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Currently, the denomination’s rulebook, the Book of Discipline, includes language that bars...

The ‘Splainer: What’s the United Methodist special session all about?

Methodist Church special session in St. Louis 2019.
The ’Splainer (as in, “You’ve got some ’splaining to do”) is an occasional feature in which RNS gives you everything you need to know about current events to help youRead More

I heard both grief and hope in their voices.

Opinion: Don’t romanticize suffering following the Aurora mass shooting

by: Jamie D. Aten, WHEATON, Ill. (RNS) — Saturday night, the day after the shooting at a factory that killed five people, I was asked to offer the closing prayerRead More

World Relief urges the President to pursue broad-based immigration reform in partnership with Congress.

World Relief Responds to President Trump’s Declaration of a National Emergency at the Border

World Relief rresponds to President Trrump's National Emergency.
Feb. 15, 2019 Baltimore, Md. – Today, President Trump declared the situation at the border a national emergency, invoking presidential emergency powers to increase border security. While appreciative of hisRead More

Editor's Links of Interest

The National Moral Crisis Is Already Here -Sojourners

Prayer and fasting prepares us for action; prayer and fasting are actions in themselves. Source: The National Moral Crisis Is Already Here – Sojourners

“The Our Lady of Guadalupe Church was really where my story started on the west side of the city,” Castro told Religion News Service...

Julián Castro opens his presidential bid with a Catholicism aimed at Latino vote

Julián Castro announces his 2020 presidential bid.
By: Jack Jenkins, Feb. 14, 2019 WASHINGTON (RNS) — As Julián Castro officially launched his candidacy for president over the past few weeks, he invoked a certain female figure so frequentlyRead More

Replacing Leith Anderson

NAE Launches Search for Next President

Leith Anderson current NAE president
Feb. 1, 2019 – The National Association of Evangelicals, which represents more than 45,000 local churches from 40 different denominations, announces the search for the next NAE president. In additionRead More

His departure follows years of controversy over MacDonald’s leadership style and the church’s finances.

James MacDonald fired as pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel by church elders

James MacDonald
by: Bob Smietana, Feb 13, 2019 (RNS) —  James MacDonald, the embattled pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, has been fired by the suburban Chicago megachurch he founded three decades ago.Read More

[Hollywood] was founded as an alcohol-free Christian community.

“Walk of Faith” tour tells tale of Hollywood’s Christian beginnings

Tour looks at Christian beginnings of Hollywood.
by: Heather Adams, Feb 12, 2019 LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Walking past the First Baptist Church of Hollywood, April Clemmer pauses. “This church is a survivor,” she tells the dozenRead More

The Minnesota Democrat said she had no intention offending anyone...

Rep. Omar apologizes for tweets on AIPAC’s influence

Rep. Omar apologizes for tweets on AIPAC’s influence
by: Laurie Kellman, Feb 11, 2019 WASHINGTON (AP) — Freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar “unequivocally” apologized on Monday for tweets about the influence in Congress of an American organization thatRead More

Several vowed to improve the ways churches address such behavior.

Southern Baptist leaders vow to improve addressing sex abuse after papers’ report

Southern Baptist Convention addresses sexual abuse.
by: Adelle M. Banks, Feb 11, 2019 (RNS) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention have called the reports by two Texas newspapers of hundreds of sex abuse cases inRead More