More congregations embrace 'robust passing of the peace' A hug and a prayer

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[The Cleveland Plain Dealer] 24 July 2007--Church leaders who embrace hugging say it follows the biblical example of Jesus, who embraced disciples and healed people with his touch, according to Scripture.

"Jesus touched people in every single way imaginable," said the Rev. Patricia Hanen, assistant to the bishop for congregational development for the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.

Paloma said the wider use of hugging in contemporary churches is in part an indication of the growing influence of Pentecostal and charismatic movements. Those churches, she said, were always more in touch with the body, encouraging clapping, dancing, weeping and other physical expressions of faith.