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
High court declines New Jersey preservation grants case
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 4, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court declined Monday to take up a case from New Jersey that raised the issue of preservation grants to religious buildings.
Independent report finds allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 28, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group released its findings in a report posted online Thursday (Feb. 28) by Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area.
‘In this to the end’: LGBT United Methodists express hurt, hope after vote
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 28, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — After a wrenching three days of deliberations and spending $3.7 million to organize a special conference of its global church, the UMC has only marginally more more clarity on its future than when the meeting began.
United Methodists pass Traditional Plan, keep ban on LGBTQ clergy, same-sex marriage
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 26, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — Delegates to a special session of the United Methodist Church decided Tuesday to strengthen the denomination’s ban on the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ people.
United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 25, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — The plan recommended by the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops will 'almost certainly still come up' as a minority report during Tuesday's plenary session, according to one LGBTQ advocacy group.
United Methodists vote pensions, ‘Traditional Plan’ as top priorities
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 25, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — The so-called Traditional Plan ranked just below pensions in a vote ranking plans and petitions as high or low priority taken at the start of the special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference.
The ‘Splainer: What’s the United Methodist special session all about?
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 22, 2019
(RNS) — You’ve probably heard that the United Methodist Church meeting this weekend in St. Louis has something to do with sexuality and a possible schism. Let us ’Splain …
What will happen at the special session? Here’s what United Methodists predict
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 22, 2019
(RNS) — We asked pastors, bishops, delegates, activists and other United Methodists in the United States to share what they expect — and hope — to happen at the denomination's upcoming special session on sexuality. Here’s what they suggest we keep an eye out for.
Harvest announces executive committee will resign, more changes after MacDonald fired
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 19, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Chicago-area megachurch announced that the entire executive committee of its elders will resign over the next few months — one of several changes coming after the ouster of its founding pastor, James MacDonald.
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, former refugee and Obama White House adviser, to head LIRS
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 18, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — Vignarajah, who was policy director for former first lady Michelle Obama, is the second refugee and the first non-Lutheran to lead the Baltimore-based organization in its 80-year history.
Historic United Methodist church sees ‘hopeful’ time for LGBTQ Christians
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 15, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — LGBTQ-affirming United Methodists are split over which proposed plan to support at the denomination's special session — and what they'll do if a plan passes that strengthens rules against the full inclusion of LGBTQ people.
James MacDonald fired as Harvest Bible Chapel pastor
By Bob Smietana and Emily McFarlan Miller — February 13, 2019
(RNS) — Elders announced that the church founder was fired for 'engaging in conduct that the Elders believe is contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.'
Two years after Trump’s travel ban, faith-based refugee groups struggle
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins — February 4, 2019
(RNS) – Since the start of fiscal year 2017, the country has lost one-third of its capacity to welcome and resettle refugees in local communities.
Willow Creek Association releases resource on ministry and #MeToo
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 31, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Willow Creek Association published a series of videos titled "Ministry and #MeToo" online Wednesday (Jan. 30), nine months after founder Bill Hybels stepped down amid allegations he acted sexually inappropriately with women at the Chicago-area evangelical megachurch he also had started, Willow Creek Community Church.
Former staff member at Dallas-area megachurch indicted for indecency with a child
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 28, 2019
(RNS) — A former associate children's minister at The Village Church, a Dallas-area evangelical megachurch, has been indicted for indecency with a child involving sexual contact.