RNS Morning Report: Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years as head of the Church of England

Top Stories Elizabeth II’s 70 years as head of the Church of England LONDON (RNS) — While Defender of the Faith has been, over the years, an inherited title and little more, Elizabeth II embraced it and made it her own.   Seattle Pacific University students plan to sue over LGBTQ exclusion (RNS) — As of Friday morning, nearly $20,000 has been raised through GoFundMe to cover potential legal fees. The sit-in outside the president's office has been going on for more than 200 hours.   After church shooting, Iowa pastor tells stunned flock: ‘God is near to the broken-hearted’ (RNS) — Two members of the church's college ministry, known as the Salt Company, were killed on Thursday night.   State Department officials report religious freedom woes, wins across the globe (RNS) — The secretary of state and religious freedom ambassador also expressed concern about an increase in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in many countries, including the United States.   As religious landscape shifts, reshaped seminaries shed their campuses (RNS) — 'The seminary is not a building, and the work we do is not confined to these walls,' said one seminary president.   Creating a Catholic Church she can belong to (RNS) — Jamie Manson, president of Catholics for Choice, is often asked why she doesn’t leave a church whose direction she often questions. But she long ago found that Catholicism offered the very theology that promised her, and so many others, belonging.   Woman buoyed by support after viral pastor confrontation (AP) — Bobi Gephart wanted the church community to know the truth and had no idea the video, recorded by a family member in the congregation, would generate such a viral response.   Mexican megachurch leader pleads guilty in LA to sex abuse LOS ANGELES (AP) — Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo, faces up to 16 years and eight months in prison when sentenced Wednesday. RNS Opinion SoulCycle’s Peoplehood offers a gig-economy cure for loneliness (RNS) — Intimate connection for urban dwellers may be the modern answer to pandemic loneliness.   When a celebrity becomes a bishop: Will Barron set aside Word on Fire for his new diocese? (RNS) — Bishop Robert Barron could pose a historic first contradiction between two mandates for bishops.   Why ‘The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem’ matters (RNS) — Come for the story. Stay for the strong women characters. ICYMI Saddleback pastor Rick Warren to retire in September, names Andy Wood as his successor (RNS) — Warren's retirement will mark the end of a remarkable tenure as pastor.   Mennonite Church USA passes resolution committing to LGBTQ inclusion (RNS) — Delegates also repealed membership guidelines instructing pastors not to officiate same-sex marriages. In Other News The arrow in America’s heart Multiverse of madness and the problem of mother as monster Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. Religion News Service is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend