Duke University Divinity School hosts controversial church service with Gay Pride group
A recent controversy surrounding Duke University’s school of Divinity started with a greeting at a church service. (The greeting by student Caroline Camp included a greeting of “Good morning, the holy and queer one be with you. She also mentioned her preferred pronouns. “I use she/they pronouns”. ) The student Caroline Camp who is a second-year student in Duke’s Divinity school master’s program said in her welcome that the service was to affirm everyone to “be who they truly are”. She continued encouraging the congregation to “let the spirit move you today lift your hands and voices, and dance in whatever way is most freeing to you.” During the service students who spoke referred to God as gender fluid, a drag queen, a trans man. The congregation changed the words in popular Christian songs, in one referring to God as “mother god”. The one-hour service was held on March 22nd and was sponsored in part by Duke Divinity School and Duke Divinity Pride. The event was quickly condemned by people online including professors and students from other Theology schools. The two organizations did not respond to requests for interviews or comment on the service.
Teacher create secret closet for trans students in California
There is a growing trend in some public schools and parents are intentionally being left out. According to Epoch Times in California and possibly other schools’ teachers are setting up trans closets. These closets contain clothing and accessories for students who wish to dress different from their biological gender. Students can change clothes at school and change back before returning home. These closets according to the report are kept secret from parents who would object or protest this action from teachers and school administrators. The most recent trans closet in California was started by a teacher at Fremont High School in Oakland. The trans closet project was started by the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The group congratulated the teacher on social media for partnering with them. The teacher who started the closet in California is named Thomas Martin-Edwards and is the founder of a group called the queer teacher fellowship. Martin-Edwards and the Oakland Unified School District, where the teacher works, have not commented on this story.
Former Coach appeals case to US Supreme Court
Media outlets are reporting the Supreme Court is leaning in favor of a former football coach. Joseph Kennedy was fired from the Bremerton School district in Washington state after eight years on the job. Coach Kennedy prayed after every football game on the 50-yard line; he did not invite or ask any players or other coaches to participate. Eventually other coaches and students did begin to participate. The team also participated in prayer in the locker room. School board officials claim the coach was fired for various rules violations according to officials. Kennedy’s lawyers believe the alleged violations were an excuse to fire the former assistant coach for praying publicly. The case has been appealed to the US Supreme Court; a ruling is expected soon. Most media outlets are reporting the now more conservative court is leaning towards the coach in their decision. The court’s justices did ask several hypothetical questions concerning the district’s rationale behind the firing. The questions do not seem to reflect a biased as claimed by the media, but more of the justices’ desire to get a clear understanding of the case. SNBC NEWS will update you on this case when a ruling is announced.
SNBC HEALTH report: the benefits of walking outdoors and the human body
A doctor in California is prescribing outdoor walks for his pediatric patients. Dr. Nooshin Razani at the University of California San Francisco Children’s hospital in Oakland is prescribing nature walks to his young patients. The doctor believes being in a green space helps with several issues especially mental health. Walking in nature is beneficial to all ages. According to a study in 2018, walking outdoors helps the body burn fat, strengthen muscles, increases energy, and reduces fatigue. Walking outside strengthens the heart and increases circulation, it improves memory, creativity and helps with insomnia. Just a reminder walking in nature also allows the body to take in vitamin D from the sun, and oxygen. If you live in a larger city research walking trails in your local area; most are run by city and state governments, so these paths are usually maintained well, and are clearly marked.