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
There’s an app for that: Christian mindfulness, meditation apps find their moment
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 15, 2020
(RNS) — Many apps have reported spikes in searches for meditations on fear and anxiety since the pandemic started.
Social distancing is no stumbling block for Texas church’s Minecraft Easter egg hunt
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 10, 2020
(RNS) — Since it was announced in March, Tate Springs Baptist Church’s virtual Easter egg hunt has grown into a national event, even leaping to the attention of the National Esports Association.
As a pandemic peaks at Christianity’s Easter climax, churches adapt online
By Alejandra Molina and Emily McFarlan Miller — April 9, 2020
(RNS) — Social distancing measures have caused radical dislocations for a holiday that is at once one of the most mystical and most hands-on in world religion.
Asian American Christians denounce anti-Asian racism amid coronavirus
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 2, 2020
(RNS) — The statement already had gathered about 6,800 signatures online as of Thursday (April 2) morning.
Standing Rock Sioux celebrate ‘significant legal win’ in DAPL fight
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 31, 2020
(RNS) — A federal judge has ordered a new environmental review for the Dakota Access pipeline in what the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is celebrating as a “significant legal win.”
Higher attendance, lower giving: New survey shows how churches are responding to COVID-19
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 30, 2020
(RNS) — Giving is down, attendance is up and a good number of pastors still aren’t sure what they’re going to do about Easter.
Clergy laugh off bloopers as the coronavirus forces churches online
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 27, 2020
(RNS) — With so many using online tools for the first time and the internet’s inability to forget, some hilarity was bound to follow.
‘We’re all gonna get through this’: Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz on coronavirus diagnosis
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 24, 2020
(RNS) — Hillsong Church NYC pastor Carl Lentz is urging people to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously after testing positive for COVID-19 himself.
Churches go back to the future with drive-in services in the time of the coronavirus
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 23, 2020
(RNS) — Congregations from a variety of denominations in Kentucky, Texas, Washington and Minnesota are taking the drive-in approach at their churches, encouraging members to park their cars on church property and tune in to the service on their radios. Pathway Baptist Church did them one better.
Is St. Corona the patron saint of pandemics?
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 20, 2020
(RNS) — No, St. Corona is not the patron saint of pandemics — yet.
James MacDonald returns to pulpit for first time since ouster from Harvest Bible Chapel
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 19, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — MacDonald is set to preach Sunday (March 22) at Calvary Chapel South Bay in California — albeit via livestream as many churches have moved services online to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Christmas in March? Some people are turning on their lights to brighten a dark time
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 19, 2020
(RNS) — People across the country have had the same idea to turn on the Christmas lights still frozen to their rooftops or to pull their decor back out of storage to bring some light to a dark time.
United Methodist Church postpones General Conference amid coronavirus
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 18, 2020
(RNS) — The announcement came Wednesday (March 18) as the Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference was notified the Minneapolis Convention Center is restricting all events at the venue through May 10.
Crystals, chocolate, astral travel and good vibes for the soul
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 16, 2020
TORONTO (RNS) — Crystals aren't just trendy. I AM Academy is using them to build ‘a community of people who are looking to change themselves and change this world’ through astral travel, meditation and other metaphysical means.
United Methodist bishops ask church court to review proposal to split denomination
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 12, 2020
(RNS) — If the court rules the plan is constitutional, delegates could take up the proposal, called 'A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation,' at the United Methodist General Conference May 5-15 in Minneapolis.
