Editor’s note: Secular headlines about news of interest to Christians can be helpful to believers, but the stories often ignore the underlying import or the overall trends. Here is a look back at some trends of 2010.

The Decline of the Mainline

Chronicling the decline of the mainline churches has become something of a melancholy tradition of EP News. And while we wish evil on no man or woman, we can’t help but noting that ideas have consequences, and bad ideas often have destructive consequences. Of course, the good news is that the opposite is also true.

Episcopal Church Approves Lesbian Bishop. A controversial candidate for bishop in the U.S. Episcopal Church has received the necessary approval, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool of Baltimore became the first partnered, openly lesbian bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion when she was installed on May 15.

Gay Pastors Reinstated in Lutheran Church. The nation’s largest Lutheran denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), has reinstated two gay-identified pastors. The ELCA voted in August 2009 to allow pastors in committed, lifelong same-sex relationships. Presbyterians Approve Gay Clergy. The Presbyterian Church (USA) completed its 219th biennial meeting in Minneapolis this year. The assembly approved a proposal to allow for the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals to the clergy. The proposal must now be approved by a majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries before it can take effect. This is the third time the assembly has voted to allow the ordination of non-celibate gay clergy. However, the requisite majority approval from the presbyteries failed each time.

Media Mind

W hat Richard Weaver called “The Great Stereopticon,” the modern media, marched on this year, sometimes enlightening us, more often wasting our time. For better and for worse, here are some of the media highlights and lowlights of 2010.

Liberal Radio Show Calls it Quits. Air America, the counterpoint to conservative talk radio, called it quits. The network lasted six years.

Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart Sponsor Family-Friendly TV. Two advertising heavyweights responded to research showing desire for wholesome programming. Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Wal-Mart are collaborating to produce TV shows for the whole family.

FCC Focuses on Indecency Complaints. After a nearly two-year break, the Federal Communications Commission is tackling its backlog of indecency complaints. There are more than a million. Many of the complaints deal with inappropriate content and profanity during primetime. The FCC has been busy fighting court battles, including Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction.

Zondervan to Publish 1,000 Christian Titles for iPad Launch. To accompany the long-awaited iPad launch, Zondervan was one of the first publishers to release titles in Apple’s iBookstore beginning Apr. 3. More than 1,000 titles were to be available for download from all product groups. Zondervan plans to release all its future ebooks in an iPad version.

More Gay Characters Coming To TV. An annual “Network Responsibility Index” survey done by GLAAD—the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation—ranked network and cable programming on the inclusion of gay-identified and transgender characters and issues. On cable, MTV ranked “excellent,” followed by ABC Family, TNT, Showtime, Lifetime and HBO. USA, A&E and TBS ranked last. On network television, the CW ranked at the top, with CBS in last place. As a response to the survey, CBS announced that they would be adding more gay characters to their lineup.

Slouching Toward Sodom

Many conservatives argue that there is a gay agenda. Others say that there may not be an agenda, but there has been undeniable advancement of homosexual rights and activism. Regardless of which opinion you take about whether there is an agenda, you won’t argue with the fact that 2010 has been a year of active battle in this front in the culture war. The year brought us the following:

The Battle for Marriage. The challenge is to Proposition 8, which California voters approved in November 2008, and which protects traditional marriage, was a symbol for marriage fights going on around the country.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Doesn’t Last. Biblical views regarding human sexuality came under fire this year because of efforts to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals in the military. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” meant military personnel could not ask about sexual orientation and allowed people to serve in the military as long as they didn’t announce their sexual orientation. The policy was repealed by Congress this month and was expected to receive the signature of the president.

President Appoints Transgendered Individual to Federal Post. President Barack Obama made history on New Year’s Eve when he appointed the former Mitchell Simpson, who now identifies himself as a female named Amanda, to a position as a senior adviser in the Commerce Department.

Catholic Foster-Care Program in D.C. Ends. The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington was forced to end its foster-care program because it did not want to license same-sex couples as foster-care parents. The archdiocese’s program has been in existence for 80 years. Freedom of religion advocates have been warning that legalizing same-sex marriage could compromise religious organizations’ social involvement in local communities.

Maryland to Recognize Out-of-State Gay Marriages. Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler said the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Gansler also said state agencies should acknowledge the unions, and afford them the same rights as heterosexual ones. Maryland joins Washington, D.C., New York and several other states in recognizing out-of-state gay marriage.

Obama Appoints Homosexual Activist Behind Senate’s Back. President Obama bypassed the Senate confirmation process to appoint radical homosexual activist Chai Feldblum to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) while the Senate was out for the Easter recess. Feldblum is the primary author of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which forces employers to hire homosexuals and other sexually confused individuals despite their moral or religious objections.

Census Bureau Tells Same-Sex Couples to Check “Married.” The U.S. Census Bureau has produced a controversial video telling same-sex couples they can be counted as married even without a marriage license. An announcer says “same-sex couples who are married—or who consider themselves to be spouses—can identify one person as a husband or wife. Other same-sex couples may instead use the term ‘unmarried partner.’”

New York Gives Same-Sex Partners Parental Rights. New York’s Court of Appeals ruled in May in two separate cases that the non-biological parent in same-sex relationships should have full parental rights.

Administration Expands Federal Same-Sex Benefits. President Obama announced in early June that he would extend more benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.

President Proclaims Gay Pride Month. President Obama declared June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. The proclamation touts the administration’s role in signing hate crimes legislation into law. It also promises a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and passage of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. During a White House reception held June 21 to celebrate “Gay Pride” month, President Obama reiterated his administration’s accomplishments and commitment to aggressively implement this powerful donor block’s priorities. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking to more than a thousand GLBT federal employees, said, “Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights.”

First Activist Transgender Judge Appointed in Texas. Phyllis Frye–born Phillip Frye–became the first transgender-identified municipal court judge in Texas. Appointed on Nov. 17 by Houston Mayor Annise Parker–a self-identified lesbian–Frye becomes the third transgender-identified judge in the nation to be elected or appointed to the bench.

Religious Liberty

N. Korea Top Persecutor of Christians. Two of the most notorious and restrictive regimes in the world top the Open Doors 2010 World Watch List (WWL) of 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians. In the No. 1 spot for the eighth straight time is North Korea. North Korean leaders are desperately trying to control society in order to eradicate all Christian activities. There are an estimated 200,000 North Koreans in political prisons, including 40,000 to 60,000 Christians.

Iran is now No. 2 on the list. Iran was previously No. 3 on the WWL for many years, behind Saudi Arabia. Of the countries on the top 10 list, eight have Islam as their dominant religion—Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Mauritania and Uzbekistan. North Korea and Laos are communist countries. Also, 35 of the 50 countries on the list have Islamic governments.

UK Pastor Arrested Over Comments on Homosexuality. Dale McAlpine, a pastor in the United Kingdom, has been arrested after saying homosexuality is a sin. In mid-May, McAlpine was street preaching when he was approached by police officers, who told him it was illegal to preach against homosexuality. McAlpine maintains he did not mention anything about homosexuality in his preaching, but was arrested and spent seven hours in a cell.

(Warren Cole Smith/Julie Malament/EP News)