Members of the unofficial group of United Methodist bishops and advocacy group leaders who negotiated a proposal to split the denomination spoke about the process Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on a livestreamed panel hosted by United Methodist News Service. Video screengrab via UMNS
Need to know: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Why schism? United Methodist leaders explain proposal to split the denomination
Participants offered a behind-the-scenes look at how they arrived at a proposal, announced earlier this month, that would allow conservative United Methodist churches and conferences to split from the denomination over their beliefs barring LGBTQ United Methodists from ordination and marriage.
First woman Muslim chaplain commissioned in the US military
Saleha Jabeen became a second lieutenant in a December ceremony at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
New Benedict book promotes priestly celibacy, suggesting rift with Francis
In a new book he co-authored, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI defends clerical celibacy at a time when Pope Francis in considering allowing more married men to become Catholic priests.
Fairness for All: Caught between gender equality and religious liberty
The Fairness for All Act, designed to sort out the right to provide services or not based on one's faith, works as sentiment, but falls short as policy, writes Mark Silk.
Why ‘Cats’ is a musical for our time
The earnest shlock and high camp of 'Cats' — what else can we call Taylor Swift playing a feline in a pastiche of Eliot's Anglo-Catholic mysticism? — captures our current state of dread, writes Tara Isabella Burton.
Trump condemned for retweeting fake Islamophobic image featuring Pelosi
Muslim groups in the US have condemned Donald Trump for retweeting a fake image showing leading Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi wearing an approximation of traditional Islamic clothing and standing in front of the Iranian flag.
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Students expelled over same-sex marriages sue Fuller for discrimination
In an amended complaint filed this week, two former students allege Fuller Theological Seminary violated anti-discrimination laws when it expelled them after learning they were married to people of the same sex.
Marianne Williamson ends presidential bid, says campaign tried her faith
“When people have an image of you that's been deliberately manufactured, moving through that takes spiritual fortitude,” Marianne Williamson said.
Why Jewish mediator Kenneth Feinberg wants to save the United Methodist Church
'I thought that the church and what it stands for and its impact on the day-to-day lives of people was important and that we should step up and try and preserve that, which hopefully we've done,' says Feinberg.
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Two popes are one too many
(RNS) — Although technically Benedict lost his papal authority when he resigned, his new book on priestly celibacy shows how he still flexes his authority.
Why United Methodist Church’s plan for separation is good for everyone
(RNS) — For too long, United Methodists have been merely coexisting, without community, and too many congregations have grown accustomed to a theological ambiguity that dishonors our heritage.
An open letter from black church leaders and allies to Christianity Today
"We support the magazine's recent call to remove Trump, and offer a rebuke to those pastors and leaders outraged by its support of the president's impeachment."
