RNS Updated Budget — March, 26, 2020

Faith groups are attempting to address the issue of funerals by instituting new policies designed to offer some semblance of comfort for the bereaved while keeping others safe from infection. By Jack Jenkins and Claire Giangravé. 1,750 […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-Pandemic-Funerals: As coronavirus death toll mounts, faith leaders the world over grapple with funerals
(RNS) — Faith groups are attempting to address the issue of funerals by instituting new policies designed to offer some semblance of comfort for the bereaved while keeping others safe from infection. By Jack Jenkins and Claire Giangravé. 1,750 words. (category: a, i)

NEWS STORY
RNS-HolyLand-Shutdown: Holy Land churches, mosques, synagogues close for coronavirus
JERUSALEM (RNS) — The coronavirus has shuttered synagogues, churches, and mosques in Israel and the Palestinian territories. By Michele Chabin. 1,000 words. (category: i)

NEW STORY
RNS-COVID19-Summit: Surgeon general, disaster experts advise church leaders in COVID-19 online summit
(RNS) — Evangelical and humanitarian assistance leaders offered pointers and encouragement to church leaders in the first day of a two-day summit by releasing videos on topics ranging from advocacy for the vulnerable to crisis communications. By Adelle M. Banks. 800 words. (category: a)


NEWS STORY
RNS-Ehrman-Book: Bart Ehrman on why everything you’ve been taught about heaven and hell is wrong
(RNS) — In his new book on heaven and hell, Bart Ehrman, the celebrated New Testament scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, offers a comprehensive account of how Christianity adopted the view that saints and sinners will part ways at death and enter the everlasting hereafter in either realm. His main point? Heaven and hell are actually later developments. By Yonat Shimron. 1,200 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Blizzard-Church: A blizzard didn’t stop this Alaska church from hosting drive-in worship service
(RNS)— As COVID-19 continues to spread across the nation, churches are creatively offering drive-in style worship services to maintain social distancing rules meant to protect people from catching the novel coronavirus. For Unalakleet Covenant Church, a congregation in a small Alaska village, this meant being outside in subfreezing temperatures. By Alejandra Molina. 650 words. (category: a)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Graham-Oped: COVID-19 is one of America’s greatest trials. What can we learn from it?
(RNS) — Trials are tests that authenticate our faith. They are painful, but they strengthen us spiritually and build our character. By Jack Graham. 945 words. (category: k)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Theoharis-Oped: Our moral obligation to health during the COVID-19 pandemic
(RNS) — Even before COVID-19 struck, the Trump administration was doing too little for the millions of people without affordable health care or life-saving medicine. As the novel coronavirus spreads, it’s no surprise that those who are hurt the most are the poor, whose health concerns are exacerbated by a lack of a living wage, adequate housing, food and household savings. By Liz Theoharis. 840 words. (category: k)