Transgender and nonbinary people must familiarize themselves with anti-trans theologies and dialogue with religious conservatives to counter growing transphobic narratives, trans author and speaker Joy Ladin said. Those with alternative sexual and gender identities also must see the religious and…
‘Reaffiliation’ policy seeks to welcome home exited UMC churches
While U.S. annual conferences are going through the throes of more painful disaffiliations through the end of 2023, one regional unit’s board of trustees has set up a way for churches that have left to rejoin The United Methodist Church….
Amy Butler hopes to give other pastors courage to tell their stories
Amy Butler’s new book, Beautiful and Terrible Things, is an effort to expose her own struggles as a woman, a mother, a Christian and a high-profile pastor without shining too bright a light on the failings of others, she said….
First Fresh Expressions United Methodist gathering won’t go to Florida
The first national gathering of Fresh Expressions United Methodist has moved its site from Florida to North Carolina after potential attendees raised concerns they would not feel safe in the “anti-woke” atmosphere of the Sunshine State. Michael Beck, director Fresh…
50 years later, Celebrate Life still is the wind we soar on
Thematic use of a minor 7th chord is one of the secrets to the enduring success of the 1970s-era youth musical Celebrate Life, according to a musician who helped facilitate a Carnegie Hall revival this summer. In musical terms, a…
Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom allegedly ‘manufactured’ wedding cases to battle gay rights
The powerful Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom has defended more than half a dozen businesses in lawsuits protecting them from having to serve partners in same-sex weddings. But a recent exploration of ADF’s work suggests some of its cases…
LBJ’s Great Society hurt Blacks more than slavery, Tim Scott declares
Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” has been more destructive to Black Americans than slavery or Jim Crow or segregation, according to the only Black Republican running for president. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., made the statement during the Sept. 27 GOP…
Candidates seek to increase LGBTQ representation in public office
A growing number of LGBTQ elected officials are pushing back against discrimination while encouraging more members of their community to seek elected office, according to a new study by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and Loyola Marymount University. “A record number…
Templeton Foundation funds first-of-its-kind research into the religious ‘nones’
A team of scholars is launching a new research project aimed at learning about religiously unaffiliated Americans, including how they find meaning in life and when and why they stopped being religious. Funded by a three-year, $339,000 grant from the…
Hispanic students report highest levels of discrimination in some educational institutions
In post-pandemic America, in a world dominated by anti-immigrant rhetoric, Hispanic students report higher levels of discrimination than any other ethnic group, according to new data from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. Among students enrolled in post-high school education in…
Conspiracy theories link Jesus, JFK and Trump
John F. Kennedy, his son John F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump allegedly share the blood line of Jesus. They have been working together in secret for years to hatch a plan to lead America together from the White House….
Ministry jobs and more
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…