RNS Morning Report: Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states

Top Stories Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states (RNS) — In the same week as the Texas Baptists’ meeting, Black leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and SBC President Bart Barber met over similar issues in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.   Meet the Christian creators designing chatbots ‘with a biblical worldview’ (RNS) — Since its launch in November 2022 by the research laboratory OpenAI, the chatbot spurred excitement among Christians, forcing leadership to reckon with this technology and adapting their habits.   East Palestine church hosts chemical exposure study in wake of train disaster EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (RNS) — ‘In the Lord’s prayer, we ask that his will be done on earth as in heaven. So how can we make the situation better?’ asked Erin Haynes, who is leading the study.   Kenya doomsday cult deaths top 400 as detectives exhume 12 more bodies, with the pastor in custody NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Some 613 people have so far been reported missing to Kenya Red Cross officers stationed in Malindi town. Detectives are still finding mass graves. RNS Opinion Billions of federal dollars available for churches and nonprofits to go green (RNS) — Churches have a moral obligation to reduce their carbon footprint and to encourage climate justice for marginalized communities. If there is federal money to help in this effort, they should take advantage of it.   How the pro-religion court rulings may end up hurting conservative Christianity (RNS) — These victories will lead to all sorts of activists making religious liberty claims to advance their goals, and they won’t always be conservative. ICYMI Rare Einstein letter rebutting biblical creation story for sale (RNS) — The letter, written on April 11, 1950, to a group of Jewish students in America, is valued at $125,000.   Casper ter Kuile sees America’s religious decline as an opportunity (RNS) — Casper ter Kuile’s spiritual entrepreneurship has compelled him to seek ways people can find belonging and community outside traditional houses of worship. In Other News When buses with migrants arrive in LA, Catholic and other groups rush to help Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over planned burning of Qur’an in Stockholm   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