Adelle M. Banks
Adelle M. Banks, production editor and a national reporter, joined RNS in 1995. An award-winning journalist, she previously was the religion reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and a reporter at The Providence Journal and newspapers in the upstate New York communities of Syracuse and Binghamton.
All Stories by Adelle M. Banks
Reparations campaign takes new forms with Bible study, Juneteenth march
By Adelle M. Banks — June 12, 2023
(RNS) — 'The case for restitution and restoration is laid out across the Old Testament and New Testament,' reads the introduction of the National Council of Churches' study.
Three years after George Floyd’s death, faith groups quietly advance racial healing
By Adelle M. Banks — June 9, 2023
(RNS) — A range of Christian groups are working separately to continue to address the often-fraught divisions along racial lines among their members and in the wider society.
Rick Warren campaigns for Southern Baptist reinstatement of Saddleback Church
By Adelle M. Banks — June 5, 2023
(RNS) — Warren argues that the debate is far larger than what might happen to the church he founded.
New Capital Jewish Museum ‘connects the past to the present’ in downtown DC
By Adelle M. Banks — June 2, 2023
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The museum will house a collection — rooted in the archive of the former Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington — of more than 24,000 photographs and more than 1,000 objects.
Virtual worshippers often satisfied, but more Americans choose in-person services
By Adelle M. Banks — June 2, 2023
(RNS) — ‘Broadly speaking, the survey finds that most Americans who watch religious services on screens are happy with them,’ Pew researchers found.
Bishop Vashti McKenzie on leading National Council of Churches as it nears 75 years
By Adelle M. Banks — May 31, 2023
(RNS) — ‘I think that the difference, at this point, is that I am adding activism to advocacy,’ she said as she became NCC president after serving as interim leader.
Faith at Work conference builds momentum on religious inclusion in workplace
By Adelle M. Banks — May 26, 2023
(RNS) — ‘You can integrate faith into every aspect of your workforce, but it has to be voluntary,’ one expert said.
Saddleback Church appeals Southern Baptist Convention ouster over woman pastor
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — It is one of three churches appealing decisions recently made by the denomination’s Executive Committee to remove eight congregations from official affiliation.
For 25th year, State Department reports on threats, triumphs in religious freedom
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — The report, which assesses conditions in 199 countries, also looks at policies and laws, including those about blasphemy and apostasy, that ‘criminalize religious expression.’
Fewer evangelicals support public school childhood vaccine requirements, survey shows
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — Significant majorities across religious groups say the benefits of childhood vaccines outweigh the risks from getting them.
COVID-19 health emergency is ending but faith-based vaccine clinics continue
By Adelle M. Banks — May 10, 2023
(RNS) — Over the last few years, African American congregations have provided outsized action on getting people tested and vaccinated.
John Blake, journalist on religion and race, goes personal with new memoir
By Adelle M. Banks — May 5, 2023
(RNS) — 'We really need to tell these stories about hope,' said Blake. 'There's a lot of Americans now who have given up ... and believe racism is just a permanent part of American life.'
More Americans pray in their car than in a place of worship, survey finds
By Adelle M. Banks — May 4, 2023
(RNS) — A distinct majority of those who pray (87%) said they believed they’d received an answer to their prayers in the last 12 months.
Faith leaders ask Biden to mark Mother’s Day with prayer day against gun violence
By Adelle M. Banks — May 3, 2023
(RNS) — Fellowship of Reconciliation leaders, who organized the letter, also pointed out ties that have been found between Christian nationalism and opposition to gun control legislation.
Iran, 27 other countries critiqued by watchdog for religious freedom violations
By Adelle M. Banks — May 1, 2023
(RNS) — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom decried Iran’s use of violence against protesters in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death.
