The Interview: Rev Mark Elsdon, editor of ‘Gone for Good’
As BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, speaks with Rev Mark Elsdon, a Presbyterian minister, author, social entrepreneur and editor of ‘Gone for Good’…
A second life?: Thousands of churches close every year. What will happen to their buildings?
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports on how, as congregations close down, some church leaders are looking to give their former buildings a second life…
Essay: Concerns for human rights continue to grow in post-coup Sudan
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says the situation facing churches in Sudan is worsening following last October’s coup…
Returning to church?: Across US, houses of worship struggle to rebuild attendance
As churches and other houses of worship return to in-person services in the US, DAVID CRARY, of The Associated Press, reports on how congregations are responding…
“Go in peace”: US church founded in 1800 holds last service
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, USAP A Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year because of declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve after […]
In US, Louisiana court to hear pastor’s case against virus charges
New Orleans, USAP Louisiana’s Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will hear arguments in a pastor’s fight against criminal charges he faces for violations of pandemic gathering limits that were in effect last year. Tony Spell got national attention when he began to flout the state’s public health order in March 2020 at a time […]
In Uganda, clergy sue government for imposing recurrent lockdown on places of worship
Kampala, Uganda Two groups of religious leaders in Uganda have petitioned the courts of law challenging a government’s decision to impose a recurrent lockdown on places of worship. One group, led by Pastor Peter Wisdom Katumba of Charis Fellowship Limited and Imam Muhammad Bbale of Taqwa Mosque, petitioned the nation’s High Court on 3rd August, […]
Post-COVID churches: Millions skipped services during pandemic. Will they return?
DAVID SHARP, of Associated Press, reports on the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on US faith communities…
In the US, California to pay $US2 million in church legal fees over virus closures
Los Angeles, US AP The state of California has agreed not to impose greater coronavirus restrictions on church gatherings than it does on retail establishments in a pair of settlements that provide more than $US2 million in fees to lawyers who challenged the rules as a violation of religious freedom. A deal approved Tuesday by […]
In the US, more Protestant churches closing than opening, study finds
RNS A new study from Lifeway Research suggests more Protestant churches closed in 2019 than opened – continuing a decades-long congregational slide that is only expected to accelerate. The study, which analysed church data from 34 Protestant denominations and groups, found that 4,500 churches closed in 2019, while about 3,000 new congregations were started. The 34 […]