Controversial antisemitism bills are passing, and not only in the US House
A North Carolina bill known as the Shalom Act is similar to the Antisemitism Awareness Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives recently.
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United Methodists vote to restructure worldwide church
The plan, called ‘regionalization,’ must now go before each region, called an annual conference, for ratification by the end of 2025.
How unconditional support for Israel became a cornerstone of Jewish American identity
A new book shows how those who dissented were effectively sidelined.
United Methodists strike down ban on ordination of gay clergy
With a simple vote call and without debate, delegates to the General Conference removed the ban on the ordination of ‘self-avowed practicing homosexuals’ — a prohibition that dates to 1984.
After traditionalist churches left, UMC may be more — not less — diverse
Even after the departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining in the denomination disagree with allowing LGBTQ people to get married and ordained within the denomination.
New Vatican document condemns gender theory, surrogacy
The new document takes a step back from the opening toward LGBTQ Catholics ushered in by Pope Francis.
Thousands of churches will likely close down. What happens to all that real estate?
A new book called 'Gone for Good' looks at the ways that churches could be reused for the public good in the future.
The Exvangelical plight: ‘Hurting because we followed the rules’
NPR reporter Sarah McCammon's memoir of growing up evangelical is both timely and superb.
Full-time ministry drains too many clergy and church budgets. Part-time pastors can help.
The happier, healthier future of ministry is in part-time clergy. — G. Jeffrey MacDonald
The nones have changed campus chaplains’ jobs — and made them more interesting
All students, not just Christians, come talk to me about class and life in general. — Lyn Pace
The anti-Zionist Jews countering mainstream support for Israel
Pro-Israel Jews have denounced anti-Zionists as antisemitic and not really Jewish. But the ranks of this group are growing, and their criticism of Israel is catching on among younger U.S. Jews.
Catholic women working to change the church take inspiration from female saints
A network of leading female scholars and experts looking for ways to promote women’s standing in the church says the key is to embrace femininity.
A Jane Austen Lent: Archdeacon explores the novelist’s spiritual lessons
Rachel Mann’s book, ‘A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 40 Days With Jane Austen,’ pairs excerpts from Austen’s novels with reflections on virtues and vices.
Lenten cease-fire campaign includes Ash Wednesday Mass outside White House
‘As there’s ashes on our head, there’s also blood on our hands because we cannot exempt ourselves from what this country is doing,’ said the Rev. Graylan Hagler, pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.
Sex is ‘divine’: How Pope Francis is recasting Catholic Church’s views on intimacy
A book on sexuality by the Vatican’s doctrinal chief may have raised eyebrows, but Pope Francis has long been calling for the church to offer more robust teaching on sex.
We need more Howard Thurman in our politics
The theologian and often-overlooked civil rights hero would have warned us against politics as a zero-sum game.
Fuller Seminary senior director fired for refusal to sign non-LGBTQ affirming statement
Her termination comes as the evangelical, multidenominational seminary is re-visiting its approach to human sexuality.
The UMC lost a quarter of its churches — most in the South
The same area of the country that tends to be the most politically conservative and Republican-leaning was where most United Methodist churches voted to leave the denomination.
Uyghur Youth Initiative video on genocide goes viral
Filmed by youth activists following a recent pro-Uyghur protest in Munich, the video has since had over 3 million views on TikTok and 7.5 million hits on Instagram.
Franklin Graham’s border tour draws 20,000 signers demanding its cancelation
Critics are calling the 10-city tour 'hypocritical' and denouncing what they say are Graham's 'anti-immigrant' views.
Religious but not spiritual? Meet the skeptics favoring ritual over the supernatural
Ten percent of Americans can be categorized as religious but not spiritual, according to a December 2023 study from Pew Research Center.
Chicago pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants
‘There’s already plenty of need present in this community,’ said one faith leader. The challenge is to make the situation work for both longtime residents and migrants arriving from the border.
The SBC will sell insurance, retirement to women pastors — if they aren’t Southern Baptists
In 2004, Southern Baptists voted to allow their insurance and retirement agency to work with other churches. The latest denomination to sign up is the Global Methodist Church, made up of former United Methodists.
Christians Against Christian Nationalism translates TikTok activism to local politics
The popular TikTok account is, in part, a response to the growth of ‘trendy’ fundamentalism on the platform.
Another dark Christmas in Ukraine
As Orthodox Christmas approaches, we cannot abandon Ukraine to Russian destruction. — Knox Thames