Faith Facts

• Pastor Mark Driscoll of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, has threatened legal action against former men’s and women’s ministry leaders who resigned.
• Driscoll accused the departed leaders of stealing and misusing ministry contact lists belonging to the church.
• The resignations mark the latest leadership crisis at the Arizona megachurch amid ongoing controversy.

Pastor Mark Driscoll of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, has issued warnings of potential legal action following the sudden resignations of his men’s and women’s ministry leaders. The departures have sparked serious allegations from the pulpit regarding the misuse of church property.

Driscoll has publicly accused the former leaders of improperly taking and using contact lists that belong to the church’s ministries. The pastor maintains these lists are church property and their unauthorized use could constitute theft.

The controversy represents another challenge for Trinity Church, which has faced scrutiny in recent months. Church leadership transitions can test the stability of any congregation, particularly when disagreements over resources and authority emerge.

For many Christian conservatives, the issue touches on important questions about accountability, stewardship, and the proper handling of church resources. Ministry contact information represents valuable assets that enable pastoral care and community outreach, making their protection a matter of both legal and spiritual significance.

The situation also highlights the importance of clear governance structures within churches. Well-defined policies regarding church property, including digital assets like contact databases, can help prevent disputes when leadership changes occur.

As the situation develops, many believers are watching to see how the matter will be resolved. The outcome could set important precedents for how churches handle similar transitions and protect congregational information in an increasingly digital age.

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Faith Facts

• The House passed a resolution limiting presidential war powers against Iran, sparking constitutional debates about executive authority
• President Trump issued a memo to remove the Kennedy family name from the Kennedy Center, citing ongoing political disputes
• Key legislative battles this week highlighted fundamental disagreements about federal power and national security

This week in Washington brought significant developments that reveal the ongoing clash between traditional American governance and progressive resistance to executive authority. President Trump’s administration faced renewed challenges from Congress while continuing to assert constitutional prerogatives.

The House of Representatives passed a controversial resolution aimed at limiting presidential war powers specifically targeting potential military action against Iran. The measure reflects Democrats’ continued efforts to constrain executive decision-making on matters of national security, raising concerns among conservatives about undermining America’s ability to respond swiftly to threats.

Constitutional scholars have debated whether such congressional actions properly balance the separation of powers or inappropriately handcuff the Commander-in-Chief. Supporters of strong executive authority argue that the president needs flexibility to protect American interests abroad, particularly when facing adversaries like Iran that sponsor terrorism and threaten regional stability.

In another significant move, President Trump issued a memo directing the removal of the Kennedy family name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The decision sparked immediate controversy, with the administration citing ongoing political disputes with certain Kennedy family members who have been vocal critics of Trump’s policies.

The Kennedy Center, a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, has operated under federal charter since 1964. Trump’s directive raises questions about the appropriate role of politics in managing national cultural institutions and whether partisan disagreements should influence such decisions.

These developments underscore the deep divisions in American political life and the ongoing tension between different visions for the country’s future. For faith-based conservatives, the week’s events highlight the importance of principled leadership that upholds constitutional order while advancing policies that protect American sovereignty and traditional values.

The legislative battles over war powers reflect broader concerns about America’s role in the world and the proper balance between congressional oversight and presidential authority in an era of asymmetric threats. Many Christians who prioritize peace through strength see these constraints as potentially dangerous to national security.

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Faith Facts

• Christian journalists from various evangelical denominations united in a cappella worship at the Evangelical Press Association conference in Franklin, Tennessee
• Songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty, co-writers of “In Christ Alone,” led the group in singing the classic hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” without instrumental accompaniment
• Getty advocates for churches to sing three traditional hymns for every modern song, emphasizing that great hymns provide lasting spiritual gifts across generations

FRANKLIN, TENN. — When journalists gather for a professional conference, you expect panel discussions, networking, and perhaps a keynote speaker. But an impromptu a cappella worship service? That’s something altogether different.

Yet that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Evangelical Press Association conference in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, where representatives from Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and other evangelical publications found themselves united in unaccompanied song.

Three representatives from The Christian Chronicle attended the conference—a testament to how the publication has grown in recent years. Managing editor Calvin Cockrell traveled from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, while intern Ephraim Rodenbach came from nearby Murfreesboro, where he studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

The conference opened with contemporary Christian music. Singer-songwriter Jason Gray performed several pieces, including a timely song about navigating today’s culture wars titled “Jesus Loves You (And I’m Trying).”

But the evening session brought an unexpected turn. Keith and Kristyn Getty, the Northern Ireland songwriting duo who collaborated with Stuart Townend to create “In Christ Alone,” were scheduled to present their latest project—”The Sing! Hymnal,” a comprehensive collection of 900 worship songs spanning centuries of Christian tradition.

Rather than a typical presentation, Keith Getty asked the room to turn to hymn number four: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The song, penned in 1826 by Reginald Heber, represents what Getty called “the perfect hymn” in terms of lyrics, structure, and theological balance.

Then came Getty’s surprising request.

“And can we do this a cappella?”

The room—filled with representatives from denominations spanning the evangelical spectrum—answered with enthusiastic agreement. What followed was a moment of profound unity as voices blended without instrumental accompaniment, creating what participants described as an absolutely heavenly sound.

Getty’s impromptu lesson extended beyond that single hymn. He shared his conviction that churches should maintain a three-to-one ratio of traditional to contemporary hymns in worship.

“The great hymns are a 50-year gift to people, whereas a modern hymn is a five-year gift,” Getty explained.

His wife Kristyn added that newer hymns tend to be “more transient” in their impact and staying power.

Getty illustrated his point with hymn number 434, “Be Thou My Vision.” Based on a 10th-century Irish poem and adapted into hymn form in the early 1900s by Mary Elizabeth Byrne and Eleanor Hull, the song takes believers through life’s journey—from seeking purpose and wisdom in youth, through the temptations of middle life, to the hope of eternal rest.

Getty emphasized the creative and formative power of sacred lyrics.

“God created with words, and words have creative power. They can speak new realities into existence,” he said.

Good hymns, he explained, communicate “truth beyond the scratches on the paper.”

The rest of the conference addressed contemporary challenges facing Christian media—artificial intelligence, covering controversial topics, and bridging generational divides. But it was the opening session’s emphasis on timeless truths expressed through traditional hymnody that set the tone.

Throughout the conference, attendees found themselves humming melodies—some by the Gettys, some by Jason Gray, and some by songwriters who lived centuries ago. These songs, both ancient and modern, served as a constant reminder of the eternal truths that unite Christians across denominational lines.

In an era of rapid cultural change and church division, the spontaneous a cappella moment demonstrated something powerful: when believers focus on the unchanging character of God expressed in timeless worship, unity becomes natural. The journalists present may have represented different traditions and publications, but they shared one voice in praise.

That’s the enduring gift of great hymns—they remind us who we are as children of God, transcending the temporary divisions that too often separate us.

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