church
Can pastors make a comeback after scandal? One Baptist tries
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 10, 2016
(RNS) Half of Protestant pastors say their peers should step down from the pulpit for a time if they are accused of misconduct, according to new LifeWay data.
Men and women divide on religion
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 22, 2016
(RNS) Mind the gap. A new study of 192 countries finds women, particularly Christians, usually lead in religiosity worldwide. But it can't explain why.
On Ash Wednesday, I remember: I am a sinner. I will die (COMMENTARY)
By Jacob Lupfer — February 10, 2016
(RNS) Ash Wednesday reminds us we are dead in our sins and, soon enough, dead in fact. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
France bulldozes refugees’ church, mosque
By Rosie Scammell — February 1, 2016
(RNS) "There was just time for a last minute prayer before the machinery tore in," a British charity reported. "The pastor stood by in dignified silence, clutching the remaining cross from the Church roof."
The ‘Church of Star Wars’ — at least for one Sunday in a German congregation
By Reuters — December 20, 2015
BERLIN (Reuters) "The more we talked about it, the more parallels we discovered between Christian traditions and the Star Wars movies," said Ulrike Garve. "We wanted to make churchgoers aware of these analogies."
O come to church all ye faithful, sort of faithful and atheists, too
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 14, 2015
(RNS) Church at Christmastime is not just about pageants and parties and family. Jesus makes the difference in drawing crowds -- including many unbelievers, a new survey finds.
Salvadoran priest fired over alleged sex with minor
By Reuters — November 26, 2015
Jesus Delgado was the biographer and personal secretary of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was shot by a right-wing death squad while saying Mass in 1980.
After uproar, German town warms to refugees who took over church
By Reuters — November 26, 2015
When news of the plan to house 50 refugees in the church and suspend Sunday services spread through the town, angry residents pressed church and city officials to reconsider. But nearly a month on, the uproar has died down and residents are beginning to warm to the refugees.
Seventh church set fire in string of St. Louis arsons
By Kim Bell — October 22, 2015
ST. LOUIS — The Shrine of St. Joseph on the outskirts of downtown is not a black church. It was a predominantly white and Roman Catholic church, dating back to 1843.
Post-traumatic church syndrome? Yep, it’s a thing.
By Jonathan Merritt — August 24, 2015
In her hilarious and raw memoir, "Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome," Reba Riley describes her struggle to heal from wounds inflicted by institutional Christianity. Here she talks about healing.
Carl Lentz on how Hillsong Church is becoming ‘gay welcoming’ without compromising their convictions
By Jonathan Merritt — August 10, 2015
Hillsong Church says they are a "gay welcoming" congregation, even though they are not gay affirming. Hillsong pastor Carl Lents explains how they are attempting to think through and navigate this difficult issue.
An abuse survivor speaks to the church
By Boz Tchividjian — July 31, 2015
Powerful and personal words that call for the church to reflect the genuine image of Jesus.
Sudan detains 10 women for wearing miniskirts and trousers to church
By Fredrick Nzwili — July 13, 2015
(RNS) Police charged 12 women under Sudan’s 1991 Criminal Act, but two were released. The rest are to appear in court in the coming days. If convicted, each will face 40 lashes.
Pastors, faithful pick up gun training: ‘We need it in church’
By Bianca Graulau — June 23, 2015
A gun range owner says he trains church-goers so they can defend themselves from attacks such at the killings at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church.
Americans’ confidence in religion hits a new low
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 17, 2015
(RNS) The church and organized religion once led Gallup's annual list of institutions rated with the highest levels of confidence. Not anymore.
