RNS Opening Budget — Thursday, April 15, 2021

Isaac Simmons, 23, is the first openly gay man to be certified within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and, as far as anyone can tell, the first drag queen certified in the […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-Methodist-Drag: First drag queen certified as a candidate for United Methodist ministry ‘speaking in a new way to new people’
(RNS) — Isaac Simmons, 23, is the first openly gay man to be certified within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and, as far as anyone can tell, the first drag queen certified in the United Methodist Church. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,000 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Pentecostal-Exhibitions: In Los Angeles, a pair of art exhibits centers the Black worship experience
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Two Los Angeles art exhibitions are exploring the worship of Black spirituality, coinciding with the 115th anniversary of a series of lively meetings in the city’s downtown area — known as the Azusa street revival — that launched what is now known as the Pentecostal movement. By Alejandra Molina. 750 words. (category: a)

NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Falwell-VP: Liberty University shake-ups continue as Falwell Jr.’s son leaves post as VP
(RNS) — The son of former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. has left the school, vacating his post as vice president of university operations roughly eight months after his father resigned in the wake of scandal. A spokesman for Liberty confirmed the news, first reported Wednesday afternoon (April 14) by Politico, that Trey Falwell was no longer employed by the school. By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins. 400 words. (category: a)