WASHINGTON (RNS) — An earthquake and a hurricane interrupted plans to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in the nation's capital, but religious leaders and civil rights veterans said King's legacy is unshakable. The Aug. 27 interfaith service was the last…
National Cathedral damaged in quake
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The earthquake that rumbled up the East Coast from Virginia on Aug. 23 “significantly damaged” the central tower of Washington National Cathedral, shaking carved stone finials from atop the iconic church. The quake also left cracks in…
High profile for religious freedom
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Often accused of ignoring religion as they craft foreign policy, the White House and State Department are trying to show that religion is a rising priority for U.S. diplomacy. The most recent case in point: Secretary of…
Candidates run for office, and some away from their church
NEW YORK (RNS) — On a recent Sunday, Rep. Michele Bachmann offered a Pentecostal church in Iowa an intimate account of her pilgrimage from apathetic teenager to devout Christian whose faith has persevered through hardship, including a miscarriage. But when…
Ken Medema articulates his art form
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Ken Medema — singer, composer, pianist, artist and for four decades a softly prodding social conscience of the church — worked his art through the two days of the 2011 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly June…
Progressive Christians flock to Wild Goose festival
PITTSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — From Ontario, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta and dozens of towns and cities between people pulled into the dusty pasture in rural central North Carolina to see if four days chasing the wild goose in community with others…
Tebow memoir details life rooted in faith
DENVER (RNS) — Tim Tebow is a 23-year-old second-year, second-string quarterback on a so-so NFL team. So, who’s going to buy his memoirs? What’s to remember? • How his missionary dad, Bob, prayed for a son and promised God to…
Transformational Church consultants trained
Twenty-eight Virginia Baptists received training toward becoming certified Transformational Church consultants during a 3-day conference last week held at the Resource Center in Richmond. Led by LifeWay consultants Mike Smith and David Apple, the training was based on the book,…
Gingrich and evangelical voters
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As evangelicals and other social conservatives gather here June 3-4 to take the measure of a number of Republican presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich will be conspicuously absent. Gingrich’s campaign cited scheduling conflicts in not speaking to Ralph…
Grace or nature? A question at the heart of Malick’s new film
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Terrence Malick’s new film, Tree of Life, is nearly indescribable. Not because its beauty or virtuosity are beyond words, although it has its moments. Tree of Life, which opened May 27, is iconoclastic, its plot nonlinear,…
Iconic Crystal Cathedral is put up for sale
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) — The Crystal Cathedral has announced plans to sell its iconic glass-walled church in Southern California to pay back creditors and overcome bankruptcy. The glass-walled Crystal Cathedral is a landmark in Southern California. Senior Pastor Sheila…
Second Catholic sworn in as House chaplain
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Patrick Conroy was sworn in May 25 as House chaplain, making him the first Jesuit – and only the second Catholic — to hold the position, and the first candidate forced to navigate around the Catholic Church’s…