Lead story
Editor's note:
Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to remain in the denomination amid longstanding debates over the role of LGBTQ people in the church. Associated Press reporters Peter Smith and Holly Meyer looked at how many of these votes were not unanimous and thus separated people who have long worshipped together. For those who came up on the short end of their congregation’s exit vote, they are faced with the dilemma of where to worship next. Efforts to serve the unmoored have popped up. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations – ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. “The pain is real and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” one UM pastor told the AP. She is leading a Lighthouse congregation in North Carolina while her childhood church has decided to exit.
Religion News
What is Christian nationalism, anyway?
The rise of Donald Trump on the backs of conservative Christian voters has led to a national debate over Christian nationalism and the role of religion in American culture. But few people agree on what Christian nationalism is. By Bob Smietana/Religion News Service
Pope sends Vatican official to Bolivia as abuse allegations escalate
Pope Francis has sent one of his top sex crimes investigators to Bolivia at a time when the nation is being shaken by an escalating pedophilia scandal involving priests. By Carlos Valdez/The Associated Press
Illinois’ attorney general has released the results of a sweeping investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, saying investigators found that 451 clergy sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950. By Kathleen Foody and Michael Tarm/The Associated Press
New Mexican Spanish, a unique American dialect, survives mostly in prayers
New Mexican Spanish, a unique American dialect, survives mostly in prayers. The historic, endangered dialect is as central to these communities as their iconic adobe churches, and its best chance of survival might be through faith. By Giovanna Dell’Orto/The Associated Press
Intel wins 2023’s most faith-friendly company as Fortune 500 warms to religious diversity
'The basic idea of religious freedom is that you're free to have a faith, change your faith or have no faith at all,' said Brian Grim, Religious Freedom and Business Foundation president. By Kathryn Post/Religion News Service
Commentary and Analysis
Buddha's birthday has not always been a major holiday for Buddhists, but is now celebrated in diverse ways throughout Asia. By Megan Bryson for The Conversation
Shavuot, which was originally an ancient pilgrimage festival, has gone through many changes over the years – as has Judaism itself. By Laura Yares for The Conversation
As governments crack down at their borders, religious groups' teachings to help the stranger remain unchanged. By Laura E. Alexander for The Conversation
I don’t think he encountered openly gay, outspokenly atheistic Jews every day. By Jonathan Rauch/Religion News Service
Members of the Tibetan Women's Association hold portraits of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, as they participate in a protest demanding his release, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May, 17, 2023. The boy lama, who is the second highest religious leader in Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, went missing shortly after his recognition by the Dalai Lama in 1995 and has not been seen since. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Did a friend or colleague forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.
- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
- The Associated Press Newsletter Hub
- Religion News Service newsletter sign-up page
- The Conversation U.S.'s daily and weekly newsletters
No comments:
Post a Comment