Mel Gibson, who's being sued by a writer over payment for the "The Passion of the Christ" screenplay, wants to keep financial information about the blockbuster movie out of the public eye.

The defense is also seeking to dismiss some of Fitzgerald's claims, including fraud, which if proven would allow Fitzgerald to seek punitive damages.

Diverse Line-up Includes Casting Crowns, The Clark Sisters, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Marvin Sapp, Switchfoot, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, Trin-i-tee 5:7, David Crowder Band, Israel Houghton; and Charlie Daniels with Mac Powell

Gospel Music Channel to Telecast Dove Awards Live Nationwide 8 – 10 p.m. ET

Casting Crowns, The Clark Sisters, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Marvin Sapp, Switchfoot, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, Trin-i-tee 5:7, David Crowder*Band, Israel Houghton; and Charlie Daniels with Mac Powell and other performers to be announced in a special Grand Ole Opry segment are the first performers announced for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards telecast, according to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Gospel Music Channel (GMC).

Gospel and Christian music’s biggest night of the year will take place live on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House and will be broadcast live nationwide on the Gospel Music Channel television network from 8 – 10 p.m. (ET). Gospel Music Channel is the exclusive television home for the GMA Dove Awards. GMC is the fastest growing television network in America and can be seen in 40 million homes across the country on DIRECTV channel 338, cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, and Knology as well as on Verizon FiOS. In addition to the live telecast, GMC will present back-to-back encore broadcasts that night and additional re-airings following.

Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. Tickets for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards are currently available at TicketMaster or www.doveawards.com.

While the awards are the purpose of the show, music performances will definitely share center stage at the Dove Awards, showcasing some of gospel music’s hottest and most diverse artists.

Casting Crowns appears on the Dove Awards as one of the top nominees of the year. Frontman/songwriter Mark Hall leads all nominees with six individual nominations including Male Vocalist and Song of the Year. The band has an additional four nominations including Artist and Group of the Year nods.

Progressive worship band David Crowder*Band has five nominations including Group of the Year, and frontman David Crowder earned three individual nominations for Worship Song of the Year and two in the Special Event Album category. Chris Tomlin’s five nominations include Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year.

Switchfoot makes its first performance appearance at the Dove Awards this year, arriving at the evening with three nominations – Rock/Contemporary Album, Rock/Contemporary Song and Short Form Music Video. Additionally, lead singer Jon Foreman is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Gospel’s legendary sister act The Clark Sisters have four nominations including ones for Group and Artist of the Year. Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, the most honored artists in Dove Awards history, each have three nominations this year as does Israel & New Breed’s Israel Houghton.

Amy Grant is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Marvin Sapp is up for Male Vocalist of the Year honors. Gospel trio Trin-i-tee 5:7 is nominated for Urban Song and Urban Album. Charlie Daniels is honored as a nominee in the Special Event Album category as is Mac Powell (of Third Day), who has a total of two nominations.

 
Tyler Perry may be the man behind “Meet the Browns,” but the Manns of the movie (and stage play), just steal the show.

David and Tamela Mann star in the film as the very lovable and laughable Leroy and Cora Brown. The real-life couple has been working together longer than the 20 years that they’ve been married and have found success in both respects.

While riding the waves of the film, now in theaters, the two are talking about their respective debut gospel CDs, too. And according to David, “hers will make you cry, his will make you laugh.”

He recently released “Mr. Brown’s Good Old Time Church,” based on his film/play character. The theme of the disc, according to the duo, is that Mr. Brown never misses church, but he misses it that day.

“And then it goes all down hill from there.” Tamela described.

The disc is full of what David describes as “old-timey” church music, but with a comedic twist. The two explained that David wanted to record some of those old songs, with some new arrangements.

“The character of Mr. Brown, he has a lot of old church songs, so I said, ‘Let me go back and record that and then put a Mr. Brown twist on it,’” David described.

What they put on wax was apparently so funny, that the tracks also include the candid laughing and chuckles of the background singers.

“It was such a good time,” Tamela said, though she just watched to studio shenanigans from the sideline. “It just brings a lot of joy. It makes you think back to old school, wood floor churches.”

“It got real crazy,” David told EUR’s Lee Bailey. “We had a hard time editing, because we were trying to edit out the laughter, but keep the good stuff that we were doing.”

On the flip side, Tamela’s offering is nothing to laugh at. Her disc, titled “Tamela Mann’s Live Experience” was released in May 2007, and has had steady success.

“I finally stepped into the dream,” she said of releasing the project. “For so many years, I’ve been in the background with Tyler and we started out with Kirk Franklin and the Family, singing with him for nine years, so I decided, and [David] helped me decide, to stand on my own.”

Tamela’s debut is both a CD and live DVD.

“We wanted to capture what she brings to the table as a vocalist,” David said. “We see it in the plays in the movies.”

“I just thank God for the gift,” Tamela said modestly. “I’m just grateful for him choosing me to use it in this way, meaning spreading the gospel. Some people that come to the plays don’t go to church, so I’m able to share my gift and cross over.”

To hear some clips from each of their discs, order, or just find out more about the dynamic duo, check out www.davidandtamelamann.com. For more on the film, go to www.meetthebrownsfilm.com.

“It kind of brings us to where we are now, with the movie coming out, ‘Meet the Browns’,” David said, “and we’re both excited. And everything that we’ve done, we’ve done together.”

“Our next [music] project, we’re doing together, too” they both said.

Politically-conscious rapper Common grew up in Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. So, when the media started blasting the church's retired pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., as "racist," "unpatriotic," "hateful" and "crazy" Common knew the preacher was being misinterpreted.

"He never really was against white people or another race. It was more against an establishment that was oppressing people. I think we all can see that this country has problems and a lot of it starts in the political system," Common explained to EUR's Lee Bailey and other reporters at a recent press junket for his new film, "Street Kings."

Common's memories of Rev. Wright go back to when he was eight years old and he credits Wright's Christian teachings with helping to make him the man he is today. According to the rapper, Jeremiah Wright uses the Gospel of Jesus Christ to uplift the soul and to point out the hypocrisy of a government that has caused much harm here in America and around the world.

"What I picked up from being in the pews … was messages of love," recalls Common. "Anything that was going against that love he would acknowledge and expose."

Rev. Wright, according to Common, spent over 30 years doing what a pastor is supposed to d making the Gospel relevant and practical.

"When you read the Bible and you deal with spirituality, you want to deal with things in a way that you can apply to your life today," the rapper points out.

"What do I learn from the life of Jesus? What do I learn from what Moses did and from what King David did? What am I getting out of Psalms? What Rev. Wright was doing was applying it to what's going on now so we can take it and try to make change in our world."

From Common's point of view, it's obvious that the fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright's statements was trumped up by conservatives and others who want to derail Sen. Barack Obama's bid for the White House.

"I think that's what American politics does," the rapper states matter-of-factly.

That may be why the major news outlets failed to report that Rev. Wright was paraphrasing former U.S. ambassador to Iraq Edward Peck (a fierce opponent of the Iraq invasion) when he said that 9/11 was America's "chickens coming home to roost." Ironically, Peck made that statement in an interview with Fox News right after the Twin Towers were destroyed. Watch the video below for the full context of Reverand Wright's "chickens" sermon:

But Common is confident that the media controversy won't be Rev. Wright's legacy. Decades of community service (scholarships, hospice care, job programs, HIV awareness, low-income housing for seniors, etc.) are the true hallmarks of Wright's work at Trinity. And, of course, Wright has also mentored a man who may soon occupy the Oval Office; a man who is strong enough to listen to those with whom he does not always agree without sacrificing his integrity.

"He's been a preacher that's helped raise one of the greatest political figures in the world and, hopefully, the next President," Common declares. Then, with a laugh, he adds, "He's also raised one of the great rappers in the world!"

Free, formerly host of BET's 106 & Park, will co-host the new Gospel Music Channel television network original series, "Bobby Jones Next Generation," along side Bobby Jones.

For more on "Bobby Jones Next Generation," log onto www.gospelmusicchannel/bobbyjones.

 
Known for their multi-cultural approach to worship music, Israel (Houghton) and New Breed are going deeper internationally to spread his ministry this year.

The tour will stop in Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Israel, The Netherlands and Barbados.

In February Israel went to New Zealand before going to Japan for eight performances in four days. In addition, Israel also made time to visit Japan’s Soul Bird Gospel Music School, which uses the group's music as part of its curriculum.

This month, the group returned to South Africa, the place where they recorded their Gold-Certified “Alive in South Africa.” That recording garnered them a Grammy, Dove and Stellar Awards. While in South African, Israel and New Breed stops in East London, Pretoria, Durban, Centurion, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

For more info on Israel and New Breed's international tour log onto www.newbreedmusic.com.

Not only did Bishop Thomas Weeks plead guilty Tuesday to attacking his estranged wife, Juanita Bynum, but he also offered her an apology in open court.

"I want to apologize to my wife for all actions you had to go through," Weeks said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. "I know it has been difficult. I appreciate you and I thank you."

In copping to aggravated assault, Weeks admitted that he grabbed Bynum, threw her to the ground and kicked her during an Aug. 21 altercation in the parking of the Renaissance Concourse Hotel, the paper reports.

Fulton County Superior Court judge T. Jackson Bedford sentenced Weeks to non-church related community service and anger management classes. Once he completes both conditions, the aggravated assault conviction will be expunged from his record.

Bedford shared her personal thoughts with the ministers before court was adjourned.

"I understand if not hundreds of thousands, millions of people look to you for leadership, both moral and spiritual," Bedford said to both Bynum and Weeks. "Going forward I would be mindful in your conduct in the future. Going through a divorce is a very difficult time. I know what it does to people.

"I'm very pleased this was able to be worked out. Neither of you needed to be exposed to what would have happened in the courtroom. I wish you the very best," Bedford said.

Weeks and Bynum faced reporters together outside the courthouse. Bynum said seeing her husband on Monday at a divorce deposition brought back old memories, which led her to ask the court for leniency in its treatment of the bishop.

"When I saw him it reminded me of the first time we got married," she said. "No one tells you what to do with all of the love you feel for the person."

Weeks would not say whether he and Bynum were getting back together, explaining "God is in control of all things." But he did have advice to men facing similar conflicts with their spouses, stating they should "walk away, just walk away."

Five prominent African American pastors convened in New York City on Thursday (March 6) for a "Day of Dialogue" with NBC Nightly News Anchor and Managing Editor Brian Williams to draw the network's attention to key issues affecting the black community.

       Bishops Charles Blake, Sedgwick Daniels and T.D. Jakes, along with pastors A.R. Bernard and John Borders III, provided an enlightening look at the church's role in addressing the problems faced by African Americans nationwide.      

       "It was a wonderful thing to have the NBC News editorial staff meet with five of the most influential African-American pastors in this country," said Williams. "These are men on the front lines in their communities. Given the importance of faith in our national conversation, the conversation we had can only make our work better."       

       Williams, along with several NBC News producers and executives, including President Steve Capus, listened as the renowned pastors discussed the importance of saving the black male, providing housing and education, addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis, and healing inner cities from the wounds created by the influx of crime and drugs.       

       "This session was the first time that NBC News has brought together such a distinguished group of pastors representing the African American community of faith," said Capus. "We understand that the church is more than a place of worship, it is a tremendous resource for the African American community. We were pleased to have such a unique opportunity to create an open pipeline of information with them."       

       "As the epicenter of many inner cities, the church has the responsibility to go into the communities and show our brothers and sisters how to survive and thrive," said Bishop Jakes, senior pastor of The Potter's House of Dallas. "We need to find a way to work with the media in a concerted effort to increase awareness of the resources offered by Black churches to communities all over the country."

       The "Day of Dialogue" opened the door for future discourse between the black church and NBC News' editorial board.

 
The IRS is investigating the United Church of Christ over a speech Sen. Barack Obama gave at its national meeting last year after he became a candidate for president, the denomination said Tuesday.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat, belongs to the 1.2 million-member Protestant group through his Chicago congregation.

In a letter the denomination received Monday, the IRS said "reasonable belief exists" that the circumstances surrounding the speech violated restrictions on political activity for tax-exempt organizations. The denomination has denied any wrongdoing.

Obama, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, spoke about faith and public life at the denomination's June 2007 General Synod in Hartford, Conn.

The IRS said in the letter that it was concerned about articles posted on the church's Web site and on other sites stating that Obama had addressed nearly 10,000 people at the event. The agency also said Obama volunteers had staffed campaign tables "outside the center to promote his campaign."

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, a spokesman for the Cleveland-based denomination, said a group of Obama volunteers was outside the Hartford Civic Center, where the event took place, but that they were told they could not enter the meeting.

The UCC had invited Obama to speak a year before he announced he was running for president because of his involvement in the denomination, Guess said.

Church leaders consulted with lawyers before the event on following IRS rules. Before Obama spoke, a top church official told the crowd that the senator's talk was not a campaign-related event and that no leaflets or other signs of political support would be allowed.

Nonprofits are barred from endorsing candidates or providing support for campaigns, although groups are allowed to invite candidates to address them and many do so. Guess said no other presidential candidates were invited because Obama was the only one active in the UCC.

The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the denomination, called the inquiry "disturbing."

"When the invitation to an elected public official to speak to the national meeting of his own church family is called into question, it has a chilling effect on every religious community," Thomas said in a statement.

Amy Brundage, an Obama spokeswoman, insisted the speech was not a campaign event. In the address, Obama spoke about his personal spiritual journey and had said that faith had been misused in the past to divide Americans, partly because of the Christian right.

The IRS has stepped up its monitoring of the political activity of nonprofit groups during the 2008 election. It is more common for individual congregations to be targeted, not entire denominations, but very large ministries have been investigated in the past.

The inquiries can take years. Punishments can range from a financial penalty to loss of tax-exempt status — an outcome that church attorneys call the "death penalty" for nonprofits.

The IRS does not comment on investigations because tax information is confidential.

J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which defends religious groups against government interference, called the timing of the investigation "peculiar." But he said he generally has found the IRS to be nonpartisan.

"They have not gone after the left or the right or one party over another," Walker said. "Both sides have accused the service of doing that, but my impression is that they've done a pretty good job being nonpartisan."

The NFL, which found itself on the receiving end of protests and controversy after it objected to churches showing the Super Bowl on big-screen televisions, has reversed course and will now permit the viewings.

In a letter to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would not object to "live showings — regardless of screen size — of the Super Bowl" by religious organizations.

In response to questions from Hatch, Goodell said in the letter, dated Feb. 19, the NFL will implement the policy starting with next year's Super Bowl.

A story in The Washington Post about churches — most of them evangelical — canceling their Super Bowl parties because they were afraid of lawsuits from the NFL if they showed the game on their jumbo screens kicked up a storm of protest on Capitol Hill and among some conservative leaders.

The league has said that organizations that host public viewings of its games on television screens larger than 55 inches violate its copyright. Sports bars are exempted. Last year, the league sent letters to two churches advising them of the policy.

In response, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) proposed legislation that would allow houses of worship to show football games on big-screen televisions and raised the issue with Goodell at a meeting last week. Other congressional representatives threatened similar bills.

In its letter, the NFL said it would not object to big-screen viewings in the churches as long as the showings are free and are on premises that the church uses on a "routine and customary" basis.

Yesterday, public officials and church leaders praised the NFL's action.

In a statement, Hatch said he was grateful that the NFL was making the accommodation. "Many families want to enjoy the Super Bowl in a group atmosphere — but obviously aren't going to take their kids to a sports bar."

Steve Holley, executive pastor of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, which canceled its big-screen Super Bowl party this year because it feared a lawsuit, said he is thrilled at the new policy.

"It's decided to set aside profit for community spirit," Holley said. "I'm encouraged by that."