RNS Opening Budget—October 15, 2021

The longtime Arkansas megachurch pastor elected to head the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee in 2019, began with high hopes of rallying the nation’s largest Protestant denomination to focus on evangelism and missions. His plans were overshadowed by […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-Floyd-Resigns: Ronnie Floyd, SBC Executive Committee chief, resigns, citing damage to his reputation
(RNS) — The longtime Arkansas megachurch pastor elected to head the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee in 2019, began with high hopes of rallying the nation’s largest Protestant denomination to focus on evangelism and missions. His plans were overshadowed by infighting among Southern Baptist leaders over racism and sexual abuse. By Bob Smietana. 830 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Jewish-Abuse: As Reform Jews investigate themselves, a reckoning over sexual abuse grows
(RNS) — After a prominent Manhattan synagogue made public an investigation into the “sexually predatory” behavior of one of its former rabbis last spring, the Reform movement took the unprecedented step of hiring expert law firms to investigate three of its main institutions. The probes may also signal a broader cultural change in Judaism.  By Yonat Shimron. 950 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Naghmeh-Abuse:   Millions wanted to ‘Save Saeed.’ But few wanted to help his abused ex-wife
(RNS)  —  Naghmeh Pahani was a religious liberty celebrity when she was advocating for the release of her then-husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, from an Iranian prison. When she revealed that Abedini was abusive, she was pressured her to reconcile — which abuse experts says is harmful to survivors. By Bob Smietana. 1,600 words. (CCategory: a)


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RNS-Warnock-Roosevelt: Roosevelt Institute honors Warnock with faith award as part of racial justice focus
(RNS) — Sen. Raphael Warnock, who continues to pastor his historic Atlanta church while serving as Georgia’s first Black U.S.Senator, has received the Roosevelt Institute’s Freedom of Worship Award in a ceremony focused on racial justice. By Adelle M. Banks. 500 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Stewart-Book: ‘How do I be Black and Christian and American?’ author Danté Stewart asks in new book
(RNS) — Danté Stewart’s book “Shoutin’ in the Fire: An American Epistle,” released this week, weaves together the stories of Black lives and Black literature with the stories of the Bible. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,100 words. (category: a)