NEWS STORY
RNS-Religious-Freedom: Trump religious freedom ambassador launches international religious freedom meeting
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador of International Religious Freedom in the Trump administration, launched a conference on international religious freedom in the nation’s capitol on Tuesday (July 13), bringing together an array of faith and political leaders with the goal of tackling discrimination around the globe. By Jack Jenkins. 830 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Baptist-Arrest: Southern Baptist youth pastor and National Guard chaplain suspended after arrest for soliciting minor
(RNS) — A Tennessee church youth minister who also served as a National Guard chaplain was arrested in a sting operation aimed at curbing sex trafficking. Matthew Brewer was one of 18 that officials say responded to ads offering sex with minors. Brewer’s church has suspended him. The arrest comes as the nation’s largest Protestant denomination continues to struggle with how to respond to abuse. By Bob Smietana. 550 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Gordon-Conwell: Contract of Gordon Conwell Black professor is not renewed, drawing criticism
(RNS) — A group of alumni and staff of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, along with other regional clergy, have issued an open letter expressing concern that the school decided not to renew the contract of its sole Black full professor. By Adelle M. Banks. 700 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-West-Harvard: In resignation letter, Cornel West says Harvard constitutes ‘intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy’
(RNS) — In his letter of resignation from Harvard Divinity School, Cornel West — who earlier this year announced he would be rejoining the faculty of Union Theological Seminary — lambasted the Ivy League school that he described as embodying “narcissistic academic professionalism.” By Alejandra Molina. 500 words.
NEWS STORY
RNS-Jew-Belong: JewBelong goes digital — and hot pink — in campaign to sound alarm on antisemitism
(RNS) — Seven punchy slogans combating antisemitism have been flashing at Times Square for more than a month. Beginning this week, the campaign by the nonprofit JewBelong, is headed to digital kiosks, bus shelters and billboards in four other cities: Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. By Yonat Shimron and Renee Rodin. 600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-ACNA-Letters: ACNA leaders to take over abuse investigation in Upper Midwest diocese
(RNS) — Leaders of the Anglican Church in North America will oversee an investigation into abuse at an Anglican start up church outside Chicago. A volunteer lay leader at the church faces charges of felony abuse and sexual assault of children. The bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest has taken a leave of absence after admitting that he erred in not telling the diocese about the abuse. By Bob Smietana. 640 words. (Categories, a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Mahjong-Immigrants: Game changer: How mahjong helped Jewish and Asian Americans overcome racism
(RNS) — With their inimitable clack, mahjong tiles spread in the U.S., not only overcoming the xenophobia, particularly Sinophobia, that was common in the country at the time, but also creating opportunities for both Asian American immigrants and their Jewish American counterparts. By Menachem Welker. 1,080 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Pagitt-Oped: Fostering Christians who oppose Christian nationalism
(RNS) — Christian nationalism may be on the rise, but many have already joined us in rising to meet this challenge. For the sake of our faith and for our country, it’s time Christians around the country recognize the responsibility they have to stem the tide of Christian nationalism. By Doug Pagitt. 811 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: The beginning of the end of the Francis papacy
(RNS) — Pope Francis seems to be recovering nicely from his July 4 surgery, when the 84-year-old pontiff underwent a three-hour procedure for diverticular stenosis. But even with the best prognosis, age is catching up to Francis. Barring a miracle, he will only be expected to continue as pope for five or six years. We may look back at his hospitalization as the moment that marked the beginning of the end of his papacy. By Thomas Reese. 765 words. (category: k)