NEWS STORY
RNS-Baptist-Decline: Southern Baptist decline continues, denomination has lost more than 2 million members since 2006
(RNS) — The nation’s largest Protestant denomination continues to shrink. New data from the Southern Baptist Convention claims about 14 million members, down from 16.3 million in 2006. Baptisms fell by half to the lowest point since the influenza pandemic of 1918 — reflecting COVID-19 shutdowns of in-person worship. By Bob Smietana 550 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-DC-Israel-Palestine: Debate over Middle East violence highlights shifting political and religious alliances
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As an uneasy peace returns to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, debate about the conflict continues to rage here in the U.S. — including among religious communities. But the conversation looks different than in years past, with robust support for Palestinians and criticism of the Biden administration cropping up across the faith spectrum. By Jack Jenkins. 1,200 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Moore-SBC: Russell Moore is leaving Southern Baptist leadership. The denomination’s troubles remain
(RNS) — After years of conflict, Southern Baptist ethicist and Never Trumper Russell Moore, stepped down as leader of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. His departure won’t solve the denomination’s ongoing troubles. By Bob Smietana 1,500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Jewish-Camp: Jewish camp for grown-ups attracts a growing set of young people more ‘ish’ than ‘Jew’
(RNS) — Trybal Gatherings, a five-year-old organization that offers camp for Jewish adults, is banking on the popularity of Jewish summer camp for kids, which surveys suggest is the glue to lifelong Jewish attachments. The idea is to reconnect 20-and 30-year-olds with other Jews their age at a time when many skip out of any kind of religious institutional connection. By Yonat Shimron. 850 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Motherly-Faith: Survey: Religion a key topic for many millennial moms during pandemic
(RNS) — Religion remained an important topic of conversation between mother’s and their children during the pandemic. That is one of the results of annual State of Motherhood survey from Motherly. Motherly, a website focused on millennial motherhood. The report which was released earlier this month offers insight into the role of religion plays in modern motherhood. The RNS story includes some previously unreleased data regarding the report the key findings of which were released this month. By Joseph Hammond. 500 words (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: Why so many new Mormon temples when LDS growth is flat?
(RNS) — In April, President Nelson surprised members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by announcing 20 new temples around the world. I’m of two minds about this. On the one hand, having more temples in far-flung locales increases the odds members can participate in temple rituals, and it helps to equalize access. On the other hand, the church has seen years of slowing growth. By Jana Riess. 853 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Solar panels allow religious institutions to do well while doing good
(RNS) — ”Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on the environment, has stimulated a lot of discussion in the Catholic Church over how to take up the pontiff’s exhortation to respond to global warming. Solar panels have been an easy way for some to please the pope and earn money at the same time. By Thomas Reese. 1,136 words. (category: k)