NEWS STORY
RNS-Appalachian-Chaplain: United Methodist Church names its ninth Appalachian Trail chaplain
(RNS) — The United Methodist Church announced Chris Estus, whose trail name is “Bone Spur,” as its ninth Appalachian Trail chaplain this week. “Our main goal is to represent Christ and to be with Christ’s people — to represent God and to be with God’s people while we are in God’s creation,” said the chair of the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy board. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 750 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Lyell-Fallout: Jennifer Lyell wanted to stop her abuser by telling her story. Instead, her life fell apart
(RNS) – When she learned her abuser had returned to ministry, Jennifer Lyell went public with her story, hoping to protect others from what she experienced. Instead, the former Christian publishing executive’s life fell apart. By Bob Smietana. 1,900 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Methodists-Update: United Methodist bishop addresses ‘State of the Church,’ impacts on regional conferences
(RNS) — Bishop LaTrelle Easterling spoke Tuesday evening (March 16) during one of the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s Training Tuesday sessions online, delivering a “State of the Church” address as United Methodists around the world make sense of recent announcements about protocols, postponements and a proposed Global Methodist Church. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 533 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Oped: Alabama lifts ban on yoga in schools. Sort of.
(RNS) — Under the new legislation, which must still be voted on in the Alabama Senate, asana — the physical practice of yoga — will be allowed, but traditional Sanskrit names for the traditional postures, as well as the simple greeting “namaste” will be prohibited, as will any sort of chanting. Students will be allowed to opt out of participating. By Mat McDermott. 684 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Beaty-Oped: Atlanta suspect punished women for tempting him. He likely learned that at church.
(RNS) — For many Christians, one phrase leapt out of early news reports about the Atlanta spa shootings. According to police, the suspect said he targeted women working at massage parlors because they were “a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate.” Christian communities must reexamine attitudes and actions that blame women for men’s sexual problems. By Katelyn Beaty. 1,100 words. (category: k)