Evangelical
How Dominican women fight child marriage and teen pregnancy while facing total abortion bans
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez — January 2, 2024
AZUA, Dominican Republic (AP) — With a Bible on its flag, the Caribbean country has a powerful lobby of Catholics and evangelicals who are united against decriminalizing abortion.
RNS reporters look ahead to the big religion stories they expect in 2024
By RNS staff — December 30, 2023
(RNS) — From papal reforms to psychedelics to presidential elections, here are the big religion stories RNS reporters anticipate this coming year.
The top religion stories of 2023
By Paul O'Donnell — December 29, 2023
(RNS) — Some of the year's most dramatic global events had religion at their center.
Southern Baptists settle abuse lawsuit against legendary conservative leader Paul Pressler
By Bob Smietana — December 29, 2023
(RNS) — Texas Judge Paul Pressler, a conservative activist and one of the founding fathers of the so-called conservative resurgence, had been accused of abusing young men for years.
13 emerging faith leaders who made their mark in 2023
By Yonat Shimron — December 28, 2023
(RNS) — 2023's rising stars in religion are loud, proud and defiant.
Faith leaders, influencers who died in 2023: Preachers, protesters, writers, singers
By Adelle M. Banks — December 26, 2023
(RNS) — We also bid farewell to some celebrities and influencers whose time on stages sometimes represented public faith or whose lives were strengthened by their personal faith.
IHOPKC cuts ties with Mike Bickle over ‘inappropriate behavior’
By Bob Smietana — December 23, 2023
(RNS)— Best known for launching a round-the-clock prayer and missions group, Bickle admitted to ‘past misconduct’ earlier this month.
Dave Ramsey ‘cult-like’ lawsuit dismissed, but class-action suit moves forward
By Bob Smietana — December 22, 2023
(RNS) — A former employee said he'd been misled when leaders of the Christian financial guru's company denied its culture was cult-like. A federal judge didn't buy it, but Ramsey still faces other lawsuits alleging his management of his media empire is discriminatory.
Western churches called for cease-fire. Palestinian Christians heard empty words.
By Hanna Vioque — December 21, 2023
(RNS) — Palestinian Christians have felt abandoned by global Christian church leaders’ statements on the Israel-Hamas war, with some viewing the war as a moment for Western denominations to reckon with their colonialist past.
Church for ‘nones’: Meet the anti-dogma spiritual collectives emerging across the US
By Kathryn Post — December 20, 2023
ATLANTA (RNS) — These spiritual communities discard doctrine, prefer questions over answers and have no intention of converting anybody to anything.
New study finds Christian nationalists to be more complex than media portrayals
By Jack Jenkins — December 18, 2023
(RNS) — Many Christian nationalists, the group Neighborly Faith found, espouse troubling views while simultaneously expressing openness to aspects of American pluralism.
How a remnant group of United Methodists is making a new church home
By Yonat Shimron — December 18, 2023
ADVANCE, N.C. (RNS) — Here, in the middle of a bland industrial park that looks like a self-storage facility, a new church is emerging.
On the YouVersion Bible app, Americans looked for hope, not arguments, in 2023
By Bob Smietana — December 15, 2023
(RNS) — Bible verses on topics like hope and peace were among the most searched for on the YouVersion Bible app in 2023.
Latino majority congregations see growth, financial struggles, report finds
By Adelle M. Banks — December 13, 2023
(RNS) — ‘Still, the overarching picture for majority Latino congregations looks more promising than for other congregations,’ said sociologist of religion Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi.
Abilene Christian University to revisit sexuality policy after ‘Holy Sexuality Week’
By Kathryn Post — December 13, 2023
(RNS) — Over 2,000 students, alumni and friends of the university signed a letter claiming the event included one-sided, exclusionary messages about LGBTQ people.
