RNS Weekly Digest: A Christian nation? At 250, America is still fighting over what that means

A Christian nation? At 250, America is still fighting over what that means

When people ask Holly Hollman if America is a Christian nation, she has a simple response. “What do you mean by that?” The longtime general counsel of the Washington, D.C.-based Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which promotes the separation of church and state, Hollman explains that if the question is whether most Americans are Christian, that’s yes. But if they’re asking whether Christians should have special legal privileges that others don’t have, she says her answer is a hard no. Most historians and legal scholars agree that two things have always been true about the United States — it has no official religion, and Christianity has shaped its culture, laws and public life since before its founding. But what does it mean to be a nation of mostly Christians without a state religion? For most of the nation’s history, the country held that tension without resolving it.  The debate over that question has gained new intensity in the Trump era, especially as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. On Sunday (May 17), the Trump administration will host “Rededicate 250,” a daylong festival of prayer and thanksgiving on the National Mall. The idea, Trump said when he announced the event at the National Prayer Breakfast, is to “rededicate America as one nation under God.” Many of the speakers at the event — most of them Christian and evangelical — espouse the idea that America was and always has been a Christian nation.  Religion & Politics Thomas Paine helped start America. In the Trump era, he's under fire. Georgian Orthodox Church elects new leader at fraught time for the influential institution Catholic diocese fights Trump administration plan to seize pilgrimage site for border wall Photos of the Week: Georgian patriarch, Shiite pilgrims Artist Gunter Demig places a palm-sized brass Holocaust memorial plaque in Berlin, Germany, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Scheiber) In Opinion Synod study group calls for greater role for laity in the selection of bishops 20 years after we knew: The end of 'persistent vegetative state'? Marco and Leo: What they might have said to each other And finally, Spiritually burned out? Tish Harrison Warren and some ancient monks have some advice. Tish Harrison Warren had everything going for her. A job as a priest at a church she loved. A family she adored. Good friends. And a dream gig writing about faith for The New York Times. And yet, she, like millions of Americans, was exhausted. And God had gone silent. “I would sit to pray, but it felt as though the line had gone dead. I did not feel a sense of God’s nearness. I didn’t feel much of anything at all,” writes Warren in her new book, “What Grows in Weary Lands,” out Tuesday (May 12) from Penguin Random House. “And I’d begin to think, is anyone there?” Warren, who is ordained in the Anglican Church in North America, found a way forward with the help of some friends and advice from the desert fathers and mothers, a group of ancient spiritual guides who fled into the desert to find God more than 1,500 years ago. Their advice, Warren writes, helped her build a sturdier spirituality for taking on the modern world. Rather than spiritual hacks, they offered advice for long-term spiritual health. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026 RNS, All rights reserved.

RNS Morning Report - She was shunned for renouncing Zionism. A decade later, a rabbinical college is honoring her.

An unexpected reversal A pair of honorary degrees being offered this year by two notable Jewish schools offers a window into the breakdown of the American Jewish consensus over Israel. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College will honor Hasia R. Diner at their commencement next week. Diner, a leading historian of the American Jewish experience, has been persona non grata in most institutional Jewish spheres for a decade, after she published an oped renouncing Zionism. Two days later, the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the flagship seminary for Conservative rabbis, plans to give Israeli President Isaac Herzog an honorary degree. Some students were furious with the choice, writing a letter to the chancellor to complain. Before 2023, the choice of Herzog might have been routine — while the choice of Diner would have shocked mainstream Jewish institutions. “I really was floored when they offered it to me,” Diner told RNS of the honorary doctorate. “I don’t think that would have happened five years ago.” But, as RNS’s Yonat Shimron reports, Jewish Americans, especially younger Jews, are increasingly divided over support for Israel and for Zionism. Read Shimron’s full report below.    Top Stories She was shunned for renouncing Zionism. A decade later, a rabbinical college is honoring her. (RNS) — Hasia R. Diner’s honorary doctorate from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College is another sign of the breakdown of the American Jewish consensus over Israel. Georgian Orthodox Church elects new leader at fraught time for the influential institution (RNS) — ‘It’s really the textbook example of a national church being the cornerstone of national identity,’ Samuel Noble, a scholar of Orthodox Christianity at Belgium’s University of Liège, told RNS. Photos of the Week: Georgian patriarch, Shiite pilgrims (RNS) — This week’s photo selection includes a new Georgian Orthodox patriarch, Shiite pilgrims and more. Iran responds to US ceasefire proposal but Trump rejects it as ‘unacceptable’ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Washington’s latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the strait and roll back Iran’s nuclear program. Opinion Synod study group calls for greater role for laity in the selection of bishops (RNS) — The study group’s recommendations are practical and easy to implement. They could be quickly adopted in the United States. Abraham Foxman was a warrior against hate. His work is hardly complete. (RNS) — Abe Foxman made the world a little less hateful. We need him now more than ever. ICYMI Spiritually burned out? Tish Harrison Warren and some ancient monks have advice. (RNS) — Dealing with a sense of burnout and the weariness of modern life, author Tish Harrison Warren found help in the words of long-dead Christian mystics. Catholic diocese fights Trump administration plan to seize pilgrimage site for border wall (RNS) — The land targeted by the federal government is at the base of Mount Cristo Rey, a mountain and pilgrimage site topped by a 29-foot-tall limestone statue of Jesus Christ. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

Copyright © 2026 Religion News Service, All rights reserved.

UNITE 2026-2

By 2033, our prayer is that every person, everywhere will have the opportunity to encounter the hope and love of Jesus. Across the global Church, we stand united in sharing the Gospel with every nation, every people, and every generation. In this issue of UNITE, you will find – News from global family Highlights of the past and upcoming webinars and podcasts Prayer requests News from our Global Family Global Evangelical Leaders Convene in Athens, Pledge Unity and Collaboration WEA Regional Leaders with Greek Evangelical Alliance leaders Leaders from nine regional Evangelical Alliances gathered in Athens from 28–30 April 2026, joining the World Evangelical Alliance in a shared commitment to deepen unity and strengthen global collaboration. Marked by prayer, worship, and strategic dialogue, the meeting underscored a renewed vision of the Church as one global family working together in service and witness. Read more Global Faith Leaders Unite to Strengthen Collaboration Under WEA Initiative Global faith leaders recently gathered under a World Evangelical Alliance initiative to explore deeper collaboration across ministries, emphasizing unity in advancing the Great Commission. With a shared vision of “collaboration over competition,” participants highlighted the strength of working together to address global challenges facing faith communities. Leaders expressed strong support for WEA’s role as a connector and facilitator, pointing toward new opportunities for partnership in the months ahead. Read More A Palestinian-Israeli leader as the face of 650 million evangelicals: ‘God has a sense of humor’ In a recent Dutch Interview with Netherlands Dagblad, Botrus Mansour’s shares his first months in global leadership, highlighting his unique background and experiences navigating conflict. It also shares his vision for unity and collaboration across the global Church. Read More See here for the original Dutch translation. Shaping Souls Before Scaling Technology | Samuel Chiang Something is happening. AI is reshaping the world at a pace none of us can fully comprehend — and for those who believe God's mission extends to every tribe, tongue, and nation, the question is no longer if this technology will reshape the work. The question is whether we'll be ready. The Missional AI Global Summit 2026, gathered in Silicon Valley — the epicenter of the technology reshaping our world, and a room full of people who believe the most important thing we can do with that power is point it toward God's Kingdom. Rev. Samuel Chiang, special advisor to the Secretary General gave a keynote address on the importance of shaping souls before technology. WEA Joins Global Faith Leaders at Faith-Consistent Investment Forum in Paris Dr. Peirong Lin, WEA Chief of Staff with Sister Sue Ernster, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and Carol Tarr, Francesco Collaborative. On 17–18 April 2026, the World Evangelical Alliance joined global faith leaders in Paris for the International Faith-Consistent Investment Forum, engaging with 33 networks across four major religions to explore collaborative approaches to values-based investing. The gathering highlighted both the growing commitment and ongoing gaps in aligning financial practices with faith principles, as WEA continues to discern how best to support Evangelicals in stewarding resources faithfully. Read more Remembering Dick Eastman: A Faithful Servant of Prayer and Mission Dick Eastman led the prayer session during the WEA General Assembly 2019 held in Indonesia We remember Dick Eastman, President of Every Home for Christ and affiliate of the World Evangelical Alliance, with deep gratitude for his decades of prayerful leadership and his tireless commitment to global evangelism. His impact on the worldwide Church endures as a testament to a life lived fully for God. Read more WEA Women’s Commission Participates in 5th AEL Women’s Congress: “Women in Victory,” Buenos Aires The delegates present (left to right): Pastor Cinthia Hieber (Paraguay), Pastor Sonia Urrutia de Concha (Perú /CONEP), Lic. Magda Ramírez (Costa Rica), Lic. Carmen Bermúdez de Castro (El Salvador), Pastor Nazly Van Strahlen (Colombia), Dr. Fátima Oliva Roca (Bolivia), Pastor Ligia Wurfel (Argentina), Pastor Loly Matamoros (Honduras), Psych. Gloria Hernández (Uruguay), Elizabeth Gaethe (Chile). A vibrant community of 240 women leaders came together in Buenos Aires, united in purpose and filled with expectation. The WEA Women’s Commission joined this remarkable gathering, witnessing God’s faithfulness as He encouraged, inspired, and equipped women across the region. Read more The Pope’s visit to Hippo Janet Epp Buckingham offers a timely reflection on Pope Leo’s historic pilgrimage to Algeria, tracing its deep connection to the life and legacy of Augustine of Hippo. In a moment overshadowed by public debate, she brings the focus back to the spiritual significance of the journey. Read more Evangelical leader calls for Collaboration at Prague Religious Freedom Conference From left: Bruce J. Clemenger, Senior Ambassador and President Emeritus of the EFC; Rev. Botrus Mansour, Secretary General, WEA; Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah, Chairman-International Council of the WEA; Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of WEA Geneva Office; Marc Jost, representing Swiss Evangelical Allaince; and Mike Gabriel In Prague, WEA Secretary General Rev. Dr. Botrus Mansour called for deeper collaboration among religious freedom advocates, drawing on the lived realities of Christian communities across the Middle East. Speaking with both pastoral insight and legal clarity, he encouraged believers to stand together as “paracletes”—walking alongside those facing pressure and uncertainty. Amid ongoing challenges, Mansour also shared a quiet but resolute hope, reflecting the commitment of many Christians in the region who choose to remain and serve. Read More Interfaith Efforts Gain Momentum for Peace in the Middle East Read More Canada Confronts Rising Concerns Over Hate and Social Division Canada is grappling with rising tensions and new legislation aimed at addressing hate, while also raising important questions about the limits of free expression and religious freedom, as explored by Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Global Advocacy Director. As policymakers respond to real incidents of antisemitism and public unrest, faith leaders are urging careful balance to ensure fundamental rights are not unintentionally restricted. Read More Hope Beyond the Ceasefire: A Call for Peace in the Middle East In a statement from Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, the WEA welcomes the recent ceasefire while calling for it to lead to lasting peace across the Middle East. Grounded in the call of Jesus—“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)—the message emphasizes prayer, dialogue, and a commitment to human rights and religious freedom for all. Read More Featured Alliance In this edition, we are pleased to feature the story from Mongolian Evangelical Fellowship led by Altantsooj Tsagaan-Uvgun as the Chairman of the alliance. We want to celebrate and share your stories too! Submit Your Story Highlights from the past Webinars and ongoing Podcasts The Relevance of the Gospel Today Watch the webinar here. Thumbnail (left to right): Kyle Wisdom, Director of Global Advocacy, WEA (host); Dr. Salim J. Munayer, Regional Hub Coordinator of MENA for PRN; and Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, Global Ambassador, WEA (bottom). In this inspiring webinar, Bishop Efraim M. Tendero and Dr. Salim J. Munayer discuss how the Gospel remains deeply relevant in today’s world and how Christian leaders are faithfully sharing its message within the realities of their communities. Moderated by Kyle Wisdom, the conversation offers timely insight and encouragement for believers today. Watch the full webinar video to hear the complete discussion. Podcasts with Brian Stiller A timely and relevant podcast that dives into the contemporary issues impacting Christian life and witness around the world. Guests include leaders, writers, and influencers who explore faith from a variety of perspectives and persuasions. Episodes feature voices such as Ethiopian Evangelicals and the Women’s Commission with Seble Daniel, bringing global insight into today’s most pressing conversations. Hosted by Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, our hope is that each listener will come away informed, encouraged, challenged, and inspired. Opportunity to Pray Ongoing conflict across Lebanon, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and Syria has left thousands of families displaced and struggling to survive. In the midst of this instability, local churches are stepping in to bring practical help and lasting hope. Through emergency humanitarian assistance, vulnerable families are receiving the support they urgently need. Join us in responding with compassion—your support can make a meaningful difference today. Support the urgent need prayerfully The World Evangelical Alliance invites you to partner in the urgent mission of ‘Gospel for Everyone by 2033.’ As we work together to reach every nation, language, and people group, your support enables collaboration, discipleship, and gospel witness where it is needed most. Together, we can ensure that no one is left without the opportunity to hear. Give Today Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 650 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 163 national Evangelical Alliances in 9 regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy, relief, and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments, and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church. For more information, visit worldea.org WEA has been a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1980. WEA is audited annually by an independent public accounting firm. WEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the United States, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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