Thursday's News & Ideas - 9/12/2019

Jerry Falwell Jr. asks FBI to investigate ‘criminal conspiracy’ at Liberty University
CNN: The president of Liberty University says he has asked the FBI to investigate a “criminal conspiracy” at the evangelical school, saying that former employees and board members have leaked documents and emails in an attempt to oust him.
National Review: Jerry Falwell Jr. shows how the advance of Christendom can harm Christianity

US Christian evangelical delegation meets Saudi crown prince
Associated Press: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with a delegation of American evangelical Christians as the kingdom works to forge closer ties with an influential electoral base in the U.S. that could be crucial to the 2020 elections.

Trump accidentally tweeted an insult at a pastor. Here’s how the pastor responded.*
Washington Post: The president had mixed up Jonathan Carl, the Kentucky minister with fewer than 375 Twitter followers, with Jonathan Karl, the ABC News reporter.

The seminary flourished on slave labor. Now it’s planning to pay reparations.*
New York Times: Virginia Theological Seminary’s fund will provide financial support for black seminarians and black worshipers who experienced discrimination on campus.

Filipino bishops back church unity
United Methodist News Service: The Philippines Central Conference College of Bishops has signed a resolution “intensely” opposing dissolution of The United Methodist Church.

The Spark

Mary Lou Williams, missionary of jazz
She claimed her true power as one of jazz's fiercest advocates, making spiritual, political music -- and with her clarified purpose, she pushed the genre to new places, NPR says.

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