Christianity
Anglican denomination erupts into power struggle after Bishop Stewart Ruch’s return
By Kathryn Post — June 8, 2023
(RNS) — The struggle broke into the open Wednesday when ACNA’s archbishop accused his denomination’s highest court of attempting to stop an investigation into charges against Ruch.
Southwestern Baptist seminary ran up $140 million in deficit spending since 2000
By Bob Smietana — June 8, 2023
(RNS) — For decades, spending went up at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while enrollment plummeted, causing the school to overspend by millions in 19 of the last 21 years.
Religion can help LGBTQ Mormons’ mental health, especially if they’re out of the closet
By Jana Riess — June 8, 2023
(RNS) — So far in Tyler Lefevor’s longitudinal psychology study, religion has been a net positive for the mental health of some LGBTQ Mormons. As a queer former Latter-day Saint, he’s surprised by this too.
Pat Robertson, broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics, dies at 93
By Ben Finley — June 8, 2023
The Christian Broadcasting Network founder tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics in America through his Christian Coalition.
Poll: Most religious Americans believe there are only two genders
By Yonat Shimron — June 8, 2023
(RNS) — Americans’ views of trans people have hardened over the past two years, a new PRRI survey shows.
Cornel West for prophet! (Not president.)
By Andre Henry — June 7, 2023
(RNS) — The Bible tells us that prophets don’t make good kings.
Bart Barber, Mike Stone — two conservative pastors — to square off for SBC president
By Bob Smietana — June 7, 2023
(RNS) — The two candidates for SBC president hold many of the same beliefs but disagree sharply over how to handle the issue of sexual abuse and over the direction of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
Pope Francis undergoes hernia surgery, will stay at hospital several days
By Claire Giangravé — June 7, 2023
(RNS) — The decision to operate was made after Pope Francis went to the hospital Tuesday for a routine checkup.
With Keller’s death, ‘young, restless and Reformed’ new Calvinists are at a crossroads
By Bob Smietana and Kathryn Post — June 6, 2023
(RNS) — The Reformed resurgence swept through evangelicalism in the early 2000s, fueled by Calvinism, charisma and complementarianism. Despite the fall of a number of leaders, the movement retains staying power.
Book: The world is losing its religion. Revival is unlikely.
By Yonat Shimron — June 6, 2023
(RNS) — In ‘Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society,’ three sociologists lay out a theory that can be summed up in a simple phrase: Modernization creates problems for religion.
Vatican bank reports significant profit adopting Catholic ethics
By Claire Giangravé — June 6, 2023
(RNS) — Once a symbol of financial malfeasance, the Vatican bank has successfully rebranded itself as a pillar of transparency at the Vatican.
Oklahoma school board approves what would be the 1st taxpayer-funded religious school
By Sean Murphy — June 5, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state school board in Oklahoma voted Monday to approve what would be the first publicly funded religious school in the nation, despite a warning from the state's attorney general that the decision was unconstitutional.
Molly Worthen’s conversion represents a truce in evangelical infighting. Will it last?
By Jacob Lupfer — June 5, 2023
(RNS) — The conversion of a religious history professor was a boon for evangelicals. But will they take the win?
Rick Warren campaigns for Southern Baptist reinstatement of Saddleback Church
By Adelle M. Banks — June 5, 2023
(RNS) — Warren argues that the debate is far larger than what might happen to the church he founded.
Seattle’s Quest Church leaves ECC as church affirms LGBTQ Christians
By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 5, 2023
(RNS) — The Seattle megachurch’s move to disaffiliate from the denomination comes as the ECC was prepared to vote this summer on expelling Quest and Awaken Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, over the churches' support for LGBTQ Christians.
