NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Session-Canceled: United Methodist bishops cancel virtual special session of General Conference
(RNS) — The special session in May was meant to allow delegates to suspend the rules to allow the use of mail-in ballots to keep the denomination running through its postponed General Conference meeting in 2022. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Hatmaker-QA: Progressive Christian author Jen Hatmaker cancels cancel culture in new book ‘Simple & Free’
(RNS) — “Simple & Free: 7 Experiments Against Excess,” releases March 23, and Jen Hatmaker hopes it will not only show how she has changed, but also free readers to do the same. The book is a re-release of her most popular title “7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess,” which was put out of print after she announced she was LGBTQ-affirming. The new edition includes not only a new title, but new notes throughout sharing new research and how Hatmaker has changed her mind on other issues since the book first released 10 years ago. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-PRRI-LGBTQ: Study: Americans overwhelmingly support LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws
(RNS) — The 2020 American Values Atlas study from PRRI finds that 76% of Americans favor laws that would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in jobs, housing and public accommodations. And every religious group polled — including white evangelicals — said they supported LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws by at least 60%. By Yonat Shimron. 550 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Syria: Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq inspired “great hope” for Syrians
(RNS) – Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Iraq in March was received as a symbol of hope by the neighboring population in Syria, which just entered its 10th year of war exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Catholic envoys and charity workers. By Claire Giangravè. 700 words. (category c)