Rick Warren Asks Followers for $900K, Pronto

Saddleback pastor sought $900K from parishioners to bridge budget gap

(AP) - Evangelical pastor Rick Warren's plea for donations to fill a $900,000 deficit at his Southern California megachurch brought in $2.4 million, Warren announced to cheers at the church yesterday. Warren said the amount raised after the appeal was posted online Wednesday included only money parishioners brought in person to Saddleback Church by New Year's Eve. More was arriving by hand and by mail, he said. More»

Even in a non-debate, pundits still find a way to label somebody a winner

(NEWSER) - Pastor Rick stressed that last night's Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency wasn't a debate, but that won't stop the pundits from deciding who came out ahead:

• Byron York, of the National Review, sees the night as a big win for McCain, who's had a "much bigger life."

Warren lures both candidates to Orange County

(NEWSER) - Influential evangelical pastor Rick Warren has scored the first joint appearance by Barack Obama and John McCain. The presidential candidates will spend just a few minutes on stage together at Warren's Saddleback Church next month between back-to-back interviews with the pastor. It will be the country’s first look at both candidates in one place, the LA Times reports. More»

More launch own programs to provide affordable homes

(NEWSER) - Churches that have long called for an increase in affordable housing have started taking matters into their own hands, the Washington Post reports: A growing number of them have launched their own housing projects, partnering with developers to build whole communities. Their weekly flow of donations allows them to qualify for financing, and the resulting real estate revenue diversifies church income and helps underwrite community programs like food banks. More»

Dubya raises funds faster than predecessors

(NEWSER) - George W. Bush has amassed over $100 million in donations for the construction of a presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Time reports, with most coming since he left office. Bush has tapped into his campaign donor network to hit the estimated $300 million cost for the project, which will hold all official documents from his presidency, and feature a museum and research facility. More»