And other news briefs from Christians around the world.
A Bible containing a rare record of Christian opposition to slavery is going on display for the first time in the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. The Bible once belonged to William Turpin, who with his business partner Thomas Wadsworth bought human beings in the late 1700s. The men then became convinced slavery was immoral and freed them. Turpin recorded the names of 31 people freed from their enslavement in his Bible.
CMA sees small split over women in ministry
At least eight congregations have left the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) over women in ministry. In June, after several years of discussion, the denomination decided that women may be ordained and carry the title “pastor” at the discretion of local churches, while eldership, which includes the lead pastor, will remain exclusive to men. According to the CMA, the new position recognizes that people who are equally committed to the authority of Scripture interpret key passages about women in church roles differently. But some of those leaving say it is “a significant step toward egalitarianism.” The departing churches have not indicated whether they will form a new denomination.
Canada: Court won’t hear churches’ COVID-19 case
The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an argument by a group of British Columbia churches that COVID-19 restrictions violated their constitutional rights. A lower court ruled the pandemic restrictions may have violated Charter rights but were nonetheless permissible as the government had to balance those protections with the legal mandate of the provincial health department. The lower court also noted the restrictions were time-limited, setting-specific, and following the best available …