Churches arm, train congregants in wake of mass shootings
HASLET, Texas (AP) — Acrid gun smoke clouded the sunny entrance of a Texas church on a recent Sunday. Seven men wearing..
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ELCA women reflect on 50 years of ordination: “A celebration for the whole church”
MILWAUKEE (RNS) — As they entered the worship service on the last full day of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Churchwide..
‘Christian left’ is reviving in America, appalled by treatment of migrants (Commentary)
(The Conversation) — Holding pictures of migrant children who have died in U.S. custody and forming a cross with their bodies on..
A rabbi pleads with AG William Barr: Don’t bring the death penalty to Pittsburgh
RNS) — A chain-link fence shrouded with a black tarp surrounds the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh these days. The Jewish..
Truck drives into line of Jewish demonstrators protesting ICE in Rhode Island
(RNS) — A truck attempted to barrel through a group of Jewish protesters who were demonstrating outside a detention center in Rhode..
A United Methodist group proposes a denominational breakup
(RNS) — A dozen United Methodists meeting secretly in Indianapolis earlier this summer have unveiled a blueprint for spinning off one or..
Some of the best food in Texas is made for the hungriest Texans
FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) — Taste Community Restaurant, located in Fort Worth’s trendy Near Southside, hit Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat..
Pastor says $1 million from closing church aids wider ‘fellowship of the concerned’
ROCKVILLE, Md. (RNS) — From the time she arrived in 2013, the Rev. Jill McCrory had seen the congregation at Twinbrook Baptist..
ELCA Churchwide Assembly calls sexism and patriarchy sins, condemns white supremacy
MILWAUKEE (RNS) — A new social statement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America labels patriarchy and sexism as sins and acknowledges..
ELCA declares self a ‘sanctuary church body,’ marches to ICE building in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (RNS) — More than 500 years ago, a monk named Martin Luther nailed 95 theses outlining his grievances with the Roman..
Clergy protest outside Mitch McConnell’s office, demand action on gun violence
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A group of clergy protested outside Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office on Tuesday (Aug. 6), calling on the Republican Senate..
5 things to watch at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
(RNS) — With the bang of a gavel and a moment to honor the Native Americans who first called Milwaukee home, Presiding..
Religious leaders react to mass shootings, call for action from Trump, Congress
(RNS) — As the nation reacts to the weekend’s mass shootings and President Trump decries hatred that “devours the soul,” religious leaders..
Senators oppose Trump refugee cuts on religious freedom grounds
(RNS) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent a letter to Trump administration officials calling on them not to reduce the..
Christian leaders condemn Christian nationalism in new letter
(RNS) — A group of Christian leaders has condemned Christian nationalism in a new letter, calling it a “persistent threat to both..
Willow Creek plans reconciliation service to move on; Hybels not involved
CHICAGO (RNS) — Willow Creek Community Church plans to hold a service Tuesday (July 23) in hopes of moving on from the..
Willow Creek elders preach reconciliation after allegations against Hybels
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (RNS) — Battered. Weary. Divided. That’s how elder Shoji Boldt described Willow Creek Community Church at a service of..
Faith groups fear the end of refugee resettlement in the U.S.
(RNS) — Faith-based groups that help the U.S. government resettle refugees fear the future of their work is in jeopardy, after learning..
Hymn society tournament reveals ‘greatest hymn of all time’
(RNS) — “Holy, Holy, Holy!” has been chosen in a March Madness-like tournament as “the greatest hymn of all time.” The Hymn..
Across US, clergy mobilize to support vulnerable migrants
(AP) — So far this week, an anticipated nationwide sweep has not materialized at the expected magnitude. Yet the mere prospect of..
5 faith facts about the moon landing: Space Communion and a prayer league of its own
(RNS) — Where humans go, faith seems to follow. It’s no less true of NASA’s first manned mission to land on the..
Nuns & Nones helps millennials find surprise soulmates in Catholic sisters
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (RNS) — The Dominican sisters sat in silence, eyes closed, palms upturned, couches and chairs pushed together into a..
Poll: Americans rarely seek guidance from clergy
DETROIT (AP) — Timothy Buchanan says he never consults clergy about important decisions, but it’s not for lack of faith: He regularly..
Amy Butler, first female pastor of The Riverside Church, to step down
(RNS) — The first female pastor to lead The Riverside Church in New York City is leaving the historic, progressive Christian church...
‘Greatest hymn’? Sacred song enthusiasts vote in ‘madness’ tournament
(RNS) — Four months after March Madness, hymn lovers are awaiting the outcome of a different kind of tournament that will answer..