In Brief

Nearly six months after the United Church of Christ voted to support same-sex civil marriages, the fallout predicted by the denomination's conservative minority may not be as pronounced as originally feared.

According to statistics released by the Church of Christ, only 49 churches have voted to disaffiliate since the vote in July -- less than 1 percent of the denomination's 5,725 registered churches.

The statistics also cite a "resurgence of interest" in the Church of Christ, with 23 congregations joining the denomination and 42 expressing what the Church of Christ called "a firm interest" in joining.

At the same time, conservative groups cited different numbers, saying the official numbers are low because of the bureaucratic process involved in leaving the denomination.

The Rev. Robert Thompson, president of the board of directors of Faithful and Welcoming Churches of the denomination, which dissented from the "marriage equality" resolution, said he has spoken with leaders of congregations that have voted to disaffiliate but have not completed the process. Thompson cited at least 75 "lost churches," which he tallied through correspondence with pastors and congregants across the country.

The Rev. David Runnion-Bareford of the independent and conservative minority Biblical Witness Fellowship agreed. By the time the paperwork has been filed in two to three years, he said the number will have grown to between 200 and 500 disaffiliated congregations.

-- Religion News Service

King of Jordan to Speak At Evangelical Lunch

King Abdullah II of Jordan has accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at an evangelical lunch gathering after the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.

The breakfast, luncheon and related events are organized by the Fellowship Foundation, a low-profile evangelical Christian group. In recent years, Republican and Democratic presidents have attended the breakfast at the Hilton Hotel Washington, and President Bush is expected to make an appearance again this year.

Some see the invitation of Abdullah, a Muslim head of state, as a small sign of cooperation in the often tense relationship between evangelical Christians and Muslims.

"It's in the best interest of evangelicals and Muslims to engage in dialogue and get to know one another better. All too often, we view each other through stereotypes that are unfair," said Richard Cizik, vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals in Washington. "If the king is looking for an opportunity to address evangelicals, this is it."

Merissa Khurma, a Jordanian Embassy spokeswoman in Washington, said interfaith relations are an "essential theme" for the king.