An FBI warning about new financial scams prompted Guidestone Financial Resources to alert its clients about scammers infiltrating personal financial accounts by impersonating representatives from technology firms, banks or government agencies. “This Phantom Hacker scam is an evolution of more…
Missouri church confesses and laments its past ties to slavery
The congregation at First Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo., recently held a worship service devoted to confessing and lamenting the church’s historical connection to slavery. The October service was part a year-long observance of the church’s bicentennial, which will be…
Fighting racism requires Christians and non-Christians to work together, panelists say
Black Christians and Black unbelievers must overcome their mutual distrust and hostility in order to collaborate in addressing racism and other challenges facing African communities, scholars and religious leaders said during a two-day webinar, “(Dis)Belief: Reimagining the Religious Landscape of…
BJC leader warns — again — of Christian nationalism in Congressional testimony
Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, warned members of Congress that attacks against faith freedom at home and abroad present a threat to national security and to American democracy. “Religious freedom is at a crossroads…
‘Being Baptist’ webinar celebrates ‘four fragile freedoms’
The four fragile freedoms of Baptist life can help congregations remain in unity through disagreement and difficult relationships, but it’s rarely an easy process, said Pam Durso, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. “This is messy and it always has…
Immigrant rights advocates cry foul over U.S. flights deporting Venezuelans
Immigration and human rights advocates aren’t mincing words about the Biden administration’s decision to deport Venezuelan migrants by air to their economically troubled homeland, calling the practice cruel, inhumane and a violation of U.S. and international asylum law. The deportation…
Global survey finds surprisingly high levels of well-being
A significant majority of the world’s population regularly experiences feelings of contentment, community and other component parts of well-being, according to a new study. The 2022 global survey of 142 countries by Gallup and the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation…
‘You could be next on the chopping block,’ LGBTQ advocates warn faith leaders
The assault on LGBTQ liberties by far-right Republicans in Congress will widen to other marginalized groups if conservatives are successful passing trans- and homophobic measures, activist Jon Cohen said during a recent episode of the Interfaith Alliance’s “State of Belief”…
Post-COVID, U.S. poverty and hunger rates are soaring
While the U.S. government must act decisively to counter poverty rates that are increasing as pandemic-era assistance programs end, people of faith also have a responsibility to counter food insecurity, hunger expert Jeremy Everett said. “As people of faith who…
USAID wants to partner with more faith groups
The United States Agency for International Development is rolling out a new program to more comprehensively include faith-based groups in its global aid distribution initiatives. “We are leaning in through USAIDs first ever religious engagement policy, which is titled ‘Building…
Texas governor mounts full-court press for school vouchers, co-opts pastors as advocates from pulpit
Legislation introduced in the Texas Senate Oct. 9 would create a school voucher program that includes $8,000 a year to families who want a private education for their children. Senate Bill 1, which is being considered in an ongoing special…
Belief in prosperity gospel growing among American Protestants
Just over half of Protestant churchgoers in the United States say their houses of worship promote the belief that God grants financial blessings to those who give money to churches and charities, according to Lifeway Research. A new Lifeway survey…