News

Black SBC leader urges African American fellowship to stay the course

By Adelle M. Banks — June 15, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — ‘I want to encourage you before you do anything, seek the will of God,’ said the Rev. Marshal Ausberry Sr.

Gavel named for slaveholder replaced with one recalling missionary at SBC meeting

By Adelle M. Banks — June 15, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — SBC President J.D. Greear is showing ‘the need for continuing to move from the past that we had to the present that we’re in,’ says a SBC historian.

At Founders event, Southern Baptists urged to choose Bible over ‘paganism,’ CRT

By Bob Smietana — June 15, 2021
(RNS) — Critics of the current leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention say the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has ‘forgotten God.’

SBC Executive Committee rejects request for system-wide abuse inquiry

By Adelle M. Banks — June 14, 2021
(RNS) — Another committee member argued against a fellow member’s request, saying there is no one in the SBC who favors sex abuse.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles issues new guidelines to fully reopen parishes

By Alejandra Molina — June 14, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Masks will not be required for fully vaccinated people during indoor and outdoor religious services.

Sex abuse survivors call for system-wide audit of Southern Baptist Convention

By Yonat Shimron — June 14, 2021
(RNS) — The group of eight survivors wants the convention to go beyond the review of the Executive Committee that was announced last week.

‘Am I the worst thing a person can be?’: Witches fight media bias

By Heather Greene — June 14, 2021
(RNS) — 'Criminals aren’t labeled as Baptist,' one witch observed, unless the crime is related to professed religious beliefs, as was the case in the recent spa shootings in Atlanta.

Pope demands food aid reach starving people of Tigray

By Associated Press — June 14, 2021
ROME (AP) — Francis called for an immediate end to the fighting in Tigray, the return of social harmony and for ‘all food aid and health care assistance to be guaranteed.’

EXPLAINER: What will change under Israel’s new government?

By Joseph Krauss — June 14, 2021
JERUSALEM (AP) — The next government, which will be led by the ultranationalist Naftali Bennett, has vowed to chart a new course aimed at healing the country's divisions and restoring a sense of normalcy.

EXPLAINER: Who is Naftali Bennett, Israel’s new leader?

By Joseph Krauss — June 14, 2021
JERUSALEM (AP) — Bennett represents a third generation of Israeli leaders, after the founders of the state and Netanyahu's generation.

At least three critical race theory statements proposed for Southern Baptist meeting

By Adelle M. Banks — June 11, 2021
(RNS) — There’s a lot riding on the resolutions committee’s work, with critical race theory as one of the 'points of tension' it has to manage, its chair said.

Zahid Quraishi confirmed as first Muslim federal judge

By Joseph Hammond — June 11, 2021
(RNS) — The US Army veteran has been assigned to a federal district court in New Jersey.

Photos of the Week: Belgium hunger strike; SBC tension

By Kit Doyle — June 11, 2021
(RNS) — This week’s photo selection includes a hunger strike in Belgium, tension before the Southern Baptist Convention meeting and more. 

German Cardinal’s resignation, refused by pope, reinvigorates church reform

By Claire Giangravé — June 11, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — For lay organizers of the controversial Synodal Path in Germany, Cardinal Marx’s resignation strengthened their efforts.

Southern Baptist Executive Committee hires Guidepost Solutions to review Moore allegations

By Bob Smietana — June 11, 2021
(RNS) — SBC leaders have been accused of trying to delay attempts to deal with abuse and of mistreating abuse survivors.
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