Bob Smietana
Bob Smietana is a veteran religion writer and national reporter for Religion News Service.
All Stories by Bob Smietana
Faith leaders call for repentance and spiritual reformation to address climate change
By Bob Smietana — August 17, 2023
(RNS) — At the Parliament of the World’s Religions, faith leaders held a ceremony to repent for failing to care for the Earth.
SBC leader Willie McLaurin resigns after admitting he falsified resume
By Bob Smietana — August 17, 2023
(RNS) — McLaurin is the third Executive Committee leader to resign in controversy since 2018.
From interfaith vegans to inclusive heathens, religious Parliament offers it all
By Bob Smietana — August 16, 2023
(RNS) — The exhibit hall at the Parliament of the World’s Religions brought the diversity of religious practices and spiritual beliefs to life.
Parliament of the World’s Religions hopes to harness faith to address world’s ills
By Bob Smietana — August 14, 2023
CHICAGO (RNS) — More than 6,500 religious leaders from 95 countries had registered for the gathering, which returns to Chicago for the first time since the 1990s.
United Methodist pastors feel worse and worry more than a decade ago
By Bob Smietana — August 10, 2023
(RNS) — Half have trouble sleeping, a third feel depressed and isolated, half are obese, and three-quarters are worried about money, according to a new study.
Pastor turned ‘Anointed Liquidator’ charged in $1.4 million theft from Home Depot
By Bob Smietana — August 10, 2023
(RNS) The Rev. Robert Dell, a former pastor who founded a drug treatment center, is accused of using his spiritual authority to coerce people into stealing from Home Depot — and then selling stolen goods on a highly rated eBay store.
Former Southwestern seminary trustee calls for forensic audit of troubled school
By Bob Smietana — August 4, 2023
(RNS) — Once one of the largest seminaries in the country, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has faced a financial crisis and now a feud among board members over a forensic audit of the school's finances.
For Bisi Gbadamosi, fighting racism began with going to therapy
By Bob Smietana — August 2, 2023
(RNS) — The combination of spiritual and racial trauma can be overwhelming, said Bisi Gbadamosi, a Florida counselor and Christian speaker.
Former president of Baptist state convention under investigation for alleged abuse
By Bob Smietana — August 1, 2023
(RNS) — A Madison, Wisconsin, police investigation recommended that the Rev. Bob Stine of Midvale Baptist Church be charged with sexual assault. Stine has a September court date but has not yet been charged.
As organized religion falters, the devil falls on hard times
By Bob Smietana — July 27, 2023
(RNS) — As faith in God fails, so does belief in the devil. And that may have consequences.
In new book, Russell Moore urges evangelicals to stop lying and come back to Jesus
By Bob Smietana — July 25, 2023
(RNS) — Once a rising star among Southern Baptists, Moore lost his job after criticizing Donald Trump and standing by abuse survivors.
Few worship leaders avoid Hillsong, Bethel songs — despite controversies and scandal
By Bob Smietana — July 11, 2023
(RNS) — A new study looked at how worship leaders pick music for services — at a time when a handful of megachurches dominate the market.
Many African American SBC churches have women pastors on staff. Will they be expelled next?
By Bob Smietana — July 10, 2023
(RNS) — A letter from the president of the SBC's National African American Fellowship expressed concerns over recent SBC decisions to bar churches with women pastors.
Big churches sound alike. Little churches are the ‘Wild West’ of music, study finds.
By Bob Smietana — July 7, 2023
(RNS) — Worship professor Will Bishop said that focusing on the most popular worship songs can miss what churches are actually singing.
At 79, famed SBC missionary surgeon Rebekah Naylor is about to retire. Again. But she’s not done yet
By Bob Smietana — June 30, 2023
(RNS) — In India, Naylor went from staff doctor to medical director to hospital CEO, treating thousands of patients and delivering a host of babies.
