Adelle M. Banks
Adelle M. Banks, production editor and a national reporter, joined RNS in 1995. An award-winning journalist, she previously was the religion reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and a reporter at The Providence Journal and newspapers in the upstate New York communities of Syracuse and Binghamton.
For whom the bell tolls: COVID-19 deaths recalled with church bell, vigils, services
(RNS) — ‘The bell has no words,’ said a pastor whose church bell is sounding through All Saints’ Day. ‘This will transcend dogma, denomination, religion, politics.’
Three church coalitions in the Deep South partner to urge racial reconciliation — and justice
(RNS) — An Alabama pastor said groups already meeting in ‘notorious slave-trading cities in the past’ decided to encourage churches in other cities to take actions toward unity.
Stacey Abrams’ passion for voting began with her preacher parents
(RNS) — ‘The family is just a tight-knit cadre of people who understand that it is incumbent upon them to vote,’ said her Georgia pastor.
Maryland Episcopal diocese reparations fund gains $100,000 in community donations
(RNS) — Maryland Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton noted the development during a panel discussion on reparations at a National Council of Churches virtual meeting.
SBC seminary votes to retain slaveholders’ names on buildings
(RNS) — Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said: ‘Our task is to honor the saintly without condoning, hiding, or denying the sinful.’
Court rules DC church can hold outdoor services for now
(RNS) — A judge said city limitations are causing a ‘substantial burden’ on Capitol Hill Baptist Church under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Sex and ‘church ladies’: True-to-life secrets beyond Black church pews
(RNS) — In ‘The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,’ a finalist for the National Book Award, author Deesha Philyaw focuses on Black women and ‘the tug of war they experience between their desires and what they may have learned at church.’
One Jehovah’s Witness acquitted in Russia as others get months of restrictions
(RNS) — ‘We hope that Russia will stop vilifying Jehovah’s Witnesses with the preposterous label of ‘extremists,’’ a spokesman said.
Evangelical leaders seek to ‘take the high road,’ stress agreement as election looms
(RNS) — ‘Today evangelical faith is often being narrowly defined and easily misunderstood and we believe this has long-term ramifications for our public witness in society and effectiveness,’ said the president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Adventists’ new North American leader hopes to leverage the denomination’s ‘strength of diversity’
(RNS) — ‘We can’t distance ourselves from it because it’s a part of who our church is,’ G. Alexander Bryant said of Adventists facing racial tensions.
Biden campaign labels racism as religious issue at post-debate event
(RNS) — Christians, Jews and Muslims ‘better have an answer for why it’s not their essential issue in this election,’ said facilitator Jim Wallis.
CeCe Winans: ‘Absolutely not’ paid for COVID-19 PSA requested by Trump administration
(RNS) — ‘It was a really good interview that I don’t think people are going to get a chance to hear,’ she said of her chat with the surgeon general.
Black church turnout effort mobilizes against alleged voter suppression
(RNS) — Some groups previously ‘never worked this tightly together because the stakes are higher,’ one Black church network leader said.
Protecting abuse survivors is ‘personal,’ says new Southern Baptist leader
(RNS) — The Rev. Rolland Slade on his personal connection with a sex abuse survivor: ‘In fact, we’ve been married 39 years. So when I say it’s personal, it’s personal.’
‘High-Church Pentecostal’ leader J. Delano Ellis dies at 75
(RNS) — ‘Traditionally,’ Ellis said in 1995, ‘the Pentecostal church maintained its ardor but was never really known for its order.’