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BOSTON (BP)-- Ted Barrett had made a deal with God, or so he thought, when he was a young umpire in the minor leagues. He promised God that if baseball didn't work out, and that if he never got a job in the big leagues, then he'd pursue a ministry calling.

As the umpire crew chief for this year's World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has reached the pinnacle of his profession.

(RNS) — A federal court heard oral arguments this week on whether a longstanding housing tax break for clergy called a “parsonage allowance exclusion” is constitutional, setting the stage for a clash over competing claims of religious privilege and religious discrimination.

(RNS) — In May, Roberto Rauda, an undocumented immigrant, went to a New London, Conn., courthouse to pay a fine for carrying an open container of beer. Instead he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a routine sweep and ended up in the Bristol County House of Corrections in North Dartmouth, Mass.

“Hi, I’m Joe. Welcome to First Baptist Church!” Long-time church member Joe beams at the visiting couple, while he pumps their hands. “So glad you came!”

Joe spies friends and moves on. The couple looks around, wondering where to sit and what to do next. No one else approaches them. By the time they return to their car, they’ve decided not to return next Sunday.

Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri seeking reelection this year, has stopped at multiple churches on the campaign trail — despite her office claiming she supports the IRS regulation that prevents houses of worship from intervening in political campaigns.

(RNS) — Since its grand opening nearly a year ago, the Museum of the Bible has exhibited five fragments from the storied Dead Sea Scrolls, the ancient parchment fragments discovered 70 years ago in a desert cave.

On Monday (Oct. 22) the museum acknowledged that the five fragments it had on display were forgeries. 

Missouri Baptist Convention messengers will gather in Springfield this week (Oct. 22-23) for their 184th annual meeting with the 2018 theme of "Steady." Streaming is available for those not at the meeting.

(RNS) — Eugene Peterson, the best-selling author of “The Message” and longtime pastor praised as a “shepherd’s shepherd,” passed away Monday morning (Oct. 22) at age 85.

Among Peterson's last words were, "Let's go," according to a statement from his family.

Baptists from across the U.S. gathered in Atlanta last week at the New Baptist Covenant’s 2018 summit, committing to continue the “journey to justice” for all people.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Andrew Brunson, the American pastor recently released after two years of confinement in Turkey said Friday that he suffered a breakdown during his time in prison and was put on anti-anxiety medication.

But the worst of it, he said, was the uncertainty.