RNS Morning Report: SMU Sued; 2019 Top 10 Baby Names List; Mental Health Summit

Some United Methodist delegates gather to pray before a key vote on church policies about homosexuality on Feb. 26, 2019, during the special session of the UMC General Conference in St. Louis. RNS photo by Kit Doyle

Need to know: Monday, December 9, 2019

SMU sued as it moves to cut ties with United Methodist Church

Southern Methodist University has moved to cut ties with the United Methodist Church after the denomination voted to strengthen rules barring LGBTQ members from marriage and ordination earlier this year.

Muhammad breaks into top 10 US baby names list in 2019

The name, popular among Muslims as an act of devotion to honor Islam’s founder, has long been climbing parenting website BabyCenter’s annual list. This year, it made the cut.

Wheaton mental health summit remembers Jarrid Wilson’s ‘legacy of hope’

About 400 ministry leaders filled a sold-out auditorium at the Billy Graham Center for GC2: Facing Hard Truths and Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, focused on the topics of leadership, burnout and mental health.

Republicans introduce bill to protect LGBTQ rights and religious freedom

The ‘Fairness for All’ bill, introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart and eight other Republican legislators, is the culmination of a three-year effort to bridge the divide between LGBTQ people and religious conservatives.

Pelosi prays for Trump

The question is not 'Why?,' but why the president would not grasp the well-known Christian concept, writes Mark Silk.

Church nativity displays Jesus, Mary and Joseph in cages, separated at the border

The nativity display from Claremont United Methodist Church, a suburban congregation east of Los Angeles, is raising both praise and ire for its depiction of the biblical story of Jesus’s family fleeing to Egypt in the context of controversial U.S. immigration policies.

 


 

Latest news from RNS

Wheaton summit examines mental health and wellbeing for clergy

(RNS) — A summit for pastors on ‘leadership, burnout and mental health’ comes after the suicide of a prominent church leader and mental health advocate.

In Brazil, historic black lay Catholic ‘brotherhoods’ fight to survive

(RNS) — After centuries resisting slavery, racism and inequality, dozens of black Catholic lay associations are hopeful that a new network and changes in the Church will extend their history.

Pope Francis wants you to set up a Nativity scene to fight banal consumer Christmas

This year’s Christmas display incorporates fallen trees collected from more than 100,000 acres of land ravaged by a severe storm that hit northern Italy last year.

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Why Nancy Pelosi doesn’t hate the president and prays for him instead

Even when she wants to impeach President Donald Trump, Pelosi says she doesn't hate him. Instead, she says, her Catholic faith teaches her to pray for him even if they disagree, writes Thomas Reese.

Peter Singer on why we don’t help the global poor and why we should

(RNS) — 'To live an ethical life it's not enough to refrain from lying, stealing or killing,' says the renowned bioethicist. 'We have to assist people who lack the necessities they need to survive.'