Emily McFarlan Miller
Emily McFarlan Miller is a national reporter for RNS based in Chicago. She covers evangelical and mainline Protestant Christianity.
All Stories by Emily McFarlan Miller
The fall of Falwell: A timeline of the ups, downs and scandals of his Liberty University presidency
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins — August 25, 2020
(RNS) — Jerry Falwell Jr.’s resignation is but the resolution of years of smaller scandals. Here's a look back at the controversies chronicling the rise and fall of his career as president of Liberty University.
Liberty University board accepts Jerry Falwell Jr.’s resignation
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 25, 2020
(RNS) — The board of Liberty University has accepted the resignation of its president, Jerry Falwell Jr., after a roller coaster day in which Falwell resigned, then withdrew his resignation, then resigned again late Monday night.
Republican National Convention to include several conservative Christian speakers
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 24, 2020
(RNS) — Two relatives of the late evangelist Billy Graham, the head of an anti-abortion ministry, and the cofounder of Liberty University's Falkirk Center are among the conservative Christian leaders scheduled to speak this week at the Republican National Convention.
Jerry Falwell Jr. resigns from Liberty University. Again.
By Yonat Shimron, Emily McFarlan Miller, and Jack Jenkins — August 24, 2020
(RNS) — Jerry Falwell Jr., the embattled president of Liberty University and one of President Donald Trump's most vocal supporters, formally resigned from the evangelical Christian university founded by his father Monday evening after revoking a previous resignation earlier in the day.
Medical examiner confirms cause of death for pastor’s missing wife, Marilane Carter
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 24, 2020
(RNS) — The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday (Aug. 21) that the Arkansas State Medical Examiners Office has confirmed a body found in rural Arkansas belonged to Marilane Carter and ruled her death as a suicide.
5 faith facts about Vice President Mike Pence: A ‘born-again, evangelical Catholic’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 24, 2020
(RNS) — The unusual faith mix of Donald Trump's vice president has helped shape him as a politician.
In Iowa, hard-hit churches and faith-based organizations rally to help out in wake of derecho storm
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 20, 2020
(RNS) — In Iowa, churches are working together and partnering with faith-based organizations from across the country to offer aid after the unusual windstorm, called a derecho, that traveled from South Dakota to Ohio on Aug. 10.
Why Jerry Falwell Jr.’s social media ‘yacht’ posts were problematic for Liberty University
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 15, 2020
(RNS) — For leaders of religious institutions, social media can be another way to share their public messages and a peek into their private lives. But it also can be dangerous, as Falwell has discovered.
5 faith facts about Biden VP contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren — a former Methodist Sunday School teacher
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 11, 2020
(RNS) — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is no stranger to the campaign trail. Warren ran for Democratic presidential nominee before throwing her support behind the presumptive nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden. She’s no stranger to God-talk either, often citing Matthew 25 in her speeches and even speaking at the 2018 Festival of Homiletics. […]
ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton lightens up on social media with viral neon Luther rose
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 10, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — The lighting of Bishop Eaton’s Luther rose was accompanied by the buzz of neon, the trumpet blast of Luther’s hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress’ and enthusiasm from Lutherans on social media.
Kansas pastor Adam Carter asks for help to #FindMarilane after his wife goes missing en route to Alabama
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 7, 2020
(RNS) — A Kansas pastor is asking for help to find his wife, who reportedly went missing while traveling to seek help for her mental health.
Jerry Falwell Jr. taking indefinite leave of absence from Liberty University amid calls to step down
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins — August 7, 2020
(RNS) — Jerry Falwell Jr. is taking an ‘indefinite leave of absence’ from his role at Liberty University.
To cope with pandemic, Americans choose binge-watching TV over the Bible
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 7, 2020
(RNS) — A Pew Research Center survey released Friday (Aug. 7) found that TV, exercise and friends are more popular ways of coping with the pandemic than prayer or the Bible.
COVID-19 death of ‘well-loved’ Texas pastor shows coronavirus spread to rural areas
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 5, 2020
(RNS) — A small United Methodist church in Texas is ‘absolutely heartbroken’ after losing its pastor to the coronavirus, according to the church’s district superintendent.
5 faith moments to watch for in Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 4, 2020
(RNS) — Spirituality has been part of Beyoncé’s journey, from singing ‘Amazing Grace’ and a gospel medley on albums with Destiny’s Child to embodying the divine feminine from a number of religious traditions in her recent visual albums and appearances.
