Essay: A dramatic schism over social issues? The United Methodist Church has been here before – but this time, America’s religious landscape is far different
CHRISTOPHER H EVANS, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at the parallels between the current UMC schism and that which took place in 1844…
African Methodist Episcopal Church leaders call for halt to all US funding of Israel
United States RNS The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s top officials have called for the US Government to halt all its funding of Israel, citing the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Hamas-Israel war. “The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church calls on the United States Government to immediately withdraw […]
US Black church coalition names reparations, voting, health equity among priorities
United StatesRNS The Conference of National Black Churches has called on African American congregations to embrace a list of priorities – from “government-sponsored reparations” to improved access to healthcare – as they move out of a pandemic era and into an election year. “We believe Black life must be valued and the humanity of all […]
US Vice President Harris critiques Florida’s slavery view at AME churchwomen’s meeting
United StatesRNS In a speech to a women’s convention of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris responded to a written invitation from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to discuss the state’s controversial standards for teaching the history of slavery in public schools. “I’m here in Florida and I will tell you there is […]
Ongoing role: COVID-19 health emergency is ending but in the US, faith-based vaccine clinics continue
Over the last few years, African American congregations have provided outsized action on getting people tested and vaccinated. ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports on how this will look going forward…
Essay: A brief history of the Black church’s diversity, and its vital role in American political history
JASON OLIVER EVANS, a scholar of Christian theology and African American religion, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation, at the history and influence of the Black church in the United States…
US panel on security for houses of worship begins its work
United StatesRNS On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur this year at Temple Emanu-El, a landmark Reform synagogue steps from Manhattan’s Central Park, a 15-by-28 centimetre flyer was placed at every seat, next to the prayer books, offering instructions on what to do in the event of an attack during one of the High Holiday services. […]
In the US, AME bishops condemn leaders who took massive kickbacks from church sales in New York
United StatesRNS A group of New York clergy took more than a million dollars from a real estate developer who sought to turn distressed Black churches into lucrative properties, according to settlements with that state’s Attorney General. The settlements, posted on the Attorney General’s website in August, show that a bishop, two pastors and a […]
AME Church alleges former retirement services exec embezzled tens of millions
United StatesRNS The African Methodist Episcopal Church has sued a former executive who oversaw its pension plan’s investment portfolio, charging that he and others embezzled money and defrauded its clergy and church ministers who were relying on its annuity plan for their retirement. The legal action follows the filing of class action suits that alleged […]
Bishop Vashti McKenzie to lead US National Council of Churches for next two years
RNS Bishop Vashti McKenzie, a recently retired bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has been named the interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, the ecumenical organisation announced on Tuesday. McKenzie succeeds Jim Winkler, who left the post on 31st January after serving in the role since 2013. She officially […]