After traditionalist churches left, United Methodist Church may be more – not less – diverse
United States RNS After the departure of thousands of traditionalist United Methodist churches from the denomination over the past five years, it might stand to reason that those congregations remaining in the fold are more progressive and open to ordination and marriage of people in same-sex relationships. But the picture is far more mixed. A […]
North Carolina megachurch exits Southern Baptist Convention after expulsions over women pastors
United StatesAP Less than a month after finalising the ouster of one of its largest churches for having women pastors, the Southern Baptist Convention has lost another of its biggest congregations. Elevation Church – a North Carolina-based megachurch that draws thousands of worshippers to its multiple campuses and has wielded a strong influence on contemporary Christian worship […]
Cyber fraud cost Florida Baptists more than $US700,000
United StatesRNS Staff at the Florida Baptist Convention thought they were sending mission money to help pay for church planting. Then the money disappeared. “The Florida Baptist Convention continues to work with federal and state investigators, our internal and external auditors to recover over $700,000 in funds stolen from the convention through cyber-targeting,” according to […]
‘Purple church’ pastors mull leadership strategies in polarising times
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USRNS Each Wednesday evening, a group of congregants from First Baptist Church of Mt Olive, located about 105 kilometres south-east of Raleigh, gathers for a Bible study called “Tackling Tough Topics Together”. The 10 to 20 regulars have discussed race, human sexuality and mental illness. Those kinds of conversations are rare and […]
Seeking to make a difference: For many US congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling
YONAT SHIMRON, of Religion News Service, reports that while donations from religious groups constitute less than 20 per cent of RIP Medical Debt’s overall revenue, they are becoming an increasingly common way for congregations to do social justice…
In the US, William Barber launches new centre at Yale, will retire from church
United StatesRNS Yale Divinity School is launching a new Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, an advocacy-focused body to be led by prominent pastor and activist Rev William Barber II. “The goal of this centre will be to prepare a new generation – what we call moral fusion leaders – that are going to […]
Nicole leaves “unprecedented” building damage along part of Florida coast
Atlanta. Georgia, US Reuters The soaking remains of Hurricane Nicole brought heavy rains to Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday after it left a trail of destroyed and teetering beachside homes and damaged hotels and condos along Florida’s Atlantic coast and killed at least four people. In Volusia County, local officials evacuated 24 beachside hotels […]
A new Billy Graham archive opens on the late evangelist’s birthday
United StatesRNS In the twilight of his 99 years, Rev Billy Graham met with Duke Divinity School historian Grant Wacker, who was writing a biography of the famous evangelist. Graham leaned over at one point and, according to Wacker, asked the him, “’Do you think the archives at Wheaton are well run?’” I said, ‘Yeah. They are,.’” […]
In the US, United Methodist Church announces date, location for thrice-postponed General Conference
United StatesRNS Perhaps the third time will be the charm for United Methodists awaiting a vote to officially split the denomination. The United Methodist Church has announced the dates for the next meeting of its global decision-making body after postponing its 2020 General Conference meeting three times for pandemic-related reasons. The downtown skyline of Charlotte, […]
Climate impacts: US east coast faces “competing catastrophies” as fire risk grows
DAVID SHERFINSKI, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on the rising climate change-fuelled threats facing communities on the US east coast…