A World Vision Employee Is Still Awaiting Fair Trial in Israel
The charges against him don’t make sense. And his day in court has been delayed again and again. Read full piece
Evangelical Leaders Condemn ‘Radicalized Christian Nationalism’
A coalition of evangelical Christian leaders is condemning the role of "radicalized Christian nationalism" in feeding the political extremism that led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 by supporters of former President Trump. Read full piece
A Black Preacher, a White Sheriff, & the Punch in the Face that Put Selma on the Map
The voting rights push in Selma was one of the defining moments of the civil rights movement. But before Selma was Selma, it was another local front in the movement struggling for national media attention. That story is of Baptist minister C.T. Vivian. Read full piece
The Strange Saga of the Riley Foundation Lawsuit Now Forces SBC to Figure out Who has the Right to Remove a Seminary Trustee
A months-long battle for ultimate control of the Southern Baptist Convention’s agencies and institutions came to light Feb. 21 when a trove of attorney communications exposed a rift between officers of the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Read full piece
Display of 15,000 Flags at Church Memorializes COVID Victims
On Sunday, Feb. 21, local clergy gathered on the lawn of the First Christian Church of Decatur to remember Georgia victims of COVID-19. An artistic display of 15,000 small white flags represented the 15,000 Georgians who have died from the disease in the past year. Read
A Catholic Sinner Seeks Communion — & Happens to Be President
Some bishops — and many conservative laypeople — think Joe Biden should be denied access to one of the faith’s most important sacraments. Read full piece
In Pandemic, Clergy Risk Illness, Even Death to Minister to the Sick & Their Loved Ones
Ministering to the ill or dying is a major role of spiritual leaders in all religions. Susan Dunlap, a divinity professor at Duke University, said covid-19 creates an even greater feeling of obligation for clergy because many patients are isolated from family members. Read full piece
Baylor Regents ‘Accept’ Racial History Report, Will Release Findings by End of March
Baylor University’s board of regents “accepted” a final report of its Commission on Historic Campus Representations Feb. 19 but will not release the findings to the public until the end of March. Read full piece
San Francisco Civil Rights Icon Rev. Amos Brown Turns 80
Amos C. Brown, living history himself, has a lot of context to draw from as a civil rights leader who turned 80 years old on Saturday. Read full piece (You can also hear a recent Word&Way interview with Brown)
New Survey Shows 3 In 5 White Evangelicals Say Joe Biden Wasn’t Legitimately Elected
Christian Nationalism has effectively spread so much disinformation that three in five white evangelicals say Biden was not legitimately elected, according to the American Enterprise Institute. Read full piece