The head of the Baptist World Alliance has criticized a new law in Bolivia that various faith organizations say could curtail religious freedom. BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown wrote Bolivia’s legislature Jan. 17 voicing concern that ambiguity in the country’s…
Supreme Court to hear challenge to so-called Muslim ban
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to accept a case to decide whether President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims. On Jan. 19 the high court asked lawyers on both sides to address whether the president’s third…
Judge says employment interference lawsuit against NAMB can proceed
A federal judge in Mississippi has turned down a request to dismiss a lawsuit against the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention on religious liberty grounds. Senior U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled Jan. 18 that…
Do-it-your-self faith on the rise thanks to the web, study finds
It seems religion in America just can’t catch a break. Religious affiliation and participation continue to dive, driven in part by young generations uninterested in belonging to anything, least of all churches. And now newly published research suggests that the Internet — which faith communities had hoped would bridge the gap with Millennials and the “nones” — may have a hand in keeping those and other demographics away.
White House considering rollback of payday lending rule
The interim leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has decided to reconsider regulatory rules for short-term, high-interest borrowing commonly known as payday lending. The federal agency, which was created in response to the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the…
Criticized for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, White House cuts funding for Palestinian refugees
The United States is withholding more than half of its planned funding of a United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, renewing debate over the Trump administration’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Transitions for the week of 01.19.18
A listing of staff changes, anniversaries, retirements and other announcements from across the country.
These pastors see rural America — and its churches — as a growing mission field
Relatively few ministerial candidates want to lead small country congregations. It’s understandable. Those settings require pastors to provide all the functions usually divvied up by larger church staffs: pastoral care, preaching, teaching youth and children, paying the bills and preparing budgets. But there are unexpected rewards in rural churches, say some pastors.
Evangelical supporter sees nothing racist about Trump immigration stance
There is nothing racist about basing immigration quotas on race, according to Trump evangelical adviser Robert Jeffress. Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist in Dallas, told Washington Post writer Sarah Pulliam Bailey that while he would not have used the vulgar language…
White House says no one should have to choose between faith and law
In a presidential proclamation Jan. 16, President Donald Trump claimed America’s “cherished legacy of religious liberty” is undermined by threatening tax consequences for churches that endorse political candidates and by requiring persons or organizations to obey laws that violate their conscience.
Son of Francis Schaeffer calls out Trump’s evangelical enablers on Twitter
The son of the late theologian and author Francis Schaeffer challenged evangelical supporters of Donald Trump to try to defend the president’s reported foul-mouthed description of Haiti and African nations which he made during a White House meeting with a bipartisan group of senators Jan. 11.
Megachurches must ‘come out of the closet’ on LGBTQ issues, say observers
LGBTQ individuals and movements have become increasingly transparent about their identity and causes. Now, it may be time for the nation’s biggest Christian congregations to follow suit. New data shows that none of America’s 100 largest megachurches report having LGBTQ-affirming policies.