The Daily Mail stands out among British newspapers for its coverage of the case of Stephen Green, an evangelical Christian who was arrested just days ago for a shocking “crime” — he passed out Scripture leaflets at a homosexual rally. Given the nature of this case, and the developing pattern of such cases in the United Kingdom, this story demands a close look. Unless something unexpected and virtually miraculous happens, this is the shape of the future.

Joel Osteen, pastor of the nondenominational Lakewood Church in Houston — now the nation’s largest congregation — arrived in Boston last weekend for an appearance at the TD Banknorth Garden (also known as the Hub). Attendees paid $10 per ticket to gain admission to the event.

The truth often hurts, and there is a good bit of truth in Peter Feuerherd’s analysis of American evangelicalism. Feuerherd is a Catholic journalist writing something of field manual to evangelicalism for his fellow Catholics. His book, Holyland USA: A Catholic Ride Through America’s Evangelical Landscape, is always interesting (even when I think he is off-base).

Walter Russell Mead argues that American evangelicals are exerting a significant influence on the nation’s foreign policy. Writing in the distinguished journal Foreign Affairs, Mead argues that the evangelical influence is likely to continue for some time.

Back in June, I commented on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s vote to “receive” a report advocating the use of alternative language for the Trinity. The proposed “triads” include “Rainbow, Ark and Dove,” “Speaker, Word and Breath,” “Overflowing Font, Living Water and Flowing River,” “Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-Giving Womb,” “Sun, Light and Burning Ray,” “Giver, Gift and Giving,” “Lover, Beloved and Love,” “Rock, Cornerstone and Temple,” “Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides and Storm that Melts Mountains,” and “The One Who Was, The One Who Is and The One Who Is to Come.”

“What’s really going on in the pews of Episcopal churches is they don’t necessarily want to align with either side,” he said. “They want to get on with life. They want this thing resolved.”

Christ Church Episcopal in Plano, Texas — drawing the largest weekly attendance of any Episcopal church — announced its decision to leave the Episcopal Church USA [ECUSA] on June 24. The church’s decision came just hours after the conclusion of the denomination’s General Convention in Columbus, Ohio [see articles below].

The editors of The Los Angeles Times have evidently decided to opine on matters of theology, offering their insights into the issues of gender and sexuality in recent church debates.

Writing in 1927, French observer Andre Siegfried described Protestantism as America’s “only national religion.” To miss this, Siegfried advised, is “to view the country from a false angle.” Now, less than a century later, a major research report provides proof that Protestantism no longer represents a clear majority of Americans. Researchers Tom W. Smith and Seokho Kim of the National Opinion Research Center [NORC] at the University of Chicago have released “The Vanishing Protestant Majority,” a report documenting the declining membership of Protestant churches in the nation.

“We have figured out your problem. You’re the only one here who believes in God.” That statement, addressed to a young seminarian, introduces Dave Shiflett’s new book, Exodus: Why Americans are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity. The book is an important contribution, and Shiflett offers compelling evidence that liberal Christianity is fast imploding upon itself.