Simon James Green had been due to appear at John Fisher boys’ school in Purley, but the archdiocese of Southwark said the event could not be permitted The Catholic church has banned a visit to a London school by a gay author and removed a number of governors who supported the event, in a move […]
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Closing down debate on sexuality preserves a toxic culture that the church should be leaving behind, says Dr Jeremy Oliver The archdiocese of Southwark’s decision to ban a gay author from speaking at a school (Catholic church bans visit by gay author to London school, 9 March) shows that the Catholic church still has much to […]
Read MoreEx-followers of Universal Church of the Kingdom of God say they felt pressure to give money and were told demons caused mental health issues Rachael Reign, 29, remembers feeling nervous the first time she hit record on Instagram Live. She was about to start speaking publicly about a group that she says had consumed virtually […]
Read MoreLee Jae-rock set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982. It has now grown to 130,000 members South Korea has proven fertile ground for religious groups with strong, unambiguous ideologies that offered comfort and salvation that appealed strongly during times of deep uncertainty […]
Read MoreBy William Steele I was invited to help at a college and seminary of the Presbyterian Church in Korea. I went on a recent Monday to visit. I do not feel free to be of help to that college. They lack financial transparency. When institutions do not report in detail their audited finances, there is […]
Read MoreIf the building didn’t have a giant cross out front, it could easily be mistaken for a sports arena. But this is Yoido Full Gospel Church, a Pentecostal congregation belonging to the Korean Assemblies of God — a household name in South Korea. The institution is also known as the largest megachurch in the world, with a […]
Read MoreSEOUL (AFP) – A South Korean cult leader was convicted on Thursday (Nov 22) of the multiple rape of eight female followers – some of whom believed he was God – and jailed for 15 years. Pastor Lee Jaerock’s victims were “unable to resist, as they were subject to the accused’s absolute religious authority”, judge […]
Read MoreCho Yong-gi championed the growth of the church in South Korea, which was largely a Confucian country Reverend Cho Yong-gi, who founded the biggest South Korean church and a string of popular megachurches, died on Tuesday at the age of 85 in Seoul. The pastor, better known as David Yonggi Cho or Paul Yonggi Cho abroad, died at […]
Read MoreSeen from the back of a high balcony, pastor Kim Sam-hwan cuts a small figure. “Amen!” he calls into two microphones suspended on long wires from the ceiling above. “Allelujah!” responds his flock of five thousand. “Allelujah!” he counters. “Amen!” they roar. If Kim appears tiny, it’s only because the church he has built around […]
Read MoreProtestant church leaders call for reform of churches, organizations riddled with corruption and infighting Easter Sunday is one of the most sacred Christian holidays. But this year, it became a day for repenting of the infighting and trouble within Protestant churches. South Korea has one of the fastest-growing Protestant populations in the world. Christian missionaries […]
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