CAIRO (AP) A council of Egypt's Coptic Christians voted on Monday in a process that will lead to the selection of a new pope for the ancient church, as the community struggles to assert its identity and rights in a rising tide of Islamism that has left many Copts fearful for their future.

The succession follows the March death of the charismatic Pope Shenouda III at the age of 88, after 40 years as the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The congregation represents the majority of Egypt's Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the country's 83 million people.

About 2,400 clergymen, community leaders and Egyptian Coptic notables gathered in the main Coptic cathedral in Cairo for the voting. They were choosing a short list of three candidates from a field of five monks and auxiliary bishops.

By late Monday, acting Pope Pachomios said more than 93 percent of the council voted, and selected Bishop Raphael, 54, once an aide to Shenouda; Bishop Tawadros, 59, an aide to the acting pope, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, the oldest among them at 70, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria and a student of the pope who preceded Shenouda.

The final selection of the new pope will take place in a ceremony Sunday, when the three names are put in a box and a blindfolded child picks one out, a step believed to reflect God's will in the choice. The acting pope asked Copts to fast for three days to aid the selection of the Church's 118th pope.

Egypt's Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the state and the country's Muslim majority. Clashes with Muslims have occasionally broken out, sparked by church construction, land disputes or Muslim-Christian love affairs.

The new election comes during a shift in Christian attitudes on their relation to the state. For years, Christians largely relied on the Church to secure some protection for their rights, using Shenouda's close relationship with longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

With Mubarak's ouster in a popular uprising last year and Shenouda's death, many have been emboldened to act beyond the Church's hold and participate more directly in the nation's politics to demand rights, better representation and freedom of worship. Signs of rebellion over the close relation with the state had already begun to surface before the uprising in January 2011.

"If Egyptian Copts are represented by the Church, they will be considered second-class citizens, because they are subjects of the Church first before they are subjects of the state," said Yousef Sidhom, the editor of Egypt's main Coptic newspaper. "Many have mocked this, saying how can the Copts demand citizenship rights while accepting to remain under the umbrella of the Church in the face of the state."

The more vocal stance among Copts, particularly the youth who organized into movements independent of the Church, has come with the rising power of Islamist groups long repressed under Mubarak, and after a series of violent attacks against churches and Christians.

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Egypt: Coptic Church moves toward picking new pope

Seminar speaker panel features experts in the fields of church architecture, church construction, worship technology, fundraising and gowth.

Chesterfield, VA (PRWEB) October 24, 2012

Each of the speakers have worked with hundreds of ministries across the country and will share vital information about how successful and vibrant churches are responding to the largest generational shift in U.S. history.

The headline presentation, called "Not Your Parents Church", will shed light on how the new generation is impacting church design, funding and facility use. Recent research indicates that 70% of those in the millennial generation feel that church is not relevant in their lives and a paradigm shift is bringing about new economic realities for ministries. Building God's Way church architects have designed more than 500 facilities for churches and Christian schools and will share new perspectives on master planning and design that are key in reaching the Millennial generation.

The architects and the BGW regional church builder for Virginia, Dominion Construction Group, will also share about a unique church construction delivery model that is changing the way churches and Christian schools are being built. With a foundation based on relationships, stewardship and outreach, this proven process is delivering a consistent 20-30% savings compared to standard design and building methods - without lowering quality.

Architect & BGW Founder Dan Cook has extensive experience in the design and construction of churches, Christian schools and colleges, having worked with more than 600 ministries nationwide. As the founder of the integrated Building Gods Way process, he has developed proven techniques for signature design and cost-effective construction - exclusively for churches and Christian schools.

Pastor Terry Bates will lead the growth and fundraising tracks of the seminar. Terry has had the privilege of personally leading three ministries to incredible turnaround growth. He is currently the Senior Pastor of OKC Faith Church in Oklahoma City, OK. During more than 30 years of ministry, Terry has completed several consultant and coaching certification programs and has shared his leadership and ministry experiences around the world. He has served as one of the trainers for Dr. John Maxwells Million Leader Mandate, in which he was personally involved in training over 250,000 leaders.

Today, Terry provides consulting and coaching services in the areas of church growth and fundraising as President of BGW | Forward in Faith and BGW | Vibrant. He is the host of the weekly television and radio ministry Discover Faith and is a regular host for TBN and a guest of Daystar.

For more information or to register for a BGW Not Your Parents' Church seminar, visit the BGW Events Registration web page.

About Building Gods Way - With a portfolio of nearly 400 churches and 120 Christian schools and colleges nationwide, Building God's Way (BGW) has become a recognized leader in ministry design and construction. BGW has also developed an unparalleled network of kingdom building services that extend beyond just architecture and building and includes growth coaching, vision casting, capital fundraising, financing, leadership development and more. The mission of Building Gods Way is to build Gods Kingdom by translating the God-given ministry vision of Christian organizations through high-quality, cost-effective buildings and by demonstrating the love of Christ on the job site through the BGW Ministry of Construction program.

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Building God's Way Seminar for Church and Christian School Leaders Coming to Richmond, VA, Highlighting Strategies for ...

Its always fun and exciting to celebrate an anniversary, including the 100th anniversary of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church building.

In honor of this occasion, Methodist church members are hosting a celebration event on Sunday, Oct. 28. Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble will be preaching at the worship service at 9:30 a.m., where area churches are invited to celebrate with them and hear Trimble preach. Following the service, pancakes and sausage will be served in Fellowship Hall.

The Methodist Church has a long history in Shenandoah. It was in 1870 when Reverend Samuel Farlow conducted the first Methodist service on Dec. 25 in the CB&Q Railroad Depot.

Because of a growing number of parishioners, Reverend B.F. Chrissman laid the groundwork and headed up the fundraising for the current facility, at the corner of Church Street and West Thomas Avenue. This would be the third, and final structure on this same site for church services.

Construction on the current church began in 1910 and was completed two years later in October 1912. Once completed, the buildings estimated value was $55,000 and the land $10,000.

An article in the Sentinel Post, dated June 28, 1910 discusses how the old church quickly came down while being demolished.

It was a surprise that it could be done so quickly. In four days it was completely demolished and the ground cleared for excavation, the paper read.

Within the 100 years the building has stood, there has been an upgrade or two, including a remodeled sanctuary that began in January 1970.

In 2010, church members and the community celebrated the 100th anniversary of opening the cornerstone. The celebration on Oct. 28 promises to be just as joyous.

Trimble is the resident Bishop Iowa area, The United Methodist Church. He was born and raised in Chicago, and answered the call to the ministry at the age of 16. Trimble then attended Eureka College in Illinois and transferred to Illinois State University where he earned a degree in Sociology. He then earned a Masters in Divinity at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Doctorate on Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.

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Shen UMC to celebrate 100th anniversary of current church

By Adam Pulchinski The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

BROWNSDALE The congregation of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale celebrated the churchs 75th anniversary the same way they have celebrated their fellowship throughout those years: together, as a community.

Gathering Sunday afternoon for a special worship service, followed by coffee and cake, people of the congregation enjoyed each others company and reminisced.

The church is a real community, said member Nancy Holland. Its a real community-type atmosphere, with people helping each other.

Holland, who served on the anniversary committee, has been a member at Our Savior since 1978. She moved to Brownsdale after marrying her husband, Norbert, who was born and raised in the area. Norberts parents joined the church shortly after it was moved from its original location in Hayfield in 1937.

They werent charter members, but they joined shortly after, Holland said. Like her husbands parents, many of the congregation can trace their roots back to the beginning. Some of those current members could catch a glimpse of their ancestors in a DVD that was made from a film chronicling the moving and building of the church.

We were going through all of the old papers and this movie was here, Holland said. Other items the committee found in their preparation included the original constitution of the church, the minutes from their first meeting, and the deed.

Its our history and we want to save it for future generations.

The history of the church itself was commemorated more than any physical building on Sunday. Our Savior has gone through location changes, remodels, and other construction during its 75 years.

We actually have people who say, and say with a smile, I got married in a funeral home, said the Rev. Jeff Sage, Our Saviors pastor. Sage was referring to a previous location of the church that was changed to a mortuary after the church moved to accommodate a larger congregation. Sage emphasized while the buildings may change, there is a lot more to celebrated.

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Brownsdale's Our Savior Church marks 75 years

By JOSH AULT 6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - It has been almost two years since a massive fire destroyed a large portion of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville.

Since that time, church members have been working hard rebuild the church.

Construction has begun, and members are excited to see their church come back to life. Workers have already built the large steel frame for the new building.

"It's like every time I drive by here I see something different being put up," said church member Jeffrey Riddle.

After the fire, a building committee was formed to get the project off the ground. A lot of planning went into making this new sanctuary special.

"It's going to be bigger," said church member Lee Jackson. "It will be in a different direction. The old sanctuary was in a north, south direction and this one is now in an east, west direction."

Drawings have been made to show what the new portion of the church will look like. They are hoping to be in the new sanctuary by 2013.

"We are probably about 16th of the way through," said Jackson. "We are not very far down the road. We are hoping to be finished by summer of next year.

"I'm excited," said Riddle. "I hope the whole church congregation is excited. On that day when we are able to break through those doors what a wonderful joy it will be."

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Construction begins on Knoxville church devastated by fire

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church has filed a motion for a new trial in its lengthy legal battle with the city over construction of new place of worship in old Mandeville. The motion stems from a ruling earlier this month by state District Judge William Crain that essentially upheld the Mandeville Zoning Board's denial of the church's request for a permit to build a $13 million sanctuary across Lafitte Street from the existing OLL chapel. It seeks a new trial or reconsideration of Crain's ruling.

In the motion, attorneys for OLL argue that the court's Oct. 10 judgment upholds the zoning board's "quasi-judicial" denial of a permit to build the church on the basis that the project did not meet minimum parking requirements. While it denied the permit, the motion states the Zoning Board "never determined that OLL's application showed insufficient parking...."

Because the board's decision is "quasi-judicial," the court's "review of it is limited to a determination of whether the decision is supported by record evidence. The court went beyond its review authority and "supplied a new reason to deny OLL's permit - one that was not part of the record and therefore not properly before this court."

The motion "respectfully requests that the court grant a new trial, or in the alternative reconsideration of its ruling, because the court's judgment is contrary to the law and not supported by the evidence before it."

Lloyd "Sonnny" Shields, an attorney for the Zoning Board, said he is confident in the board's position.

"It's simple," he said. "The matter was fully, thoroughly and completely examined and explained by the board during three lengthy public hearings."

OLL attorneys referred questions on the motion to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Sarah McDonald, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said the motion filed Monday is a step in the legal process. "The parish (OLL) is continuing to explore the options and this motion is part of that process," she said.

The archdiocese and Archbishop Gregory Aymond support OLL in its efforts to build "a church that can accommodate its parishioners."

The church project has been a lightning rod of controversy in the old Mandeville community. Opponents fear the new, 16,715-square-foot Gothic Revival church would cause drainage, traffic and parking problems in the lakefront community and would not fit in with surrounding buildings. Supporters said the existing 465-seat church is way too small to accommodate crowds that attend popular weekend Masses and for some school functions. For some Masses, OLL is forced to use a multi-purpose building that houses a gymnasium, where those church goers who are able to do so kneel on the basketball court while praying. The proposed new church would have 1,028 seats.

Our Lady of the Lake, located three blocks from Lake Pontchartrain, is the largest Catholic parish in the local archdiocese, with nearly 3,000 registered families in the congregation. The church has been part of the lakefront community for 160 years. An adjoining Catholic School is also part of the Lafitte Street campus.

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Mandeville Catholic church seeks new trial in legal struggle with city

WELLSBURG - At a time when many churches are striving to fill their pews and pinching their pennies to pay the bills, building a $1.9 million addition at Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church may have seemed like a giant leap of faith.

And the Rev. Bryce Grieco, church pastor, admitted there was some hesitation initially by church members who said the Ohio Valley is facing tough economic times.

"I said, if that's true, then wouldn't this be a great testimony to God," said Grieco. "God wants opportunities like that. He wants people to step out in faith and show his glory."

EXPANSION COMPLETED Members of Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church celebrated the completion of a $1.9 million expansion with a special service and breakfast Sunday. Discussing the addition are, from left, the Rev. James Jobes, superintendent of the Pittsburgh Conference of the Free Methodist Church; the Rev. Bryce Grieco, the churchs pastor; and the Rev. David Roller, bishop of the Eastern Area of the Free Methodist Church. -- Warren Scott

But the decision to expand the church on Washington Pike by 16,900 additional feet wasn't based solely on the assumption that more space will draw more people.

The church already had an average attendance of 240 people between its two Sunday morning services. Because the church's former sanctuary had seating for 110, one of the services had been moved to the multipurpose center used by the church for recreational activities and dubbed the Christian Life Center.

Grieco said the styles of the two services - one contemporary with music performed by a small band, and the other more traditional - also dictated the need for two gatherings. But elements of the two have been merged and thanks to the addition of a 440-seat sanctuary, the entire church congregation can worship together.

The Rev. Steve Roller, bishop of the Eastern Area of the Free Methodist Church, said the project wouldn't have been possible without "visionary leadership, people who believe it will happen and support from the community."

Before a commitment to construction was made, a campaign was launched by the heads of 26 families in the church, including co-directors John and Beverly Cook, with the help of TLC Ministries of New Castle, Ind., a professional fundraising organization.

It included several rallies, a 24-hour prayer service and more than 100 home visits.

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Church has grown in numbers and size

Seminar speaker panel features experts in the fields of church architecture, church construction, worship technology, fundraising and gowth.

Brea, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2012

Each of the speakers have worked with hundreds of ministries across the country and will share vital information about how successful and vibrant churches are responding to the largest generational shift in U.S. history.

The headline presentation, called "Not Your Parents Church", will shed light on how the new generation is impacting the way ministry space is being designed, utilized and funded. Recent research indicates that 70% of those in the millennial generation feel that church is not relevant in their lives and a paradigm shift is bringing about new economic realities for ministries. Building God's Way church architects have designed more than 500 facilities for churches and Christian schools and will share new perspectives on master planning and design that are key in reaching the Millennial generation.

The architects and the BGW regional church builder for Southern California, Erickson-Hall Construction, will also share about a unique church construction delivery model that is changing the way churches and Christian schools are being built. With a foundation based on relationships, stewardship and outreach, this proven process is delivering a consistent 20-30% savings compared to standard design and building methods - without lowering quality.

Architect & BGW Founder Dan Cook has extensive experience in the design and construction of churches, Christian schools and colleges, having worked with more than 600 ministries nationwide. As the founder of the integrated Building Gods Way process, he has developed proven techniques for signature design and cost-effective construction - exclusively for churches and Christian schools.

Pastor Terry Bates will lead the growth and fundraising tracks of the seminar. Terry has had the privilege of personally leading three ministries to incredible turnaround growth. He is currently the Senior Pastor of OKC Faith Church in Oklahoma City, OK. During more than 30 years of ministry, Terry has completed several consultant and coaching certification programs and has shared his leadership and ministry experiences around the world. He has served as one of the trainers for Dr. John Maxwells Million Leader Mandate, in which he was personally involved in training over 250,000 leaders.

Today, Terry provides consulting and coaching services in the areas of church growth and fundraising as President of BGW | Forward in Faith and BGW | Vibrant. He is the host of the weekly television and radio ministry Discover Faith and is a regular host for TBN and a guest of Daystar.

For more information or to register for a BGW Not Your Parents' Church seminar, visit the BGW Events Registration web page.

About Building Gods Way - With a portfolio of nearly 400 churches and 120 Christian schools and colleges nationwide, Building God's Way (BGW) has become a recognized leader in ministry design and construction. BGW has also developed an unparalleled network of kingdom building services that extend beyond just architecture and building and includes growth coaching, vision casting, capital fundraising, financing, leadership development and more. The mission of Building Gods Way is to build Gods Kingdom by translating the God-given ministry vision of Christian organizations through high-quality, cost-effective buildings and by demonstrating the love of Christ on the job site through the BGW Ministry of Construction program.

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Building God's Way Seminar for Church and Christian School Leaders Coming to Brea, CA October 25, Highlighting ...

A couple years ago, the Zwingli United Church of Christ on Wile Avenue in Souderton had some bad luck.

In late June 2008, Senior Pastor Butch Kuykendall woke to a phone call from a member of the church saying his church was engulfed in flames.

About four years later, on Sept. 30, 2012, Kuykendall placed a white cornerstone in the outside wall of the church, marking the official end of reconstruction following the fire. The event took place 50 years to the day after the church was formed in Souderton in 1962.

The church was originally founded in 1887, which means this year marks the churchs 125th anniversary.

After the fire, in which no one was seriously hurt, according to Kuykendall, the church began fundraising to reconstruct the church. In the meantime, services were held at the Indian Valley Boys & Girls Clubs gymnasium a spot where Kuykendall would give sermons for about three years.

They [the Boys & Girls Club] were wonderful, as was Univest, who Kuykendall said gave them office space for their administrative needs.

Attendance remained fairly consistent throughout the years at the Boys & Girls Club, according to Kuykendall, and the church actually gained members. Some members joined the church during the time services were at the Boys & Girls Club, while other members have been with the church for 60 years, Kuykendall said.

The community really supported us, said Kuykendall, who will have been a pastor at the church for 15 years this coming February. It was incredible.

About two years after the fire, reconstruction of the church started, and it would end up taking a little over three years to finish it.

In August 2011, the members moved back to their location on Wile Avenue, though construction wasnt fully finished. Continued...

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Zwingli UCC in Souderton holds cornerstone ceremony 50 years to the day after church was formed

Dust flew around 60 members of the Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church as they grabbed a rope and pulled an old plow across a plot of land in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain.

Shovels would not do for the late Sunday morning groundbreaking of their new church at 4450 Westmeadow Drive.

We wanted something that could help visualize the fact that God is doing this through all of us together, Senior Pastor Jim Alexander told congregants before guiding the plow in dress shoes and a suit. This is about Gods glory ... walking together in one direction, pulling together in one direction.

After years of bouncing from place to place, meeting in schools and renting and sharing buildings with other congregations, Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian, established in 1996, will have a place to call their own within a year.

The $2.4 million dollar project has been a decade in the making.

The church bought the 6-acre plot of land 10 years ago and paid it off last year. The 140-member congregation raised $230,000 for the land and $440,000 toward the construction of Phase I of the project a 300-seat church.

The congregation now shares a space with other churches at 1615 E. Cheyenne Road. People outside the congregation chipped into help build the church, which will focus on military outreach.

The land is in a residential neighborhood near Highway 115 and Academy Boulevard, minutes away from Fort Carsons main gate. Alexanders goal is to have a large impact on the military community, which has struggled with issues including repeated deployments, suicide and domestic violence.

Alexander appointed retired Air Force Maj. Jim Franks, whom he met in seminary school, as the churchs military outreach coordinator.

Franks said faith got him through a 22-year career that included frequent moves and a deployment to the Philippines.

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Church pulls together for new building, military support