Protestant

Two more leave church sanctuary as immigration policies ease
(RNS) — The two are the latest beneficiaries of new Biden administration guidelines that restrain ICE from arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants who do not pose a threat to public safety.

John Baker, founder of the Christian support group Celebrate Recovery, has died

VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer calls evangelicalism a ‘hot mess.’ He hasn’t given up hope.

Human Rights Campaign urges Black church LGBTQ acceptance via video
(RNS) — The video features prominent church leaders and LGBTQ advocates sharing their perspectives — and sometimes evolving attitudes — on LGBTQ identity while images highlight Black history and congregational life.

Dwight McKissic living at seminary after storm: ‘God is making sure our needs are met’
(RNS) — The Texas pastor said any differences he may have with seminary President Adam Greenway did not prompt him to refuse an offer of housing.

Southern Baptists expel four churches for abuse and LGBTQ membership
(RNS) — Denominational leaders also accepted a report on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission but took no action.

Carman, beloved by ’90s evangelical kids, was a Pentecostal showman at heart
(RNS) — The wildly popular troubadour was equal parts Pentecostal flair and Disney levels of cartoonish imagination.

How Philadelphia’s Black churches overcame disease, depression and civil strife
(The Conversation) — The story of how three Black churches endured events similar to those afflicting society today can give both solace and hope.

SBC President J.D. Greear: ‘God did not call Southern Baptists to save America’
(RNS) — In a speech to the SBC Executive Committee meeting, Greear asked, ‘Do we want to be a gospel people, or a Southern culture people? Which is the more important part of our name — Southern or Baptist?’

Author Shauna Niequist apologizes for her silence following allegations against father, Bill Hybels
(RNS) — Niequist spoke out about the allegations for the first time in a long Instagram caption posted Monday (Feb. 22)

Washington taps pastors to overcome racial divide on vaccine
(AP) — Health officials in the nation’s capital are hoping religious leaders will serve as community influencers to overcome what officials say is a persistent vaccine reluctance in the Black community.

10 years after quake, Christ Church Cathedral finally rising
(RNS) — After years of debate over whether to restore the building or start from scratch, it’s being rebuilt to look much like the original that was finished in 1904.

Let the church declare: Asian Lives Matter
(RNS) — Anti-Asian attacks have been skyrocketing at an alarming rate since the start of the pandemic. Yet there has been a gaping void of evangelical voices publicly speaking up to defend their Asian American brothers and sisters.

Want to understand Black experience? Learn about African American faith, survey finds
(RNS) — A significant percentage of Black church attendees — 69% — agree that pastors of Black congregations are the African American community’s most important leaders.

Ministry leaders’ rush to empathize with Ravi Zacharias is beyond alarming
(RNS) — It is deeply troubling to see so many men, especially in ministry leadership, find a more immediate connection with the abuser rather than the abused.