RNS Morning Report: Faith leaders urge Biden to order reparations study by Juneteenth

Top Stories Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth (RNS) — They urged Biden to base an order on the structure of H.R. 40, legislation proposed for decades that has yet to pass on Capitol Hill.   For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — While donations from religious groups constitute less than 20% of RIP Medical Debt's overall revenue, they are becoming an increasingly common way for congregations to do social justice.   Meet the organization preserving and promoting the stories of Black Methodists (RNS) — After funding from the United Methodist Church General Conference ended and in-person events were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAMHC is looking for donations in order to continue its work.   ‘A time bomb’: India’s sinking holy town faces grim future JOSHIMATH, India (AP) — For months, the roughly 20,000 residents in Joshimath, revered by Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, have watched the earth slowly swallow their community.   West Virginia ‘religious freedom’ bill headed to governor CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The bill is described by supporters as a tool to protect religious freedom and labeled a “license to discriminate” by LGBTQ rights advocates.   Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors (AP) — “I’m serving Jesus under the authority and in alignment with my spiritual leaders,” said Stacie Wood, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.   Push to require clergy to report abuse stalls in Mormon Utah SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Behind-the-scenes conversations between legislative leaders and what Senate President Stuart Adams said was “a broad base of religious groups” helped thwart proposals.   Memphis teen 1 of 2 charged in church leader’s 2022 killing MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — In July 2022, a prominent United Methodist Church leader in Memphis, Tennessee, was found in the driveway of her home with gunshot wounds. RNS Opinion Mormonism’s slow shift away from demonizing working mothers (RNS) — The LDS church used to vilify working mothers. Then it began to quietly tolerate them. Now it has begun to celebrate their achievements.   A litany for Ukraine: Pray — and act — for peace (RNS) — One year into the expanded war in Ukraine, it is clear a military approach will not bring peace.   How Jimmy Carter integrated his evangelical Christian faith into his political work (The Conversation) — A media scholar who studied Carter and interviewed him explains how he attempted to translate Jesus’ teachings into action through his life of public service. ICYMI The Asbury revival is over. What happens now? LEXINGTON, Ky. (RNS) — The so-called Asbury outpouring inspired an arena worship service not far from the school, and similar services at other colleges.   Who will pay for the SBC’s abuse reforms over the long term? No one knows. (RNS) — The SBC’s Executive Committee announced it had lost $6 million over the past fiscal year, mainly due to the cost of responding to the sex abuse crisis. In Other News ‘Our state is at war with our family’: Clergy with trans kids fight back Milwaukee archbishop allows Catholics to eat meat on St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on a Friday in Lent 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 at religionnews.com/donate. If you prefer to mail a donation, please address to: Religion News Foundation, PO Box 1808, Columbia, MO 65205. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend