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Willow Creek Association releases resource on ministry and #MeToo
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 31, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Willow Creek Association published a series of videos titled "Ministry and #MeToo" online Wednesday (Jan. 30), nine months after founder Bill Hybels stepped down amid allegations he acted sexually inappropriately with women at the Chicago-area evangelical megachurch he also had started, Willow Creek Community Church.
States’ move toward abortion extremism heats up ‘cold civil war’
By Charles C. Camosy — January 31, 2019
(RNS) — Common ground on abortion is substantial, if we only took time to look.
Fat and happy: the comforts of practicing a religion
By Yonat Shimron — January 31, 2019
(RNS) — In 35 countries, people who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier than those who attend infrequently or not at all. But active participation in religion is also associated with being fat.
Putin assails Ukraine Orthodox church reform
By The Associated Press — January 31, 2019
(AP) — Putin said the push for the new church was rooted in “the struggle for power” and provoked “animosity and intolerance.”
Conflict between brothers splits Uganda’s thriving Abayudaya Jewish community
By Tonny Onyulo — January 31, 2019
MBALE, Uganda (RNS) — A conflict between two brothers over money and religious practice is splitting Uganda's century-old Abayudaya Jewish community.
Pelosi, DeVos address Christian educators on policy and faith
By Adelle M. Banks — January 30, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The opening session of the conference of Christian college presidents featured speeches by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who spoke of their faith as an integral part of their work.
John of God’s sexual assault arrest tarnishes Brazil’s spiritist movement
By Eduardo Campos Lima — January 30, 2019
SAO PAOLO, Brazil (RNS) — More than 600 women — varying in age from 8 to 67 — have accused the medium of sexual assault, adding a distressing chapter to the long history of spiritist mediums in Brazil.
Kenyan Supreme Court overturns ruling allowing hijab in Christian schools
By Fredrick Nzwili — January 30, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — The latest twist in a long-running debate over school dress codes has outraged Muslim parents in the predominantly Christian country.
What are Muslim prayer rugs?
By Rose Aslan — January 29, 2019
(The Conversation) — Islamic carpets have been popular for centuries in Europe and beyond, often picking up symbolism, social meaning and ways of being used.
Fighting hate, from Tree of Life synagogue to Charleston’s Mother Emanuel Church
By Beth Kissileff — January 29, 2019
PITTSBURGH (RNS) — In response to hate, we connected with other victims of hate to increase good in the world and honor those slain in the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018.
In polarized Washington, a Democrat anchors bipartisan friendships in faith
By Jack Jenkins — January 29, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — 'I’m only on my third time through reading the Bible, start to finish, in a year,' Sen. Chris Coons said.
Bible study and skateboards meet at Skatechurch
By Bobby Ross Jr. — January 29, 2019
TULSA, Okla. (RNS) — The Skatechurch ministry at First United Methodist in Tulsa hopes to reach skateboard fans with the Bible.
The Riz Test: How Muslims are misrepresented in film and TV
By Zahra Khosroshahi — January 28, 2019
(The Conversation) — In their own words, the Riz Test: “is a project to measure the portrayal of Muslims in film and TV."
Evangelical Christians need an exit ramp from Trumpism
By Jacob Lupfer — January 28, 2019
(RNS) — Political observers seem to assume that Trump’s Christian base will follow him no matter what. But recent polls show a decent Republican alternative could peel them away from the president in the 2020 primaries.
Former staff member at Dallas-area megachurch indicted for indecency with a child
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 28, 2019
(RNS) — A former associate children's minister at The Village Church, a Dallas-area evangelical megachurch, has been indicted for indecency with a child involving sexual contact.
