Church Archives - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

Your Pastor Has Had Enough: Clergy Members Join the Great Resignation

May 17th, 2022

Citing stress, politics, and declining church attendance, some 40% of church pastors recently reported wanting to leave the church. Is the Great Resignation going to sweep straight through church pulpits? Continue Reading »

Posted in: Progressive Spirituality | 31 Comments »

Should Churches Pay Royalties for Slave Spirituals? One Congregation Says Yes

January 6th, 2022

Following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, one Boston church came up with a way to uplift their community by paying 'royalties' every time their church choir or congregation sing a slave spiritual. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Christian | 96 Comments »

Transgender Pastor Sues Church After Getting Fired For Coming Out

August 16th, 2021

Rev. Junia Joplin came out as transgender during a sermon broadcast last year. While she received accolades from many, she was let go from her job. Now she's suing her old church, citing gender identity discrimination. Continue Reading »

Posted in: LGBTQ & Human Rights | 108 Comments »

Church Snuck Bibles Into Donated School Backpacks, Sparking Outcry

May 18th, 2021

A Georgia church is in hot water after donating backpacks stuffed with Bibles to local schools. Parents were outraged at the blatant attempt to proselytize to children, but the church says they were doing a good deed. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy | 115 Comments »

Going Maskless for Jesus: Christian Singer Takes Tour of U.S.

August 13th, 2020

Christian singer and worship leader Sean Feucht is probably the only touring musician in America right now, holding a series of concerts in defiance of stay-at-home orders. Naturally, masks are a rare sight at the shows. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Christian, Life and Death | 87 Comments »

Coronavirus Forces Reopened Churches to Shut Doors Again

May 22nd, 2020

A Georgia church is closing its doors after a brief re-open, as several congregants tested positive for coronavirus. The event has reignited the debate on whether churches should be open at all during this pandemic. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy | 14 Comments »

Church Files Lawsuit After Being “Zoombombed” With Pornography

May 14th, 2020

A California church is suing Zoom after its online bible study class was rudely infiltrated by an internet troll who took over the video call and shared pornographic images on everyone’s screen. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Science & Technology, Political & Religious Controversy | 37 Comments »

As Global Death Toll Mounts, Churches Choose God Over Science

March 25th, 2020

As we try to stop the spread of coronavirus, some church leaders are defying the mandatory quarantine laws and gathering their congregation on Sunday as usual, suggesting that they have a God-given exception to the rule. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Life and Death | 38 Comments »

Church's Pseudoscience Coronavirus 'Cure' Infects Dozens

March 19th, 2020

A South Korean church tried to safeguard its congregants from coronavirus by spraying saltwater into each of their mouths. Now dozens have contracted the virus, after church leaders failed to disinfect the shared nozzle. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Science & Technology, Life and Death | 9 Comments »

Defying Public Health Experts, Some Churches Refuse to Close

March 18th, 2020

During the current pandemic, the CDC recommends that we avoid gatherings of 10 or more people to help curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Some church leaders are pushing back, insisting God's door never closes. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy, Life and Death | 160 Comments »