NEWS STORY
RNS-Yigby-Housing: “Yes in God’s Backyard” to use church land for affordable housing
(RNS) — A number of churches in California are exploring ways to build affordable housing on their own land. It’s what people are referring to as YIGBY, or “Yes in God’s Backyard.” By Alejandra Molina. 800 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Tony-Evans: Tony Evans: On his new Bible and commentary, Kirk Franklin’s boycott, wife’s health
DALLAS (RNS) — Pastor Tony Evans has been a megachurch leader, a radio broadcaster and the author of dozens of books. Now he has a new title: the first African American to have both a study Bible and a full-Bible commentary with his name. By Adelle M. Banks. 1,400 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Poor: Pope Francis kicks off World Day of the Poor with free healthcare for disadvantaged
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In the week leading up to the third annual World Day of the Poor, St. Peter’s Square is a snapshot of Francis’ agenda of a ‘poor Church for the poor,’ as homeless and impoverished people find medical help and a welcoming and warm respite in the cold weather leading up to the holidays. By Claire Giangravé. 1,020 words. (category: i)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Hate-Stats: FBI report: Jews the target of overwhelming number of religious-based hate crimes
(RNS) — Newly released FBI data showed that Jews and Jewish institutions were the overwhelming target of religion-based hate crimes in the United States last year. By Yonat Shimron. 500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Chicago-Shelter: Chicago village seeks to block church’s winter homeless shelter
(RNS) – Last month, Hope Covenant Church opened the first homeless shelter in Chicago’s affluent suburban village of Orland Park in more than three decades. The overnight winter shelter is open every Tuesday until April — unless a lawsuit by The Village of Orland Park, which cites two dozen health and safety code violations, succeeds. By Aysha Khan. 1500 words
COMMENTARY
RNS-Byassee-Oped: Can we find new meaning in the word evangelical?
(RNS) — A visit to evangelical churches in the heart of red America shows that the reality of evangelical Christianity is something different from what web trolls and Trump-supporting preachers have turned it into. By Jason Byassee. 950 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: The rise of fundamentalist Catholicism
(RNS) — The recent Amazon synod has exposed just how far conservative Catholicism has been reshaped in the image of American evangelicalism. By Mark Silk. 825 words. (category: k)
