Today’s Headlines:
CHINESE CHRISTIAN LAWYER’S GUILTY PLEA QUESTIONED
TANZANIAN ANGLICANS REFUSE MONEY FROM U.S. EPISCOPALS

STUDY: RELIGIOUS DEPICTIONS ON TV NETWORKS DOWN THIS YEAR
‘SMILING SPUD’ AUCTIONED FOR $153 FOR RELIEF EFFORTS IN SUDAN

Dominic Mance’s life story was featured on HCJB World Radio’s “Beyond the Call” program as well as “Unshackled.” Now we find out from him directly how he went from being an international banker to a homeless vagabond and finally the leader of his own ministry. Follow the ups and downs of Dominic’s rollercoaster life on this week’s edition of “World Radio.”

To listen visit the following webpage: http://www.hcjb.org/worldwide/australia/world_radio_programme.html.

Today’s Top Stories:

CHINESE CHRISTIAN LAWYER’S GUILTY PLEA QUESTIONED
Outspoken Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was convicted of “inciting subversion” by a Beijing court after he reportedly entered a mysterious “guilty” plea. Human rights advocacy groups in China and sources with AsiaNews questioned the legitimacy of the plea because Gao’s family and attorney were not informed of the trial until it was completed. During the one-day trial, Gao was instead represented by two government-appointed lawyers. The conviction could result in prison sentences of more than five years. Gao was initially detained in August while visiting his sister and was formally arrested on Sept. 21. Authorities claimed the case involved “state secrets” and would not allow Gao to meet with his defense council until a formal indictment was made. Authorities threatened Gao’s family, saying it was “useless to hire a lawyer.” After Gao’s arrest, Chinese house church historian Zhang Yinan wrote an open letter asking Christians worldwide to pray for Gao, his wife and two children who have been under house arrest since August. (Compass Direct News)

TANZANIAN ANGLICANS REFUSE MONEY FROM U.S. EPISCOPALS
The Anglican Church of Tanzania cut ties with the Episcopal Church in the U.S. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, saying they would refuse to accept any assistance from Episcopal bishops, institutions or individuals that condone homosexuality. Tanzanian Anglicans accused the U.S. Episcopals at their general convention in June of failing to “register honest repentance for their actions that were contrary to the dictates of the Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Anglican Church . . . thereby indicating that they were deliberately choosing to walk apart from the rest of the Anglican Communion.” The Tanzanian church affirmed its desire to maintain communion with conservative Episcopals in the U.S., many of whom are also at odds within the denomination regarding the election of openly gay leadership. Members of a conservative Anglican consortium, Global South, said they are ready to work with conservative Episcopals to set up an alternative structure in the U.S. (WorldWide Religious News/Associated Press)

* Staff members from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., have worked with local churches, the Lutheran Radio Center and Trans World Radio to put FM radio stations on the air in three Tanzanian cities. HCJB World Radio is also working with Radio Africa Network, a ministry of partner CCFm in South Africa, to build a radio network based in the capital city of Dar es Salaam. The first of these stations went on the air in 2002.

Family members of three Christian girls in Indonesia who were beheaded last year by Muslim militants shook hands with the suspects who are currently on trial as a “sign of forgiveness.” Open Doors staff members have visited the families of Theresia Morangke, aged 15, Alfita Poliwo, 17, Yarni Sambue, 15 and Noviana Malewa, then 15, who were attacked as they walked to their Christian school last year. Only Malewa survived, but suffered serious, disfiguring injuries. “The families of the three martyred schoolgirls shook hands with the suspects who are on trial in Poso — Hasanuddin, Lilik Purnomo and Irwanto Irano — as a sign of forgiveness.” Some have praised the action, but others have criticized the families, voicing fears the forgiveness could affect the outcome of the ongoing trial. The families, however, are hoping their actions can begin peace and reconciliation in the religiously charged tensions of the region. “It was hard for all of us,” said Novianna’s older brother, David Malewa. “But as believers, we must forgive those who persecute us. By holding on to Jesus’ teachings, we were able to forgive. We really hope this will mark the beginning of peace restoration in Poso.” (BosNewsLife)

STUDY: RELIGIOUS DEPICTIONS ON TV NETWORKS DOWN THIS YEAR
A recent study of the six major commercial television networks by the Parents Television Council (PTC) covering programming from Sept. 1, 2005, to Aug. 31, 2006, found the latest TV season to have 39 percent fewer depictions of religion than the previous year. In addition, the PTC study showed portrayals of religion during that time were 35 percent negative, 34 percent positive and 27 percent neutral or mixed. The remaining 4 percent chose not to respond. The programming types chosen by the six networks in the study (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Warner Brothers and UPN) also determined their depictions of religion. For example, reality shows such as “The Amazing Race” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” were much more positive in their treatment of religion than scripted dramas and comedies. Reality shows contained 58 percent of the positive portrayals of religion on the networks. Scripted programs had 96 percent of the negative depictions. Fox dominated negative religious portrayals while CBS led in positive portrayals. ABC led in most portrayals overall with an average of about one per hour. (Baptist Press/Evangelical News)

‘SMILING SPUD’ AUCTIONED FOR $153 FOR RELIEF EFFORTS IN SUDAN
When Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, N.C., hosted a baked potato event to raise money for relief efforts in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region they raised $2,280. During the preparations a high school youth group member discovered a potato with the likeness of a human smile. After the dinner, someone suggested the smiling spud be auctioned off on eBay. The winning bid on the Nov. 10 auction was for $153.51 by the church’s own choir which ended up giving $245 for the potato. In all, the potato brought in an additional $1,045 for the cause after many people outside the auction heard about the potato, dubbed “Smiley,” and decided to donate. “These past weeks have reminded me, once again, how hungry people are to see and use their power in ways that make a difference,” said Rev. Aimee Wallis Buchanan, associate pastor for Christian education and youth ministries at the church. (Presbyterian News Service)

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