Bible-Thumping Bills
In this issue of A Public Witness, we study the political effort behind the Bible blitz. We also quiz this movement to consider the pedagogical and religious problems with such legislation.
As Rabbi was Held Hostage, His Interfaith Clergy Colleagues Gathered to Help End the Standoff
On Saturday, a man took people hostage in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. The congregation’s rabbi is particularly well connected to the larger interfaith community and on good terms with many Muslim and Christian leaders.
Scholar: America is Still Reacting to the Religious Right, in More Ways Than One
A religion scholar believes major trends in religion and politics can be traced back to the rise of the religious right in the 1990s, a sea change moment that set in motion an array of phenomena ranging from an uptick in religious disaffiliation to the
At Milwaukee Church, Refugees Find Welcome from a Less Suspicious Time
At a diverse multi-ethnic church, refugees, and immigrants find a home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at a time when many White evangelicals view newcomers with suspicion.
The Man Behind Shurtleff v. City of Boston
We introduce you to the man behind Shurtleff v. City of Boston ahead of oral arguments on Jan. 18. Through an unparalleled review of his decades-long advocacy career and an exclusive interview, we look at the man whose case could upend two centuries of U.S. church-state relations.
Reformed Church in America Splits as Conservative Churches Form New Denomination
On New Year’s Day, 43 congregations of the Reformed Church in America split from the national denomination, one of the oldest Protestant bodies in the United States, in part over theological differences regarding same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
Preemptive Love Board Cuts Ties with Founders Jeremy & Jessica Courtney
Preemptive Love, a nonprofit long championed by Christian influencers and celebrities for its work in Iraq and elsewhere, plans to cut ties with its founders after former employees complained of an abusive work environment and misleading fundraising practices.
For Dying Congregations, a ‘Replant’ Can Offer New Life
As congregations become smaller and smaller, some are being ‘replanted’ by applying the lessons from start-up congregations to older, dying churches. Although not widespread, church replanting is growing in popularity.
The Prayers of January 6
In this edition of A Public Witness, we consider the prayers uttered in the U.S. Capitol a year ago by both those seeking to bring the government down and by representatives of the government. We also consider the danger of official government prayers.
Insurrection Epiphany
In this issue of A Public Witness, we journey back to the events of Jan. 6 with a focus on the co-opting of Christian symbols and values. Then we look at the gift of Epiphany’s message and how it can help us find a new way