In the US, William Sterling Cary, pioneering Black pastor, dies at 94
Chicago, USAP William Sterling Cary, a pioneering minister and civil rights activist who was the first Black person in prominent church leadership roles including president of the National Council of Churches, has died, according to family members. He was 94. Cary died Sunday at his suburban Chicago home in Flossmoor following heart failure after a […]
US National Council of Churches elects all-female officers, approves NRSV update
RNS The National Council of Churches has elected an all-female slate of officers for the first time in the ecumenical organisation’s 71-year history. Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, leader of the Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, on Wednesday became chair of the organisation, starting a two-year term along with the other officers. She […]
Christian leaders meet with White House to advocate for social programs, voting rights
Washington DC, US RNS Faith leaders representing a broad spectrum of Christian groups will meet with White House officials on Wednesday to advocate for voting rights and social programs they say protect the poor and vulnerable. The group, which is organised by the advocacy organisation Circle of Protection, includes influential Catholics, leaders of major Black […]
US infrastructure bill includes energy efficiency grants for houses of worship
RNS Buried on page 1,729 of the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill approved by the US Senate on Tuesday in a bipartisan vote is a project titled “Energy efficiency materials pilot program”. It would fund $US50 million in grants to non-profits, including religious congregations, so they can buy new energy efficient heating and cooling systems for their buildings. The […]
Trump religious freedom ambassador launches international religious freedom meeting
Washington DC, USRNS Sam Brownback, former US ambassador for international religious freedom in the Trump administration, helped launch a conference on international religious freedom in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, bringing together an array of faith and political leaders with the goal of tackling discrimination around the globe. The three-day IRF Summit 2021 “is about […]
As US Senate convenes hearing, more than 300 faith leaders declare support for DC statehood
Washington DC, USRNS More than 300 faith leaders and heads of prominent religious organisations signed a letter sent to Senate leadership on Tuesday backing the call to make Washington, DC, a state, adding religious support to the growing Democratic-led effort. “As clergy and faith leaders from across our nation, we write to express our strong […]
US faith leaders call for elimination of Senate filibuster
AP A coalition of faith leaders and activists on Monday demanded the elimination of the Senate filibuster, wading into a crucial debate in Washington with a 50-50 Senate and President Joe Biden eyeing ambitious legislation on expanding voting rights, stemming gun violence and other proposals that face opposition from Republicans. Led by prominent progressive pastor […]
National Council of Churches in Australia calls for Sunday to be national day of prayer concerning the coronavirus pandemic
Australia’s National Council of Churches has called for Christians to join in a national day of prayer in response to the coronavirus pandemic this Sunday, 2nd August. In a message on the NCCA website, Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins, president of the NCCA, said it was “comforting when we know we are all praying together to our […]
The reopening question: As US states ease lockdown restrictions, churches must decide when – and how – to reopen
EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER and JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service report on how US churches are grappling with whether to stay closed as coronavirus-related restrictions ease…
After mass killings, Trump condemns white supremacy but faces pressure for gun control while US Christian leaders call for action
Washington, DCReuters US President Donald Trump on Monday proposed tighter monitoring of the internet, mental health reform and wider use of the death penalty in response to mass shootings over the weekend that killed 31 people in Texas and Ohio. Republican Trump, who has been criticised by Democrats as stoking racial divisions with his rhetoric, […]