Emily McFarlan Miller
Emily McFarlan Miller is a national reporter for RNS based in Chicago. She covers evangelical and mainline Protestant Christianity.

Why some Christians want Target to stop carrying a bestselling book of prayers
(RNS) — Editor Sarah Bessey and other contributors to ‘A Rhythm of Prayer’ responded to the backlash with a statement Thursday evening (April 8), saying critics are missing the point of the prayer.

Canceled flights, expired clearances: US refugee resettlement in limbo awaiting promised changes
(RNS) — In March alone, more than 700 refugees who were scheduled to arrive in the United States had their flights canceled, according to Refugee Council USA.

Black and Asian Christian leaders discuss role of church in fighting racism
(RNS) — ‘Our oppression is linked together, but also our liberation is connected at the same time,’ said the Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Faith-based agencies invite volunteers, donations as they care for children at border
(RNS) — Some struggle to cobble together resources decimated under the policies of former President Donald Trump’s administration.

At second Easter under pandemic rules, Christians glimpse church’s future
(RNS) — The pandemic has ‘redefined for me what church is going to be like and what the definition of membership is,’ said one pastor in North Carolina.

10 nonfiction books (and one novel) to keep Women’s History Month going all year
(RNS) — Here are 10 new nonfiction books, both forthcoming and released in the last year, that explore women’s roles and influence in Christian traditions — plus, one bonus work of fiction.

At nationwide rallies, Christians stand up for Asian Americans
CHICAGO (RNS) — An estimated 5,000 people attended Sunday’s rallies in 14 US cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, LA and New York.

Progressive Christian author Jen Hatmaker cancels cancel culture in new book ‘Simple & Free’
(RNS) — ‘Simple & Free: 7 Experiments Against Excess’ releases March 23, and Hatmaker hopes it will not only show how she has changed, but also free readers to do the same.

United Methodist bishops cancel virtual special session of General Conference
(RNS) — The special session in May was meant to allow delegates to suspend the rules to allow the use of mail-in ballots to keep the denomination running through its postponed General Conference meeting in 2022.

Asian American Christian Collaborative releases statement condemning Atlanta shootings
(RNS) — The statement calls on church leaders to educate their congregations about Asian American issues, anti-Asian bias, the exotification of Asian women and Asian American histories of oppression and resistance.

Bieber samples King’s sermons, supports Poor People’s Campaign with new album ‘Justice’
(RNS) — Some songs — like the album’s first single ‘Holy,’ a collaboration with Chance the Rapper — toe the line of songs with lyrics that might be about loving God or might be about loving a girl.

United Methodist Church names its ninth Appalachian Trail chaplain
(RNS) — ‘Our main goal is to represent Christ and to be with Christ’s people — to represent God and to be with God’s people while we are in God’s creation,’ said the chair of the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy board.

Schism decision on hold, United Methodist bishop addresses way forward
(RNS) — Bishop LaTrelle Easterling addressed the Baltimore-Washington Conference as United Methodists around the world make sense of recent announcements about protocols, postponements and a proposed Global Methodist Church.

Taylor University announces D. Michael Lindsay as new president
(RNS) — The previous president, Paul Lowell Haines, resigned in August 2019, not long after the nondenominational Christian university hosted then-Vice President Mike Pence as commencement speaker.

‘A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff’: Jewish artist Alicia Jo Rabins turns financial crisis into spiritual film
(RNS) — The one-women show turned film has been described as a ‘mystical meta-musical about the biggest financial fraud in history.’