Members of the Religious Liberty Council have elected a full slate of RLC officers in addition to representatives to the board of directors of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. The council is one of many supporting groups for BJC…
Trump admin denies hunger strike at immigrant detention center
More than 300 detainees at a Newark, N.J., immigration detention are continuing a hunger strike launched Memorial Day weekend to protest insufficient and spoiled food, lack of sanitation and bond denials, Human Rights Watch reported June 3. Federal officials, meanwhile,…
BWIM puts up a billboard in Orlando
Messengers to next week’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting who arrive in Orlando by plane will be greeted by a surprising billboard on their drive from the airport to the convention center. Baptist Women in Ministry has purchased space on…
New book says Religious Left is vibrant but vulnerable
The influence of the Religious Right may overpower and obscure that of other faith groups, but a veteran religion sociologist says progressive believers promoting peace, justice and social reform have been an active and surprisingly effective force in the 21st…
Webinar explores religious context of America’s Founders
Understanding the nation’s founding requires insight into the religious context in which the framers lived and worked, political scientist Mark Hall said during a webinar hosted by Religion News Service. “In the late 18th century, about 98% of Americans of…
Theologian says UMC needs new scholarship for new era
Living into its new identity, The United Methodist Church has a prime opportunity to liberate Wesleyan theology from past conflicts to become a vital framework for today’s world, says one of Methodism’s most noted theologians. Joerg Rieger hopes two of…
Complacency is greatest threat to same-sex marriage, report warns
Complacency has become one of the biggest threats to marriage equality since the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the constitutionality of same-sex unions in 2015, according to a report by Interfaith Alliance. The landmark ruling in Obergfell v. Hodges held that…
Court will scrutinize Trump’s original $10 billion claim against IRS
A federal judge has reopened President Donald Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit to determine if the action was a ruse to create a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund to secretly pay political allies. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami…
Judge blocks Trump’s January 6 slush fund
A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from establishing, funding or using a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund designed to secretly compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies he says were victimized by Democrats. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in…
Most US Christians have heard clergy address controversial topics
Most people who attend religious services regularly have heard clergy speak on at least one social or political issue in recent months, according to a new survey by Pew Research. Abortion, homosexuality and Israel are the most commonly mentioned topics….
Black Baptist pastor in Arkansas suspended from Facebook
A Black Baptist pastor in Arkansas was suspended from Facebook May 30 without explanation. Wendell Griffen, however, believes he was removed from the social media platform because of proposing a 12-month moratorium on permitting data centers, AI campuses and cryptocurrency…
New poll finds Latino voters blaming Trump
Economic issues are the leading concern for Latino voters, and significant majorities of them disapprove of the job President Donald Trump is doing heading into the 2026 midterm election, according to a new survey by UnidosUS. The May 27 report…