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Dmitry Safronov held a memorial service by Navalny’s grave in Moscow on March 26 to mark 40 days since the politician’s death, an important ritual within Russian Orthodox tradition.

This issue of A Public Witness digs into recent data from Lifeway Research and the Land Center to see what we can actually learn about a significant evangelical denomination and why the framing of the report misses the mark.

In "Review: Gospel As Work of Art: Imaginative Truth and the Open Text," David Brown challenges us to expand our understanding of scripture past source criticism and historical Jesus studies to include works of imagination.

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Dangerous Dogma

Church

Science is part of God’s wonder,’ said one pastor. ‘And I think it’s good for us to celebrate that as Christians.’

After a four-year COVID-19 delay, and the departure of about 25% of its U.S. churches, the United Methodist Church is meeting again and the issue of human sexuality is back on the agenda.

The new SBC president will likely play a key role in the future of abuse reforms in the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

Nation

The Rev. Frederick Haynes III said he felt it was 'necessary' to move on in light of 'challenges that continue to exist,' but declined to elaborate further.

During the heyday of American churchgoing, some presidents sought to use religion to unite the country. In the age of Trump, it is one more thing to fight over.

The protest, organized by Christians for a Free Palestine, followed a Communion service held on Capitol grounds.

World

The commitment falls short of demands from some campaigners for institutions that benefited from slavery to pay compensation to descendants of the enslaved.

The militants 'are terrorists, and they are not fighting for any religion. But they want to use religion to achieve their target of destabilizing the country and establishing an Islamic state,' said a local evangelical Christian pastor.

The pro-Kremlin Lukashenko last month signed into law a measure requiring all religious organizations in the country to reregister with authorities or face being outlawed if their loyalty to the state is in doubt.

Editorials

Word&Way Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor reflects on two memorials to an enslaved man on the campus of Samford University, and what this could teach us about telling the truth about the histories of our institutions and churches.

Brian Kaylor takes a moment to thank everyone for being part of our 2022 journey. This includes a quick review of the year — including a countdown of the top 10 most-read pieces we published in our award-winning newsletter A Public Witness in 2022.

Brian Kaylor reflects on the 1914 “Christmas truce” during World War I and why it he does not find it to be an inspiring take on what “peace on Earth” could look like today.

Word&Way Voices

Contributing writer Sarah Blackwell explores 'hidden' stories that stood right next to the biblical scriptures as having a valuable word to say about who we are as a people of faith.

The story of this former youth pastor and Jan. 6 insurrectionist is worth highlighting because his more recent words show a person facing the prospect of prison and also now confronting the notion that he was duped by his religious elders.

Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy explores how recent rhetoric from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas surrounding 'illegitimacy' reveals broader stakes for democratic deliberation.

E-Newsletter

This issue of A Public Witness looks at recent and dangerous efforts from Donald Trump, Michael Flynn, Charlie Kirk, and others to define religious adherence by partisanship.

This issue of A Public Witness digs into the hotly debated 'render therefore unto Caesar' Bible verse to consider its usage in a recent notable legal opinion.

This issue of A Public Witness unpacks the unique angle explored in the latest Mike Graves book “Jesus’ Vision for Your One Wild and Precious Life: (on Things Like Poverty, Hunger, Polarization, Inclusion, and More).”

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Podcasts

In episode 93 of Dangerous Dogma, Michael Budde, a professor of Catholic Studies and Political Science at DePaul University in Chicago, talks about his book Foolishness to Gentiles: Essays on Empire, Nationalism, and Discipleship. He

In episode 92 of Dangerous Dogma, William Yoo, a professor of American religious and cultural history at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, talks about his book What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the

Jennifer Garcia Bashaw, a professor of New Testament and Christian ministry at Campbell University, talks about her book Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims. She also discusses theories of atonement and the mistreatment of women, poor and disabled

In episode 90 of Dangerous Dogma, Jeff Hood, author of The Execution of God, talks about his advocacy against the death penalty. He also discusses his ministry to people on death row, including last month as he stood in a death

Books

Word&Way’s own Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood wrote a new book, “Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism,” which is available for pre-order now.

James L. Gorman’s fresh edition of Richard T. Hughes’s classic work, "Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America," illuminates the influential Stone-Campbell religious movement.

This issue of A Public Witness cues up the soundtrack of American evangelical Christianity as covered in Leah Payne’s “God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music.”

In "Wounded Pastors: Navigating Burnout, Finding Healing, and Discerning the Future of Your Ministry," Carol Howard Merritt and James Fenimore offer guidance for pastors who have been hurt by the church.