Introducing Love Thy Neighbor, a new reporting series from RNS

(RNS) — Our new reporting series, Love Thy Neighbor, grew out of both a conviction and a challenge.

At a journalism training in Chicago in June, a small team from RNS was asked to imagine a project that went beyond exposing problems to highlighting solutions. After a few false starts, we realized the common thread in all our ideas: faith, in different expressions, can help make the world better.

People of faith are usually at the forefront of solving problems in their communities. Especially when government programs fall short, congregations and religious organizations frequently step in to create new programs, test innovative solutions and help their neighbors — whether or not they share the same beliefs. And yet, what too often makes the headlines are scandals, conflicts and divisions. 

But inside our newsroom, our journalists see something different every day. For example, we’ve reported on: 

• The Baptist groups that rush into communities after floods, wildfires and tornadoes — donating time and money to help their neighbors rebuild.
• The Catholic, Episcopal, Hindu and interfaith organizations that have long assisted refugees and immigrants as they start over in a new country.
• The people of faith who build bridges, not walls, like Jewish and Palestinian teens working to connect their peers of different faiths.
• The congregations and the interfaith collectives that run affordable day cares, build low-cost housing and lead efforts to protect the environment.

We have long reported these stories; it’s part of our mission. In fact, RNS was founded in 1934 to bridge divides and build understanding across denominational lines. Our founders believed that journalism showing the complexities of faith in American life, with fairness and context, could help diverse groups find commonalities.

However, in the crush of urgent news, we know these stories sometimes fail to connect the dots to show the larger truth: even in polarized times, communities of faith are quietly changing the world for the better.

With Love Thy Neighbor, we’re committing to a year of deeper reporting that reveals the hopeful, often unseen, side of faith in action. Taking a solutions journalism approach, our coverage will focus on faith-connected responses to social problems that are supported by evidence, and could be replicated elsewhere. 

We hope this reporting will serve as a reminder that religion is not only a source of conflict, but also of healing and service. We invite you to enjoy these stories, share them with others and help us lift up examples worth learning from. And, perhaps, these stories can help inspire you to find your own ways to love your neighbor, too.

Before we publish the first story, we’d love your input. This 3-minute survey will help us understand how people view division, connection and the role of faith in civic life. You’ll also be able to share story ideas you think are worth highlighting.