NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Pew-Easter: Poll: Four in 10 US Christians plan to attend in-person Easter services
(RNS) — Americans are more confident they can attend in-person religious services but church attendance at Easter services will still be far lower than usual this year, a new Pew Research poll finds. By Yonat Shimron. 300 words. (category: a)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-COGIC-PresidingBishop: Church of God in Christ names Detroit’s Bishop J. Drew Sheard new presiding bishop
(RNS) — A Detroit bishop of the Church of God in Christ has been named the new presiding bishop of the nation’s largest historically Black Pentecostal denomination. Bishop J. Drew Sheard, the husband of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, was elected on Saturday (March 20) by the COGIC General Assembly, the denomination announced. By Adelle M. Banks. 300 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Atlanta-Prayers: Atlanta churches near spa attacks pray for victims, community
(RNS) — This past weekend, two Atlanta-area churches organized prayer vigils for victims of shootings at several spas and hoped for an end to racism and violence against women. By Maina Mwaura and Bob Smietana. 512 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-DC-Vaccines: Churches stepping up as COVID-19 vaccine sites across the Washington metropolitan area
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Churches in the Washington, D.C. area are partnering with Black churches and other faith communities to vaccinate residents who have yet to receive inoculation against the virus that has claimed more than 530,000 American lives. By Jack Jenkins and Adelle Banks. 1,349 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Novak-Network: Catholic advocacy group Network taps Georgetown professor Mary Novak as new leader
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Catholic social justice lobby Network has chosen Georgetown University law professor Mary Novak to take over the group when its longtime leader, Sister Simone Campbell, steps down later this month. By Jack Jenkins. 871 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-AACC-Statement: Asian American Christian Collaborative releases statement condemning Atlanta shootings
(RNS) — More than 600 Christians signed onto a statement before its release Monday evening (March 22) by the Asian American Christian Collaborative that condemns the shootings of eight people, including six Asian American women, last week at spas in the Atlanta area. The statement calls on church leaders to educate their congregations about Asian American issues, anti-Asian bias, exotifying Asian women and Asian American histories of oppression and resistance, among other things. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-McKinney-Obit: Bishop George Dallas McKinney, founder of St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God, dies at 88
(RNS) — Bishop George Dallas McKinney, who started St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ in San Diego, has died. As bishop, he oversaw about 40 Church of God in Christ congregations in Southern California. He also sat on the Pentecostal denomination’s national board. By Alejandra Molina. 550 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Long-Church: Church removes Atlanta shooting suspect from membership, urges ‘no blame’ on victims
(RNS) — The church of the alleged gunman in the fatal shootings of Asian and other Americans in Atlanta-area massage parlors has distanced itself from its member, saying it was “absolutely distraught when we found out that the shooter was a member of our congregation.” By Adelle M. Banks. 650 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Hassan-Tanzania: Samia Suluhu Hassan: Tanzania’s First Female President Takes Office
(RNS)— Kamala Harris take note. A few years after becoming the first female vice president in Tanzanian history, Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in today as the country’s sixth president and the first female leader of East Africa’s largest country. Tanzanians have mixed expectations for their new leader. 750 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Sound-Meditation: Joyful noise or meditative hum, sound resets the mind for faith
(RNS) — Sound can be a powerful spiritual consolation. Sound acts as a tether for the mind in the same way the breath or a mantra is used in other forms of meditation. While sound is used in many traditions, it is deeply embedded in the culture and theology of Eastern religions. By Liz Kineke. 1,285 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Dodd-Oped: Praying with Mennonites
(RNS) — Mennonite Christians are a varied group, ranging from ethnic Mennonites to “plain people” to small church communities distinguishable mostly by their commitment to justice work. I don’t know if I am a Mennonite yet or ever will be. But for the first time in many years, I am an intentional member of a church community, and it goes by the name of San Antonio Mennonite Church. By Patton Dodd. 1,334 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: The purity culture of Robert Aaron Long’s church goes beyond sex
(RNS) — You might call this the cancel culture of the Primitive Church. What’s hard to understand is inflicting it on a young man seemingly deranged by an inability to reconcile his impulses with what he believes his church teaches. By Mark Silk. 652 words. (category: k)
