RNS Press Releases

United Methodist Kairos Response welcomes pension fund exclusion and divestment of Israeli banks

By Religion News LLC — January 12, 2016

UM Kairos Response is pleased to announce that the $20-billion Pension and Health Benefits Fund of the United Methodist Church has declared the five largest Israeli banks off limits for investment and has divested from the two that it held in its portfolios. This is the first time a major church pension fund has acted […]

The movement to preach the new covenant Passover to 7 billion people

By Religion News LLC — January 11, 2016

In accordance with Jesus’ prophesy in Matthew 24:14 that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come,” all branches of the Church of God (restored Zion) in 175 countries have pledged to reveal the new covenant Passover to seven […]

The Rev. Canon Nathan LeRud named dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon

By Religion News LLC — January 11, 2016

Following an 18-month search process to review 60 candidates, senior warden Jerry Petty announced Sunday, January 10 that the chapter and vestry of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral had unanimously voted to call the Reverend Canon Nathan LeRud as the cathedral’s next dean. LeRud had previously been serving as the cathedral’s acting dean during the transition period. […]

Orbis Books author receives 2015 Olof Palme Prize

By Religion News LLC — January 7, 2016

MARYKNOLL, N.Y. – The Olof Palme Memorial Fund in Stockholm, Sweden has announced that the 2015 Olof Palme Prize has been awarded jointly to Palestinian pastor Mitri Raheb of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, Palestine, and Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, author and columnist for Haaretz, Israel’s oldest daily newspaper. Long engaged in local, regional, […]

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly – January 8, 2016

By Religion News LLC — January 6, 2016

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly is a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1919 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on January 8, 2016 (check local listings). Faith Groups and Big Business – Faith groups have been attempting to use their influence as stockholders to press major corporations […]

Yale ISM Congregations Project 2016

By Religion News LLC — January 5, 2016

Yale Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) announces the 2016 ISM Congregations Project. Now in its sixth year, the 2016 edition will expand its reach and condense its program to a three-day conference format, July 19 – 21, on the Yale campus in New Haven. The ecumenical, practice-oriented conference is open to leaders of congregations from […]

Denver Institute for Faith & Work announces new leadership fellowship for full-time professionals in Denver

By Religion News LLC — January 4, 2016

DENVER — Denver Institute for Faith & Work announces the launch of the 5280 Fellowship, a rigorous and selective nine-month leadership program for full-time professionals in the Denver metro area. The Fellowship forms participants in three areas: leadership and service, Christian theology and spiritual formation, and community networks and American culture. Named for Denver’s location […]

Wiesenthal Center joined by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen to release “2015 Top 10 Worst Global Anti-Semitic/Anti-Israel Incidents”

By Religion News LLC — January 4, 2016

Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, Founder and Dean and Associate Dean of the Jewish human rights NGO, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, were joined by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to announce the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s “2015 Top Ten Worst Global Anti-Semitic / Anti-Israel Incidents” at a recent press briefing at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in […]

Faithbox serves 100,000 meals to hungry children

By Religion News LLC — December 30, 2015

NEW YORK – Faithbox, a unique subscription box company dedicated to encouraging individuals with spiritually and ethically focused products, announced this week the completion of its 2015 year-end goal to provide more than 100,000 meals for hungry children through a partnership with Rice Bowls. Since Faithbox’s founding in 2014, its partnership with Rice Bowls has provided three […]

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly – January 1, 2016

By Religion News LLC — December 30, 2015

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly is a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1918 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on January 1, 2016 (check local listings). Look Ahead to 2016 – The annual special program looking ahead to the top religion and ethics stories our team will […]

“Peace among religions” featured on CBS Christmas Eve special

By Religion News LLC — December 24, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO – This year’s CBS Christmas Eve Special will present a groundbreaking interfaith program on the theme “MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH”, produced by the United Religions Initiative (URI), a global grassroots interfaith peacebuilding network, and broadcast on Thursday, December 24 (11:35 PM ET/PT, 10:35 CT) on CBS stations nationally. “At a time when […]

Co-founder of world’s largest Christian ministry dies

By Religion News LLC — December 23, 2015

Vonette Zachary Bright, co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru in the U.S.), the world’s largest Christian ministry, died today due to complications from acute leukemia. She was 89. Fueled by a desire to help others meet Christ and learn to follow him, Vonette and her late husband Dr. William “Bill” R. Bright […]

Responsibility to protect refugees

By Religion News LLC — December 23, 2015

Since the end of the Second World War, an international effort has been undertaken to protect civilians in armed conflict and to prevent genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. In 2005, recognizing the ongoing failure to adequately respond to the most heinous crimes known to humankind, world leaders at the United Nations […]

Lilly Endowment makes grant to address economic challenges facing pastoral leaders

By Religion News LLC — December 22, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS – Lilly Endowment Inc. has made grants to benefit 28 organizations totaling more than $28 million in its National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. These grants are to a variety of organizations across the nation that will help pastoral leaders develop stronger financial literacy skills and provide direct aid to help […]

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly – December 25, 2015