A prayer gathering of Friendship House in Fayetteville, N.C. Scott Cameron sits on the floor beside his dog. RNS photo by Yonat Shimron.
Need to know: Friday, May 31, 2019
Vanier is gone, but his Christian model for living alongside the disabled takes root
Jean Vanier’s core principle of 'Eat together, pray together, celebrate together' forms the basis for Friendship House, where students share living space with people with disabilities.
Lutheran student pastor deported amid protests
At Emaus ELCA Church in Racine, Wis., student pastor Betty Rendón was 'very well loved,' and a lot of people are feeling the loss, church leaders said.
In St. Louis, ‘Grill to Glory’ deploys churches (and hot dogs) for community renewal
A partnership between churches and a local nonprofit helps to build community through cookouts in crime-plagued North St. Louis.
To Botham Jean’s parents, fatal shooting still feels ‘as if it just happened’
Almost nine months have passed since an off-duty police officer entered Botham Shem Jean’s apartment and opened fire, killing the church song leader. Bertrum and Allison Jean mourn as a racial unity summit paid tribute to their slain son.
What Israel’s new election reveals about the struggle over Jewishness
As Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews become more numerous, and powerful, many politicians are capitalizing on anti-religious sentiment among secular Jews, including calling on Haredim to submit to the draft, writes Joyce Dalsheim.
With attendance down, rural churches pool resources to keep doors open
Rural churches, often the bedrock of the community, are facing declining membership. In hopes of surviving, they are teaming up, with clergy sharing programs and using their cars as mobile offices.
Latest news from RNS
Immigrant-run sewing co-op aims to end fast fashion culture, starting with Muslims
One of the country’s first clothing cooperatives run by immigrant and refugee women, Blue Tin Production aims to develop ethical manufacturing for Muslim designers while offering well-paying opportunities for skilled immigrants.
After harassment of Sikh bus driver, Maryland school district agrees to awareness training
Since he began working as a school bus driver in suburban Maryland more than a decade ago, Sawinder Singh’s colleagues, supervisors and students taunted him because of his religion and ethnicity.
Evangelical financial watchdog faces scrutiny over backing of errant megachurch
Critics say the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability ignored 'glaring improprieties' in Harvest Bible Chapel’s finances for too long.
More views from RNS
Denied and deported: Love and marriage in the Palestinian territories
After 28 years of entering Israel multiple times per year, Elaine Zoughbi was suddenly denied entry by an airport border agent. The reason? She had married a Palestinian.
I was an expert witness against a teacher who taught students to question the Holocaust
(The Conversation) — When it comes to what a New Jersey teacher let or encouraged his students to believe when it comes to Hitler and the Holocaust, his lessons weren’t just wrong, they were dangerous.
The priest in ‘Fleabag’ is not cool
The hard-drinking, foulmouthed priest in Amazon Prime’s series "Fleabag" has been described as cool. But cool priests don't deny their parishioners the person they really need.
