WASHINGTON (RNS) — Prompted by civil liberties groups, a taxpayer-supported homeless shelter in the nation’s capital will no longer require its clients to attend religious services. “We’re pleased that the D.C. government will no longer be supporting such religious coercion,”…
Washington’s National Cathedral needs millions in quake repairs
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Washington National Cathedral will need “tens of millions of dollars” over “numerous years” to repair extensive damage to the nation’s second-largest church following an Aug. 23 earthquake, church officials said Oct. 4. The landmark church requires…
Rob Bell leaving Mars Hill to focus on writing
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (RNS) — Megachurch pastor Rob Bell, whose best-selling book raised evangelical eyebrows by questioning traditional beliefs on hell, knew it was time to address the “giant, glowing, loud” elephant in the room on Sunday morning, Sept. 25. What’s…
Best-selling pastor Rob Bell is off to L.A. to write more books
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (RNS) — Megachurch pastor Rob Bell, whose best-selling book raised evangelical eyebrows by questioning traditional beliefs on hell, knew it was time to address the “giant, glowing, loud” elephant in the room on Sunday morning, Sept. 25. What’s…
Some British Christians outraged as BBC drops B.C./A.D. dating method
LONDON (RNS) — Some British Christians are incensed after the state-funded BBC decided to jettison the terms B.C. and A.D. in favor of B.C.E. and C.E. in historical date references. The broadcaster has directed that the traditional B.C. (Before Christ)…
Evangelical up-and-comer
WENHAM, Mass. (RNS) — For the past decade, sociologist D. Michael Lindsay has been living the very phenomenon he’s studied in depth: evangelicals climbing the ranks of secular institutions and becoming American elites. Yet in a surprise move, this 39-year-old…
Americans flunk question on quote: Captain America or Bible?
(RNS) — Pop quiz: Who said “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up”? According to a recent poll, more Americans attributed the passage to comic book hero…
At 39, Gordon president leads evangelical up-and-comers
WENHAM, Mass. (RNS) — For the past decade, sociologist D. Michael Lindsay has been living the very phenomenon he’s studied in depth: evangelicals climbing the ranks of secular institutions and becoming American elites. Yet in a surprise move, this 39-year-old…
Religious leaders laud Martin Luther King in Washington memorial service
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…
Religious leaders laud MLK at dedication
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…
Religious leaders laud MLK in memorial service
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 official event…
Religious leaders laud MLK in memorial service
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 official event…