Our 2025 Books of the Year
For this issue of A Public Witness, we briefly highlight 15 of our favorite recent books beyond those from our longer giveaway reviews. It can be a great resource for gifts or your own wishlist.
Christmas Celebrations Return to Bethlehem After 2 Years of War in Gaza
Christmas celebrations are slowly coming back to the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, an area shaken by tragedy.
ICE Nativity Scenes: Churches Reimagine Christmas Story Amid Deportations
‘We know that Jesus was born into a Roman imperial occupation, and pretty much immediately becomes a refugee in Egypt, has to flee, and faces political violence,’ the Rev. Michael Woolf said.
Faith Groups Join Other Death Penalty Opponents in New Campaign
The new initiative points to an increase in the use of the death penalty over the past year as public support for it has fallen in the United States.
In Minneapolis, Clergy Mobilize to Manage Expected ICE Raids Targeting Somali Immigrants
Preparing for ICE agents’ presence in the city, an interfaith coalition shared best practices for dealing with law enforcement at houses of worship.
The Trump Administration’s Favorite Fake Prayer Story
This issue of A Public Witness looks at the truth behind the Christian Nationalist fable of George Washington praying at Valley Forge.
West Virginia Again Bans Religious Reasons for School Vaccine Exemptions
West Virginia’s school vaccination policy has long been heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the country for children.
African Christian Leaders and Health Nonprofits Seek to Fill Gaps After USAID Cuts
The leaders from 10 countries on the continent called for more local funding to restore essential resources to fight malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.
Review: Serving God Under Siege
In this eyewitness account, Valentyn Syniy recounts how the Russian invasion of Ukraine upended life for students, teachers, and staff in a seminary community.
Pentagon Preachers Proclaim a Lord of War
With Pentagon prayer services continuing into the Christmas season, this issue of A Public Witness peeks inside Pete Hegseth’s monthly effort to establish his brand of rightwing Christianity inside the government.