Recent decades have seen more churches embrace compassion and turn away from longtime teachings about suicide and the afterlife. Related BNG commentary: Jarrid Wilson and the urgency of pastors being themselves – for their sake and the church’s
Chanequa Walker-Barnes: Black women change the conversation on reconciliation
The theologian and psychologist investigates the history of the reconciliation movement and offers, in her new book, a womanist view that recognizes the complexity of racism and centers the conversation on its victims.
‘Hate is on the rise again’: Joe Biden delivers impassioned speech on race in Birmingham
Former Vice President Joe Biden delivered an impassioned speech to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, warning that racism and white supremacy still persist in the country.
20 years after church massacre, Fort Worth’s Wedgwood Baptist hopes to be ‘known for more’
A gunman killed seven people and injured seven more at Wedgwood Baptist Church on Sept. 15, 1999. On Sunday, the church held a memorial service in which victims’ family members spoke about their grief and healing.
In some Christian circles, a new #oncegay movement makes a comeback
For a large segment of Christianity including evangelicals, charismatics, Pentecostals and Catholics, the belief that homosexuality is a sin — and therefore a choice — is pervasive and deeply ingrained. At the same time, the ex-gay movement in Christian circles…
Liberty students plan a protest after new Falwell revelations
In the wake of reports alleging objectionable rhetoric and conduct by Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., students at the evangelical Christian school plan to call for internal and external investigations into the president and administration at a protest on…
New data shows Israeli settlement surge in east Jerusalem
New official data obtained by The Associated Press shows a spike in Jewish settlement construction in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since President Donald Trump took office in 2017, along with strong evidence of decades of systematic discrimination illustrated by a huge…
When losing a loved one to gun violence doesn’t change your gun rights beliefs
The Texas pastor who’s running for office opposing gun control—after his daughter was killed in Sutherland Springs.
Falwell Jr. says FBI to investigate ‘criminal conspiracy’ at Liberty University
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. told Hill.TV on Tuesday that he has begun sharing information with the FBI in what he alleged was a criminal conspiracy against him by former board members at the school.
Trump accidentally tweeted an insult at a pastor. Here’s how the pastor responded.
The president had mixed up Jonathan Carl, the Kentucky minister with fewer than 375 Twitter followers, with Jonathan Karl, the ABC News reporter whose journalism had ruffled the feathers of the commander in chief.
$1.7 million for slavery reparations fund puts Virginia Theological Seminary at forefront of debate
Virginia Theological Seminary took what appears to be an unprecedented step this week by announcing that it had set aside $1.7 million for a slavery reparations fund – something considered but not yet enacted by other institutions of higher education…
‘Someone’s gotta tell the freakin’ truth’: Jerry Falwell’s aides break their silence
More than two dozen current and former Liberty University officials describe a culture of fear and self-dealing at the largest Christian college in the world.