Quotation Marks

“It is challenging in many parts of the country to lead [new] churches to want to be part of a convention with such a regional name.”Bryant Wright, Southern Baptist Convention president, on forming a task force to consider changing the 116-year-old denomination’s moniker.Baptist Press

“God could have prevented that tsunami and the destruction, but he didn’t …. And one of the background pieces of information is Japan is under control of the sun goddess.”C. Peter Wagner, on his argument that Japan’s woes are the result of an emperor of Japan having sex with a sun goddess.Wagner’s views have come under scrutiny because of his association with presidential candidate Rick Perry.Fresh Air

“[To] include a woman candidate in the process … treating her as a top candidate even if she isn’t actually one of the top candidates.”Jeff Langford, associate coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri, explaining the group’s offer to pay churches’ interview, travel, and other expenses if they consider hiring a woman as senior pastor.Associated Baptist Press (more from Christianity Today)

“They said they’re going to cite us $500 for every meeting. Okay, cite us.”Chuck Fromm, former president of Maranatha! Music and editor of Worship Leader magazine, on being fined by the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, for hosting Bible studies and other gatherings in his home without a permit.Christianity Today Online