(RNS) — If we continue the mission of Jesus, then the Father can say of us, ‘These are my beloved sons and daughters, with whom I am well pleased.’
(RNS) — Reported baptisms declined in eight of the last 10 years and dropped by more than 100,000 since 2009, according to the denomination's Annual Church Profile.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention said it had 14.8 million members in 2018, down about 192,000 from the previous year.
(RNS) — While fasting is a time-honored way to observe Lent, another ancient tradition concerns being nourished by the Word of God.
(RNS) — Egypt's Coptic Orthodox community is reeling from the murder of the abbot of St. Macarius Monastery, apparently by traditionalists of his own faith, in a fourth-century center of meditation and scholarship near Cairo.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The church appeared to open the door to making official some ministries that women in remote parts of Latin America already perform, including celebrating baptisms.
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Catholics will not be baptized, confirmed, ordained or anointed until further notice in the country’s northwestern regions hardest hit by the outbreak.
(USA Today) — Multiple baptisms aren't uncommon in the American South, where beliefs and practices vary widely, even within various Christian denominations.
PHOENIX (RNS) The largest Protestant denomination has lost members for 10 years in a row and has baptized fewer people nine out of the last 10 years.
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A Church of Scotland committee is pushing for "a wide-ranging review of practice and procedure which is impacted by the use of new technology in church life."
(RNS) If the Provincial Synod adopts the resolution, the South African church will be the first African province of the Anglican Communion to welcome gays and lesbians as full members, though it will still bar gay marriages.
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ATLANTA (Reuters) Carroll County schools' assistant superintendent said in a statement on that the baptisms violated school district policy and that the district did not know the ceremony was scheduled to be held at the high school.
VILLA RICA, Ga. — The video, posted by First Baptist Villa Rica, was shot on school grounds just before football practice. "Take a look and see how God is STILL in our schools!" the caption with the video reads.
Not even the boom of Catholics in the Global South solves a core problem for the church: Rates are falling for baptism, first communion and other essential Catholic ceremonies.
