RNS Morning Report: Southern Baptists lose another megachurch: Elevation Church quits the SBC

Top Stories Southern Baptists lose another megachurch: Elevation Church quits the SBC (RNS) — Led by charismatic pastor Steven Furtick, an author and television preacher, Elevation church has been part of the SBC for two decades. The church gave no reason for leaving the SBC.   Police charge 23-year-old with hate crime at historically Black Maryland church (RNS) — The police department also announced other arrests in a string of 'recent hate crimes involving vandalism to places of worship.'   Whitworth University’s new hiring policy will allow LGBTQ faculty (RNS) —The school in Spokane, Washington, joins a sliver of Christian colleges and universities that have bucked a largely sturdy resistance to hiring married gay faculty.   Smithsonian Folklife Festival on National Mall explores often-unfamiliar spirituality WASHINGTON (RNS) — The lead curator of the 'Creative Encounters' program hopes it will give the public a chance to 'pull back the curtain' on spiritual practices.   At 79, famed SBC missionary surgeon Rebekah Naylor is about to retire. Again. But she’s not done yet (RNS) — In India, Naylor went from staff doctor to medical director to hospital CEO, treating thousands of patients and delivering a host of babies.   Catholics and Orthodox join forces for peace amid Russian and Ukrainian skeptics (RNS) — Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi met with political and religious representatives in Moscow, June 28-30. RNS Opinion The Supreme Court’s colorblindness (RNS) — It's a different colorblindness than the one envisioned in King's 'Dream' speech.   We hoped for a miracle for OceanGate’s Titan crew. We ignore the ones waiting for us every day. (RNS) — The rabbis of the Talmud enjoined us to express boundless gratitude at our waking every day. ICYMI Can Wicca’s two equal deities, once celebrated as revolutionary, make room for nonbinary believers? (RNS) — A balanced but gendered theology has lately presented problems for Wiccans proud of the religion’s progressive framework.   A ‘prophetic’ force: Queer songwriter Spencer LaJoye finds resonance outside religion ANN ARBOR, Mich. (RNS) — Since their 2021 song ‘Plowshare Prayer’ went viral, LaJoye, who is spiritual but not Christian, has been invited to perform in churches across the U.S. In Other News Pro-choice Catholics fight to seize the narrative from the religious right She found meaning where she least expected it — her childhood faith   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