RNS Morning Report - In the hills of Tennessee, a developer hopes to offer blue state Christians a refuge

Top Stories In the hills of Tennessee, a developer hopes to offer blue state Christians a refuge Whitleyville, Tenn. (RNS) — The venture, which has involved several prominent conservative voices, has drawn the concern of locals who don't want to see Christian nationalism take over their community.   In Algiers, a youth-led gallery offers community through music during Ramadan  ALGIERS, Algeria (RNS) — 'We wanted to help give them a spot where they can reunite, play together and perform together in public,' one organizer said of the El Medrab gallery.   Haitian congregations fight fear as Trump administration seeks deportation for immigrants (RNS) – 'This is a church of immigrants,' said Pastor Reginald Silencieux of Première Eglise Evangelique Haïtienne in Springfield, Ohio. '... They are very scared.'    In Texas’ border region, faith is the bond for underserved colonias to command attention HIDALGO, Texas (RNS) — In Hidalgo County, where the 26.9% of people living in poverty is more than twice the national average of 11.1%, Christian faith binds communities together as they serve one another and advocate for better resources.   RNS Opinion Turkey’s president arrested his top opponent. Here’s why it matters to the beleaguered free world. (RNS) — Erdoğan's arrest of the Istanbul mayor is aimed at quelling an increasingly vocal political opposition. But Ekrem İmamoğlu is also indispensable to the Turkish president as a symbol of religious toleration — and a foil to Erdoğan's Islamist ideal.   Pope Francis’ plans to reform the church are alive and well (RNS) — It was a close call, but Francis’ emergence from Gemelli Hospital ensures that implementation of the Synod on Synodality's goals will outlast him.   ICYMI Can MAGA, MAHA and Adventists make America healthy again? (RNS) — In Phoenix, a group of Seventh-day Adventists hopes to tap into the rise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to make America healthy again by promoting their faith’s ideas on how to eat right.   In ‘Yogalands,’ religion scholar discusses the role of politics, spirituality on the mat (RNS) — In Paul Bramadat’s upcoming book, ‘Yogalands: In Search of Practice on the Mat and in the World,’ he shares how modern yoga as we know it intersects with spirituality, identity and power. In Other News Will religion’s remarkable winning streak at the supreme court continue? A militant Zionist group threatens activists online with a ‘deport list’   Depend on our reporting? Help us out! As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. You can support this work! 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

WCC news: WCC mourns the passing of Bishop Medardo Gomez

Lutheran Bishop Medardo Gomez from El Salvador passed away on 27 March at the age of 80. Bishop Medardo Gomez. Photo: David Caceres Del Castillo 28 March 2025 In a letter to Bishop Guadalupe Cortés, of the Salvadorean Lutheran Synod, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay praised Bishop Medardo’s legacy, referring to him as “a servant of Christ whose life bore witness to the Gospel’s call for justice, peace, and compassion.” “We give thanks for his life, his ministry, and his tireless efforts to build bridges of reconciliation. We pray that his legacy continues to inspire new generations to walk the path of justice and love,” added the WCC general secretary. Bishop Medardo Ernesto Gomez Soto, born on June 8, 1945, in Quelepa, El Salvador, has been known as a prominent Lutheran leader and human rights advocate.  He studied theology at the Augsburg Lutheran Seminary in Mexico City and returned to El Salvador in 1972 to serve the Lutheran communities in San Salvador. During the late 1970s, he engaged in ecumenical dialogues with Archbishop Óscar Romero, fostering interfaith collaboration.  In 1986, Gomez was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod. Throughout the Salvadoran Civil War (1980–1992), he was a vocal advocate for peace and human rights, efforts that led to his abduction and torture by death squads. His commitment to social justice and the defense of the oppressed earned him multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.  Under his leadership, the Salvadoran Lutheran Church embraced the "theology of life," emphasizing human rights and historical memory preservation. In 2014, Gómez initiated the Pastoral Initiative for Peace, aiming to reintegrate marginalized youth into society.  After 38 years of service, Bishop Gomez retired in January 2025. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Uniting Church in Australia - Commemorate the Armenian Genocide, pray for Myanmar, 2025 Budget response, lament in lent & more in UC National News 31 March

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31 March 2025 National Update Your snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story COMMEMORATION Commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Members of the Uniting Church are invited to join with the Assembly, the Armenian Missionary Association Of Australia (AMAA) and the wider Armenian community in marking the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This year marks 110 years since the Genocide began, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 1.5 million lives between 1915 and 1923. It is also a decade since the Uniting Church formally recognised this tragedy as genocide during the 14th Assembly in July 2015. All are invited to share in the national service of commemoration, hosted by the Uniting Church Assembly and the AMAA, at 3pm on Sunday 13 April at St Stephen's Uniting Church in Sydney. Please RSVP here. President Rev Charissa Suli has offered a document to support Uniting Church communities with the resources they need to commemorate the anniversary locally. It includes an invitation to participate, historical and theological reflections, prayers, suggested music and other information resources. More information and RSVP WORLD EVENTS Pray and give generously for earthquake recovery in Myanmar President Rev Charissa Suli has shared a pastoral message and prayer after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake impacted central Myanmar on Friday. The tremor was felt elsewhere, including in Thailand where at least 18 people lost their lives. More than 1,700 people have died and more than 3,400 have been injured. Uniting Church members and communities are encouraged to give generously through UnitingWorld's disaster appeal. FEDERAL BUDGET Uniting Church Assembly responds to 2025 Federal Budget How the vulnerable are cared for is the test of a budget and the measure of a society. We're grateful for efforts in the 2025 Federal Budget to help Australians struggling under crushing cost of living pressures, with a welcome investment in Medicare, energy bill and student debt relief, and an expanded First Home Buyers scheme. But, as always, the poorest in our community need more support. Read more from Uniting Church leaders. LAMENT IN LENT On Country, with Country, for Country Proud Palawa woman Aunty Alison Overeem and Rev Alex Sangster invite you to join them on Country for ‘lament in lent’, as they hold vigil amongst the Giant Styx - the ancient trees of Tasmania under existential threat from logging. To be held in partnership with the Bob Brown Foundation and the 'I Stand with Uncle Jim' movement, the vigil will take place on 3 April, west of Hobart. You're also invited to show your support through an 'I Stand with Uncle Jim' photo campaign. Take a snap of yourself in front of a tree with a sign! A SAFER WORLD FOR ALL "Australian aid transforms lives" Last week President Rev Charissa Suli added her voice to leaders from politics, security and faith to urge Australia’s MPs to commit to life-saving Australian aid as part of Micah Australia's Safer World for All campaign. The President also released a letter signed by national heads of Christian denominations which was sent to the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and Crossbench MPs. See more from UnitingWorld. ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE That's a wrap on the March ASC meeting The Assembly Standing Committee met in Sydney for the first time in 2025 from 14-16 March, with a focus on the strategic plan and priorities of the Assembly. Read the report from Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson and see the photo gallery. OUR MULTICULTURAL CHURCH 40 years of 'We are a multicultural Church': save the date for celebrations In 1985, during its fourth national Assembly meeting, the Uniting Church proudly declared: 'The Uniting Church is a Multicultural Church'. As the 40th anniversary of this declaration approaches, the Uniting Church Assembly is inviting Uniting Church communities to mark 15 June 2025 as the date to commemorate, celebrate and reflect. UNITINGWORLD 40 days of change for a fairer future: UnitingWorld's Lent challenge Our President Rev Charissa Suli was in the media last week sharing about what she's giving up this Lent in support of UnitingWorld's 40 for the Future challenge. The challenge is an invitation to transform the way you eat, shop, travel, or use energy to bring awareness to the global challenge driving poverty, inequality and injustice: climate change. Both the President and Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson are taking part - support them and see the leaderboards here! DISASTER RECOVERY Support disaster relief in cyclone affected areas The Assembly continues to call for donations to support disaster recovery in communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, following a national appeal launched by Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli. Donate now to the National Disaster Relief Fund.   Join Uncle Ken Sumner on Country later this year as part of a 12-week Indigenous Studies unit being run through Uniting College in South Australia. Fantastic Lent resources from the Uniting Church in QLD. The Uniting Church National History Society is calling for papers for its national conference later this year: 'The Church as a Prophetic Voice in Australian Society'. President Rev Charissa Suli was invited to speak to an assembly of 1500 at Pymble Ladies College in honour of International Women's Day. See photos. Uniting Church National Conference leaders gathered in Sydney earlier in March. See photos. Next edition of National Update   Please note that National Update is no longer delivered on a weekly basis. Our next edition will be on 9 April. We gladly welcome contributions of stories, news and events from across the Uniting Church. For suggestions, or questions to the Assembly communications team, email comms@nat.uca.org.au Join us in prayer for... The people of Myanmar in the wake of a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake. We pray for those who grieve, those searching for survivors and for comfort, safety and peace. Continued safety in Tonga after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast last night. Palestinians who continue to be besieged by bombings and violence even as Eid al-Fitr begins. Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.

Jobs: Community Engagement Minister - Alice Springs Uniting Church Assist the Church to fulfil its vision to serve the Alice Springs community. Jobs: Manager - Community and Church Partnerships - First Nations - UnitingCare QLD Partner in mission across UnitingCare, UAICC and wider UCA.

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