NEWS BRIEF
RNS-PRRI-Fox: Most ‘Fox News Republicans’ believe Christians face most discrimination
(RNS) — Most Republicans who trust Fox News believe that Christians in the United States endure unequal treatment, a new survey released on Thursday (Nov. 19) from the Public Religion Research Institute shows. But when the same group was asked whether Black Americans encounter such bias, barely a third agreed. By Jack Jenkins. 326 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Synagogue-Rebuilding: Tom Hanks, Joanne Rogers to raise money for Tree of Life synagogue rebuilding
(RNS) — Pittsburgh’s The Tree of Life synagogue has named a raft of celebrities to a fundraising campaign to rebuild the site at which 11 Jews were shot to death in what has been described as the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. The honorary fundraising team includes actors Tom Hanks and Billy Porter, Joanne Rogers, the widow of “Mister” (Fred) Rogers, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfand and Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto. By Yonat Shimron. 700 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-McClain-Obit: William Bobby McClain, leader in United Methodist Church and civil rights movement, dies at 82
(RNS) — McClain was a pastor and professor who not only shaped the lives of the students he taught, but countless United Methodists with the creation of the groundbreaking hymnal “Songs of Zion” and Black Methodists for Church Renewal. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Advent-Beer: Chicago church releases a beer for Advent — and the end of the world
CHICAGO (RNS) — Church members stopped by Gilead Church Chicago on Wednesday night (Nov. 18) to pick up the wreaths they’d ordered for the coming Advent season — OK, so they were cardboard drink holders filled with Advent-themed beers and topped with a green ribbon and Christ candle to light on Christmas Eve. By Emily McFarlan Miller. Photos. 900 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Beaty-Oped: Carl Lentz and the ‘hot pastor’ problem
(RNS) — Today’s sexualized megachurch pastor combats the stereotype of a frumpy pastor in pleated khakis and a combover. But if you embody a made-for-social-media culture of skinny jeans, tattoos and tight abs, as the recently dismissed Hillsong NYC pastor did, you risk becoming of it. Hotness is as hotness does. By Katelyn Beaty. 935 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Baker-Oped: Banning circumcision is an unnecessary bar to Jewish belonging in Europe
(RNS) — After a decade of rising anti-Semitic violence and harassment in Europe, the Danish Parliament will vote soon on a motion to ban circumcision in Denmark, with similar legislation brewing in other countries. Europe cannot be a home for Jews if they are subject to violence, but much less if they cannot practice their faith like any other citizen. By Andrew Baker. 715 words. (category: k)
