Mainline

ELCA leaders call on Congress to pass US Citizenship Act of 2021 in new letter
(RNS) — Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America threw their support behind what they called ‘fair and compassionate transformations to our nation’s broken immigration system.’

Faith leaders urge clemency for Okla. death row inmate, cite mounting evidence

Dozens of houses of worship, one DC street, a 9-year photo project

Conservative United Methodists announce new name, logo, website for planned denomination
(RNS) — The planned denomination said it will split from the existing United Methodist Church no matter what the General Conference decides in 2022.

On late-night TV and bestseller lists, new books on prayer resonating with readers
(RNS) — After a tumultuous year, several new books about prayer from popular Christian authors seem to be speaking to the moment.

United Methodists reschedule meeting — and decision on splitting — again
(RNS) — In the meantime, bishops have called for another special session.

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.

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.

Faith, medical leaders collaborate to get COVID-19 vaccine in arms of more people
(RNS) — ‘A really wonderful facet of this work is the multifaith cooperation that we’re seeing already,’ said White House official Melissa Rogers.

Poor People’s Campaign meets with Joe Manchin, vows to protest for $15 minimum wage
(RNS) — ‘We are trying to get (Manchin) to live up to what he was told when he was a kid: If you have all these blessings, then you can share your blessings,’ said Jean Evansmore, a West Virginia resident.

As Biden floats immigration plan, Edith Espinal leaves 3-year stint in sanctuary
(RNS) — The 43-year-old Mexican native was allowed to go home on the same day President Joe Biden unveiled his immigration overhaul to Congress.

Chanequa Walker-Barnes resurrects self-care as a Lenten practice
(RNS) — After a year in which everyone has already given up an awful lot, this Lent the theologian is inviting others to join her for the Resurrecting Self-Care Challenge.

Can I get an amen? Black Americans’ faith, religious practice detailed in Pew study
(RNS) — Senior researcher Besheer Mohamed said that for Black American church shoppers, ‘the race of a congregation and the race of leadership would be not that important.’

‘The Deconstructionists Playbook’ outlines ways forward for questioning Christians
(RNS) — Our Bible App launched a Kickstarter campaign earlier this month to raise money to create a devotional book for not only deconstructing faith but also reconstructing and ‘liberating’ it.

When the Bible doesn’t make sense
Kristin Swenson wants to give readers space to understand that the Bible is weird, and a box full of tools to deal with that weirdness.