RNS Morning Report: Bart Barber and the Southern Baptist Convention

Top Stories Amy Grant named Kennedy Center honoree in first for contemporary Christian music (RNS) — ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors,’ Grant said in a statement.   Pope Francis, Vatican call for international cooperation for the environment VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A top Vatican official backed Francis’ video address by saying ‘production of fossil fuels must be urgently phased out.’   Vatican puts brakes on German church reform proposals ROME (AP) — The statement marked the second time the Holy See has weighed in publicly to rein in progressives in Germany.   Vatican says they’re gifts; Indigenous groups want them back VATICAN CITY (AP) — Indigenous groups from Canada, who were shown a few items in the collection when they traveled to the Vatican last spring to meet with Francis, question how some of the works were actually acquired and wonder what else may be in storage after decades of not being on public display.   UN slams killings, rights abuses under Afghanistan’s Taliban ISLAMABAD (AP) — The report said as many as 700 people have been killed and 1,400 wounded since mid-August 2021, when the Taliban overran the Afghan capital of Kabul.   Bart Barber wants the Southern Baptist Convention to regain its rural soul FARMERSVILLE, Texas (RNS) — The struggle to pull the SBC’s 13.7 million members ‘back from the brink’ has fallen squarely on the shoulders of Barber, a pastor from rural Texas. RNS Opinion Mormon founder Joseph Smith’s photo discovered by descendant after nearly 180 years (RNS) — A great-great-grandson of Joseph Smith Jr. found the Mormon prophet’s photo tucked inside a locket passed down for generations.   The Webb telescope vs. young Earth creationism (RNS) — The Webb telescope's images have elicited faith-based comments that Galileo might recognize.   The saddest bar mitzvah in history What happened recently at the Western Wall is an outrage. Orthodox leaders must speak out. Loudly. ICYMI The ‘thousand points of light’ switcheroo (RNS) — How conservatives made social welfare the province of private faith.   In an unprecedented food crisis, Buddhist anti-hunger fund meets its moment (RNS) — Buddhist Global Relief has challenged Western Buddhists to focus on social engagement. In Other News A pastor burned out by our divided country Fantasy role-playing is hurting America   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