A new Rice University study based on interviews with 360 American leaders who are evangelical Christians (including CEOs, presidents and chairs of large businesses and their equivalents in government and politics, nonprofits, arts, entertainment, the media and professional athletics) finds enormous variety in how leaders engage their personal faith in workplace decision-making.

The tall crosses memorializing fallen Utah Highway Patrol troopers will not come down anytime soon — even though a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that they violate the U.S. Constitution.

The decision, which holds implications for roadside memorial crosses across the nation, likely will be appealed by the state and the nonprofit group that erected the monuments.

But are [...] gimmicks really going to bring young people back to church? Is this what people really come to church for? Maybe sex sermons and indie- rock worship music do help in getting people in the door, and maybe even in winning new converts. But what sort of Christianity are they being converted to?

"Ted Haggard," Mr. Haggard said, "needs to be leading a church."

He acknowledged grave lapses of judgment in the episode he refers to as "my crisis." But Mr. Haggard also said that in his sorrow and shame, he accepted too much guilt after the scandal broke.

"I over-repented," he said.

In February 2008, Mr. Haggard asked to be released from supervision by other clergy. His former church, New Life, consented, though officials there put out a pointed statement calling Mr. Haggard's recovery incomplete.

For [Jason David] Frank and his Christian fans, Jesus Didn't Tap is more than just a logo; it's part of their philosophy.

"Jesus is the only one that truly didn't tap. They say, 'Oh, he was nailed to the cross so he couldn't tap.' Well, you can verbally tap, you can verbally cry, 'I quit! I give up!' That's not what he did. He got crucified for all our sins," said Frank, 36, who wears the company's logo tattooed across his forearm.

The burning of the Solid Rock Christian Church King of Kings statue [popularly known as "Touchdown Jesus"] is not a tragedy, Pastor Darlene Bishop told a congregation of several hundred members Sunday, June 20.

“I want you to look at how God has made Solid Rock’s name heard around the world,” she shouted above the celebratory noise. “There’s nothing that can stir God’s people than the devil coming against us... Solid Rock is going to rise up in a way we’ve never done before.”

From GetReligion.org

“My brother is not crazy,” Scott Faulkner said. “He is highly intelligent and loves his country and has not forgotten what Osama has done to this country.” …

Evangelical leaders are overwhelmingly open to artificial methods of contraception, according to the April Evangelical Leaders Survey. Nearly 90 percent said they approved of artificial methods of contraception. In a separate poll conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) in partnership with Gallup, Inc., 90/91 percent of evangelicals find hormonal/barrier methods of contraception to be morally acceptable for adults.

A federal judge Monday barred Enfield [Connecticut] from conducting graduation ceremonies for its two public high schools at a Christian church.

U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall reached the decision after a May 25 visit to First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield, where she saw numerous religious symbols, sayings and artifacts.

His Holy Church and Christian Exodus each say it is hard to track how many followers they may have, because many people who believe in their movements also don't like to be tracked.

They live "off the grid" in every aspect. But each group has thousands of members signed up online, and each says many more could be unregistered followers. They exist on the edge of society, living as they believe Christians did in the beginning.