Top Religion Stories of 2004 according to the Star-Telegram

Mel Gibson, gay clergy spark controversy in 2004
By Jim Jones, Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Happy New Year to all! The "God beat" is never too dull. Religion is an explosive subject with many twists and turns. It has to do with life and death, sacrifice and heartfelt arguments over matters of faith.
All of that's reflected in many ways in some of the top religion stories of 2004. Here are some of the stories that I consider the year's highlights:
1. Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ broke box-office records and stirred debate. Some area churches purchased tickets for their members, and pastors based their sermon series on the film. Critics thought it was too violent and anti-Semitic. It was the most gripping retelling of the Crucifixion I've seen, although very bloody. The discussions surrounding the film, now out on DVD, are still reverberating.
2. Politics and religion: Religion was a factor in this year's presidential election, and some evangelicals were accused of going too far in their politicking. The Rev. Jerry Falwell spoke out for the president at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in August. He singled out me and other reporters in the audience and said he wasn't going to talk politics other than to say "vote for the Bush of your choice."
3. Christian martyrs: Four Southern Baptist International Mission Board workers doing work on a water-purification plant were killed in March in northern Iraq. Assailants fired into their car with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. The dead included former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary student David McDonnall, 29, of Rowlett. His wife, Carrie, 26, was critically wounded. Larry and Jean Elliott of Cary, N.C., also were killed.
4. Same-sex debates: Disputes occurred over gay clergy and same-sex marriage in United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and other denominations. Fort Worth Episcopal Bishop Jack Iker and the executive council of his diocese were among the first of several dioceses to approve joining the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes to protest the ordination of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who is openly gay.
5. Florida hurricanes: Church groups from around the nation, including area residents who volunteer with Texas Baptist disaster-relief crews, spent long stints in Florida to help victims of four late-summer hurricanes that killed more than 100.
6. Apology for racism: The Rev. Eugene Florence, an upbeat 100-year-old minister who still drives his own car, tends his garden and preaches occasionally, received a long-delayed master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary last month. Seminary President Paige Patterson apologized for past racist policies at the seminary. Florence met requirements for the degree some 50 years ago, but at the time was given a diploma, not a master's, because blacks were not allowed into master's programs.
7. Do unto others: In July, I traveled to Honduras with a delegation from the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, which for the past five years has given generously in an ongoing partnership forged by Fort Worth Bishop Joseph Delaney and Bishop Mauro Muldoon of the Catholic Diocese of Olancho. One highlight was dedicating a huge water project spearheaded by contributions from the Fort Worth Diocese. It gives running water to several mountain villages.
8. Trial by fire: Retired Army Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell was honored on Heroes Day at Mansfield Church of Christ in September. He testified that his faith saw him through after he was burned over 60 percent of his body and not expected to live. He was only a few feet away from where terrorists crashed an American Airlines jet into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Now he ministers to others who have been severely burned.
9. Unitarian protest: Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, after hearing protests from across the nation, backed off from her ruling that the Red River Unitarian Universalist church in Denison should not receive a tax exemption because "it does not have one system of belief." Unitarian Universalists pride themselves on diversity and have members ranging from conservative Christians to atheists.
10. Baptist exodus: In June, the Southern Baptist Convention approved withdrawing from the 100-year-old Baptist World Alliance, taking away $300,000 a year in support. Leaders of the world Baptist group denied conservative claims that the group has become too liberal. Many moderate Baptists in Texas and elsewhere continue to financially support the alliance.