RNS Morning Report - Methodist megachurch pastor runs as Democrat for US Senate

He'd be the first Democratic Senator from Kansas in 95 years This election season, a slew of Christian clergy are running for Congress as Democrats — and as of this week, Kansas megachurch pastor the Rev. Adam Hamilton is one of them. Describing himself as an “independent-minded Democrat,” Hamilton, who leads Resurrection, A United Methodist Church in the Kansas City area, said his decades in ministry in a politically diverse church have prepared him to be a bridge-builder in Congress. If he wins, he’d be the first Democrat Kansas elected to the U.S. Senate since 1932. He spoke to RNS about his decision to run. “I think a lot of moderates, a lot of centrist Republicans and Democrats, are saying, ‘This is not right,'” he told RNS reporter Kathryn Post. “Whether it’s how we treat immigrants and making people afraid in our own borders, or the rhetoric that comes out of Washington, or cutting programs like SNAP and other programs that affect low-income children and families in America, I think there’s a lot of pastors and a lot of Christians who have just said, ‘This is not us.'”   To learn more about Hamilton’s election bid, read Post's full report below. Top Stories Kansas last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 1932. A megachurch pastor aims to change that. (RNS) — Rev. Adam Hamilton, co-founder of the largest United Methodist church in the country, explains why he is running for Senate and believes he can win. Anti-Christian bias task force blasts Biden for targeting ‘traditional Christians’ WASHINGTON (RNS) — The 500-page report offers an array of incidents to depict a clash between the Biden administration and what the report calls 'traditional Christians.' In ‘Conversion Therapy Dropout,’ a survivor exposes the discredited practice (RNS) — 'The biggest lesson I had to learn is that God's lack of an answer to my prayers to change me was an answer, because there was nothing about me that needed to change,' said Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez. Muslim women are suing jails and police over hijab removal at booking. And winning. (RNS) — ‘It’s not like taking off someone’s hat. It’s like taking off their pants or removing their shirt,’ one expert witness told RNS. Opinion Is Cole Tomas Allen a religious zealot? (RNS) — The armed man who sought to break into the White House Correspondents' dinner hails from a long line of religious extremists looking to commit political violence in the name of God. Colorblindness won’t fix inequality (RNS) — When faith communities teach colorblindness, they are teaching their congregants to be silent in the face of devastating decisions like this latest Supreme Court ruling. ICYMI Despite obstructions, Israeli women sit for rabbinate exams in a historic first (RNS) — Passing the rabbinic competency tests will not grant the women the title of rabbi. But it is a major win with benefits beyond just symbolism. In new memoir, former Buddhist nun talks the pursuit of enlightenment (RNS) — Now in the contemplative Christian tradition, Paldrom Collins speaks about the spiritual journey that brought her to this point. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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