle recently became public at the church's National Assembly, in Perth, when Dorothy McRaeMachon, Director of the National Commission on Mission, publicly confessed to being a lesbian. The confession coincided with the presentation of the church's "Interim Report on Sexuality."
Some 8,600 people responded to the report; 84 percent did not agree with its recommendations. But they were virtually ignored. Why? Because the assembly is mostly made up of church employees and representatives of special interest groups.
Strong protest from evangelical leaders within the assembly were not effective because "they were beaten in the strategies of organization by very sophisticated gay lobby groups and accused of being biased and out of touch."
Views in letters to Insight, the monthly journal of the Uniting Church, were divided. Opponents called for the church to recognize the biblical condemnation of homosexual practices; supporters appealed for understanding and the need to temper the biblical position with "modern-day-experience."
Dr. Moyes, in a written appeal, called on the church's president to lead the church back to a commitment to its constitution and to a position under the authority of Scripture.
The frustration of the leaders of Wesley Mission, the most influential and wealthiest parish of any denomination in Australia, resulted in the Elders Council withholding all funding to the Uniting Church Assembly and channelling it into the Uniting Church Mission. This decision quickly attracted the approval and action of other parishes and has made the assembly "a financial cot case," says Dr. Moyes.
Ms. McRae-McMahon resigned in late August as the assembly distanced itself from her, fearing financial collapse.
Dr. Moyes says the resignation does not solve the crisis within the church. "The issue isn't just about several church leaders practicing homosexuality; it's about the question, 'Does the Uniting Church in Australia place itself under the authority and standards of the Scriptures?' " ─Record, October 18,1997
CONCERN ABOUT FREEDOM PERSECUTION BILL IN THE UNITED STATES
Adventists added their voice to those expressing concern over the "Freedom of Persecution Bill" currently under debate in the United States Congress.
A statement issued on September 18 by the General Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department supports imposing sanctions against foreign regimes that tolerate religious persecution.
But the statement makes clear the church believes the legislation is flawed.
"Sanction, though possibly helpful, could backfire and hurt the very people we want to help, if the persecuted group becomes the scapegoat within its community." ANN
THE ADVENTISTS AND THE RUSSIAN FREEDOM BILL
The International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) is calling a reworked religious freedom bill in Russia "unconstitutional, discriminative and a denial of human rights."
The lower house of the Russian Parliament approved the new bill in a 357 to 6 vote on September 19.
Approval by the upper house of the Russian parliament is expected to be a formality, after which President Boris Yeltsin will sign it into law.
While the "Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations Bill" now recognizes other denominations apart from the Russian Orthodox Church, the requirements for registration and the curbs on freedom of religious expression are discriminatory, according to a statement released on September 23.
To have full legal rights, a religious organization would have to be in existence for a minimum of 15 years and be organized by Russian citizens.
Foreigners cannot register a religious body under the new legislation.
"Adventists haven't endorsed this bill. Rather, we're adding our voice in protest at what we see as a backward step in religious affairs in Russia," says Michael Kaminsky, the Euro-Asia Division Secretary.
But the Adventist Church will not be affected by the proposed law since it has a 110-year history in Russia.
Victor Krushenitsky, Euro-Asia Division Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director, talked with high officials from the Russian government on September 29. They assured him the church will not have any problems.
"The government will try to do everything possible to soften the proposed law," said one official. "Don't be worried."
IRLA-Russia and the church have been mentioned several times by the international media for their opposition to the bill. ─ANN.
