News
Rachel Held Evans, Christian writer and speaker, dies at age 37
Evans’s books A Year of Biblical Womanhood, Searching for Sunday, and Inspired traced the evolution of her faith.
UMC court ruling upholds restrictions on LGBTQ clergy and couples
In a separate ruling, the Judicial Council upheld an exit plan that allows churches to leave the denomination with their property.
Sudanese Christians join popular protests, call for religious freedom
Members of Sudan’s Christian minority have taken a prominent role in the demonstrations that began in December.
Response to mass shooting at California synagogue emphasizes shared humanity
“We are all created equal,” said the pastor of the Presbyterian church where the 19-year-old shooter is a member.
Religious services canceled after Sri Lanka church bombings
“What was attacked was Sri Lanka’s strained but still living tradition of inter-religious and inter-ethnic cooperation and friendship,” wrote one NGO leader.
Yazidi boys who survived conscription by ISIS begin path to healing
In camps for displaced people in northern Iraq and a home for survivors in Syria, the staccato testimonies, glazed eyes, and malnourished bodies of boys who left Baghouz in recent weeks hint at the depth of their trauma.
Does Hindu cleric who prays before legislative bodies speak for Hinduism?
Rajan Zed goes by the title of president of the Universal Society of Hinduism. Some other Hindu leaders say they know little about him.
Debate on public prayer renewed after incident in Pennsylvania House
A controversial invocation took place just before the House’s first female Muslim representative was sworn in.
After the catastrophic fire at Notre Dame, what might rebuilding look like?
The 12th-century cathedral was already beginning to crumble.
Three black churches in Louisiana, civil rights center in Tennessee burned down
A 21-year-old white man faces hate crimes and arson charges for the church fires, and a white supremacist symbol was spray-painted at the Highlander Center.
Healing the young women harmed by Boko Haram
Unlike the Chibok schoolgirls for whom the #BringBackOurGirls campaign rallied, thousands of others garnered no headlines when they were abducted. All too often no one welcomes them home.
LifeWay Christian stores to close by end of 2019
The Southern Baptist publishing arm, which has had disputes with authors and artists over content in the past, will focus on digital sales.
Muslim inmates charge Arkansas with violating their religious liberty
One Muslim prisoner had his religious accommodations taken away when he protested the combined services with the Nation of Islam and Nation of Gods and Earths, groups that follow distinct religious teachings.
Number of nones equals evangelicals, Catholics
A recent analysis of survey data also showed an uptick in the percentage of mainline Protestants—though more years will need to pass to see if the increase continues.
New churches a refuge for disaffected ‘dones’
At nontraditional congregations popping up across the country, many people have stories of rocky relationships with church. But they felt something was missing when they left.
Holocaust educators seek ways to preserve power of survivors’ testimony
“To hear that 6 million Jews were murdered is overwhelming,” Rena Quint said. “To hear one story from someone who lived through the Holocaust makes a strong impression.”
Dean Peerman, a Century editor for 60 years, dies at age 87
In March 1965, he and fellow editor Martin E. Marty participated in the second civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
Rohingya refugees refuse repatriation to Myanmar as persecution fears continue
“Once we see that our relatives in Myanmar have gotten full citizenship rights,” said one community leader, “no one will have to force us to go back.”
Faith-based refugee aid groups struggle to stay open
Over the past two years, the nation’s refugee resettlement system has been slowly dismantled.
Clergy housing allowance is constitutional, appeals court rules
Leaders of the Freedom From Religion Foundation argue that the allowance discriminates in favor of ministers.