NEWS STORY
RNS-Israel-Government: Will Naftali Bennett’s diverse coalition lead Israel to recognize Jewish diversity?
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Now that Israel’s new government, led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, includes a Reform rabbi but no Haredi parties, religion-and-state experts in the country are watching to see if groundbreaking legislation that many Israelis and Diaspora Jews have been yearning for is on its way. By Michele Chabin. 1,078 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Litton-Facts: Who is Ed Litton, the new Southern Baptist Convention president?
(RNS) — Ed Litton, an Alabama pastor known for racial reconciliation, was the surprise winner in a hotly contested race for president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Known for his graciousness and for overcoming personal tragedy, Litton faces the challenge of leading a deeply divided denomination. By Bob Smietana 1,000 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Saddleback-Credentials: Saddleback Church’s ordination of women pastors to be considered by SBC committee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The credentials committee of the Southern Baptist Convention will consider the recent ordination of three women pastors at Saddleback Church, a prominent California congregation led by author Rick Warren, after a request was made at the SBC annual meeting. By Adelle M. Banks. 350 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Ebrahim-Raisi: Ebrahim Raisi Seems Poised For Iranian Presidency Despite Weak Credentials
(RNS) —Ebrahim Raisi seems poised to emerge victorious in Iran’s presidential elections later this week. Raisi is seen as a stalwart of the regime with the support of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Raisi’s rise to national prominence in Iran suggests loyalty to the regime is increasingly taking precedence over religious qualifications amongst Iran’s ruling elites. By Joseph Hammond. 850 words. (category i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-USCCB-Primer: 5 things to watch for as Catholic bishops conference debates Communion ban
(RNS) — As U.S. Catholic bishops gather for their annual Spring meeting to discuss whether clerics should withhold communion from politicians who back abortion rights, here are a few things to keep an eye on. By Jack Jenkins. 1363 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Faith-Funding:Faith groups among those granted money from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
(RNS) — Faith-based groups were among the causes that received financial grants from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who on Tuesday (June 15) announced she had given $2.7 billion to 286 organizations addressing a range of social issues. By Alejandra Molina. 950 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-Abuse: Southern Baptist pastor says minister accused of sexually abusing as many as 13 never investigated
(RNS) — A Georgia pastor has identified up to 13 men he says were sexually abused by a Southern Baptist minister that top leaders of the denomination in effect cleared two years ago when they declined to investigate the church where the minister was working. By Yonat Shimron. 600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Litton-Wins: Ed Litton, a pastor known for racial reconciliation, is surprise winner for SBC president
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — Ed Litton, the relatively unknown senior pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, defeated two preeminent rivals to be elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention during a session of the SBC’s annual meeting Tuesday (June 15). Litton’s election is considered a defeat for hard right conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent battles over race, sexual abuse and gender roles. By Bob Smietana. 1,188 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-DayOne: Debates on sex abuse, critical race theory front and center at first day of SBC meeting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — As Southern Baptists opened their annual meeting, the debates that have rocked the nation’s largest Protestant denomination in recent months almost immediately became part of the business on the crowded convention floor. In addition to the focus on allegations of leaders thwarting efforts to address abuse, questions arose early in the meeting about critical race theory. By Adelle M. Banks. 1,144 words (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Baptist and Catholic leaders grapple with similar problems in different ways
(RNS) — This week, Catholic and Baptist leaders meet to deal with issues facing their churches. While the two are very different from each other, they face similar problems. Both have been racked by sex abuse scandals. Both are led by men who do not know how to deal with women. Both are failing to deal with racism. Both are losing members, especially the young. And both meetings do not have on their agenda some of the most critical issues facing the world. By Thomas Reese. 866 words. (category: k)
