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‘As a trans person myself, I know that I’m just as much an image of God as a cisgender, heterosexual person of whatever color, race and creed,’ said the Rev. M.E. Eccles, a trans Episcopal priest.

Since becoming a Trump supporter, the tech billionaire has arrived at a new stage in his evolution from insisting science and religion cannot coexist.

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said that President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary ‘promotes the concept of fundamentalist Christian dominance and supremacy.’

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Dangerous Dogma

Church

When the CCLI Top 100 chart first appeared in 1988, most of the songs had one writer. Today, the average hit worship song has at least two writers — who often have ties to the so-called Big Four megachurches.

The Rev. Jerry Young, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, has been president for two five-year terms and cannot run for a consecutive third term.

A spokesperson said no one from ACNA’s national office had knowledge of Archbishop Beach or his staff asking for the podcast to stop.

Nation

While Donald Trump’s win understandingly dominates the headlines, it’s also important to consider the results in the numerous other federal, state, and local races.

This Election Day issue of A Public Witness considers the idea that where you vote might influence how you vote.

A coalition of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith has gained power and influence at the ballot box and the Legislature in the past decade especially, becoming one of the most influential forces in state politics. 

World

The evangelical leader of Good News, Paul Mackenzie, is accused of instructing his followers to starve to death for the opportunity to meet Jesus.

After a crackdown on unapproved churches, Christian leaders say the government's move encroaches on religious freedom and applies regulations unequally.

Editorials

Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor responds to comments by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, who attacked Americans United for Separation of Church and State while he advocated for government prayers in public schools.

Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor reflects on starting a third year of a global pandemic. Looking at coverage of this pandemic and the flu pandemic of a century before, he offers some lessons to consider.

Brian Kaylor reacts with satirical humor and sharp criticism to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filing lawsuits against dozens of public school districts after school officials enacted mask rules to keep children and teachers healthy amid the omicron surge.

Word&Way Voices

Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy discusses what led him to write “Dancing with Metaphors in the Pulpit” covering lessons preachers can learn from novelists, poets, philosophers, and rhetoricians.

Contributing writer Sarah Blackwell reflects on what spiritual practices we can take from this summer’s Olympics as we all move on to this next season of our lives.

As a Palestinian Christian, Daoud Kuttab has often felt that defending symbolism can be an easy replacement for the practice of faith in action. He argues that this is certainly the case with a recent Olympics controversy.

E-Newsletter

This issue of A Public Witness opens up the Bible to debunk hidden partisan codes popping up in social media posts and sermons.

This issue of A Public Witness treks to Latin America to consider the dangers arising from the political co-opting of sacred texts.

The conventions are over and it’s a 10-week political sprint to election day — but many churches don’t know how to talk about political rancor. One constructive way to address this is to focus on Christian Nationalism.

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Podcasts

In episode 68, Angela Denker, a Lutheran pastor and journalist, talks about her book Red State Christians: A Journey into White Christian Nationalism and the Wreckage It Leaves Behind. She also discusses Lutherans, racism, and the need for pastors to speak

Teddy Wilson, a reporter who runs the newsletter Radical Reports, talks about his research and reporting on political and religious extremism. He also discusses Christian Nationalism, the Jan. 6 insurrection, and his Substack newsletter.

In episode 66, Wendy Cadge, founder and director of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, talks about the work of chaplains. She also discusses issues she has written about, including the evolution of the role of chaplains, unique positions like humanist chaplains, and the work of chaplains

In episode 65, Jemar Tisby talks about his books How to Fight Racism and The Color of Compromise. He also discusses his response to a recent controversy at Grove City College, his new "Those Meddling Kids" video series on anti-CRT

Books

In "God After Deconstruction," Thomas Jay Oord and Tripp Fuller write for people experiencing the traumatic realities of discovering that what they once believed about God is no longer sustainable.

In "Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump," John Fea argues that the evangelical approach to public life is defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an American past.

In "The Good News of Church Politics," Ross Kane combines Scripture, political theology, and personal experience to reframe politics around shaping our common life.

In "The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church," Sarah McCammon explores the rising generation of the children of conservative Christianity who are growing up and fleeing the fold.