The Christian Century

(ENInews)--Thousands of Egyptians are mourning the death of Pope Shenouda III, the longtime leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who died March 17 at the age of 88.

His funeral will be on March 21, at St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, where his body has been sitting in state on a large wooden throne.

Oslo (ENInews)--Major steps toward the dis-establishment of Norway's state church, the (Lutheran) Church of Norway, were passed by the government on March 16 in its weekly session with King Harald V.

c. 2012 Religion News Service (RNS) Making up half of Republican primary voters, evangelicals appear to be turning out to support Rick Santorum's resurgent campaign in record numbers and are increasingly influencing the shape of the party.

c. 2012 Religion News Service (RNS) Last Sunday (March 11), Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman appeared for apparently the last time before some 800 people at the morning service of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.

March 16 (ENInews)--The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, announced on 16 March that he will step down from the post at the end of 2012 and has accepted the position of Master of Magdalene College at Cambridge University.

An author and preacher popular in Calvinist circles says it is no accident that recent killer tornadoes followed paths that ravaged some communities while others were spared.

(ENInews)--The British government on March 15 launched a 12-week consultation in England and Wales that is widely expected to lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage, despite strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and conservative elements within the Church of England.