The Christian Century

Civil court cases are putting the governance structures of the United Methodist Church to the test, according to The Christian Century. The disputes raise questions about how far civil courts can go in reviewing decisions made by church bodies, a long-sensitive issue for denominations that guard internal authority over doctrine, property and clergy discipline.

A large American megachurch has dedicated a 62-foot statue of Jesus, one of the events highlighted in a weekly roundup of Christian history. The same feature notes the anniversary of Damasus becoming pope in the fourth century, a pontiff remembered for his ties to Rome's early Christian legacy.