At Yale, Christian pastors sign a declaration opposing religious nationalism
United States RNS A group of Christian pastors, theologians and scholars has signed a declaration committing the signers to preaching on “moral issues “ ahead of the 2024 election and opposing what the group calls “religious nationalism”. The document defines religious nationalism as a political movement that it says is exploiting “traditional values” to undermine […]
Faith leaders ask Biden to mark Mother’s Day with prayer day against gun violence
United StatesRNS More than 550 faith leaders have asked President Joe Biden to declare Mother’s Day an occasion for Americans to pray for an end to gun violence. “While some may throw up their arms and say that this is a battle too large to win, we, an interfaith coalition, made up of Christians, Jews, […]
Lifestory: At 92, John Perkins still mobilises Christian communities
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, profiles John Perkins, Christian minister, activist and community developer and author of the influentiual book, ‘Let Justice Roll Down’…
Ron Sider, who wrote ‘Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger,’ dies at 82
United StatesRNS Ron Sider, an author, seminary professor and evangelical social justice activist, has died, according to an online update from his son. “I have some bad news: my father Ron Sider died suddenly last night [27th July, 2022], of a cardiac arrest,” Ted Snider wrote in a post on his father’s Substack newsletter website. […]
Faith leaders attend White House celebration of gun control law
United StatesRNS Faith leaders from a wide range of traditions, including those whose houses of worship have been attacked, were at the White House on Monday as members of Congress and other gun control advocates gathered for a White House celebration of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law on 25th June. Pastor Mike […]
Pro-life or pro-gun?: Shootings expose divisions on gun issue in faith communities
DEEPA BHARATH and HOLLY MEYER, of Associated Press, report on responses among church pastors to the recent spate of mass shootings in the US…
US Christian school drops ‘Freedom Matters’ event with COVID-denier Greg Locke
RNS A Tennessee Baptist school has canceled a contract to host an anti-masking, anti-critical race theory event featuring controversial pastor Greg Locke. Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, was scheduled to host the final event on the “Freedom Matters” tour, which features Locke, anti-critical race theory activist and hoaxer James Lindsay, conservative radio talk show host Alan […]
In the US, faith groups celebrate Virginia’s death penalty ban
RNS Faith groups are celebrating Virginia’s decision to ban the death penalty, a move considered to be a victory for religious opposition to capital punishment. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed the ban – the first of any Southern state and the 23rd overall – into law on Wednesday, declaring it “the moral thing to do.” […]
US Christian leaders urge clemency for Oklahoma death row inmate, cite mounting evidence
RNS Faith leaders are ramping up their support for an Oklahoma death row inmate as his clemency hearing nears. Julius Jones, 40, was sentenced to death in 2002, but his advocates say a different person committed the crime in which a prominent Edmond, Oklahoma, businessman was killed during a carjacking. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole […]
More than 500 US evangelicals, other faith leaders condemn religion at insurrection as “heretical”
Washington DC, USRNS More than 500 evangelical pastors and other faith leaders have signed an open letter decrying “radicalized Christian nationalism,” arguing that the religious expressions by insurrectionists during the 6th January attack on the US Capitol are “heretical” and a “perversion of the Christian faith”. The letter, which was organised by several Christian groups, including […]