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This issue of A Public Witness reconsiders King Herod to move beyond a flat, culture wars depiction of the religious-nationalism-pushing ruler.

Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor reflects on the meaning of peace declared by the heavenly host on that first Christmas in light of a “Let There Be Peace On Earth” Christmas decoration at the White House.

Reflecting on the dangerous pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth, Traci Blackmon writes that God’s miracles required not just their wombs but their entire beings.

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Church

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been sending thousands of migrants to cities like Chicago, Illinois. Many churches in the Windy City are stepping up to help care for the migrants.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, head of the Episcopal Church, is the subject of an internal clergy misconduct complaint for his response to abuse allegations against Bishop Prince Singh, the former bishop of the Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan.

More than 4 in 10 of clergy have seriously considered leaving their congregations at least once since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than half thought seriously of leaving the ministry.

Nation

This issue of A Public Witness unpacks how Kamala Harris’s decision to skip the Al Smith Dinner — and the legacy of Smith (the first Catholic nominee for president) — offers important insights into this year’s campaign.

Last week it was revealed that Robinson had posted regularly at a porn site called Nude Africa. In those posts he called himself a “Black NAZI,” praised Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf,” and wrote “(s)lavery is not bad.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022 and was widely considered a victory for women who are low-wage workers.

World

O’Connor, 56, passed away Wednesday at her home in southeast London.

With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic records in Barcelona and across southern Europe, iconic sacred sites are struggling to accommodate the faithful who come to pray and the millions of visitors who often pay to view the art and architecture.

This issue of A Public Witness takes you inside the modern debate about public baptisms in Switzerland to consider what this can teach us about balancing church and state.

Editorials

Brian KaylorWatching the news Saturday night as missiles from the United States, United Kingdom and France struck Syria, I found myself pondering questions about the attack — and about how Christians should react

Brian KaylorMyanmar pastorsOn Christmas Eve of 2016, the military of Myanmar detained two Baptist pastors. We’ve

Brian KaylorEach weekday as I drop my son off for school, my last words to him as he grabs his backpack and hurries out of the car are “I love you!” I hope

Word&Way Voices

Pastor Dawn Darwin Weaks explores what it was like for a once large and vibrant church community to decide to make a major change. With only a few dozen active people left, they made the choice to relocate, rename, and relaunch together. Before the 116-year-old congregation gathered for worship in

Andrea Marta of Faith in Action argues that this year we are increasingly seeing how white Christian Nationalism is dominating midterm election campaigns and contributing to voter suppression tactics. While advocacy efforts cannot be limited to the ballot box, voters of faith, especially Black and Brown voters, will ensure elected

Pastor Darron LaMonte Edwards argues that Missourians should help to repair the breach and vote "no" on Amendment 4. This measure would only further erode local control over crucial resources and punish certain communities in Kansas City for seeing the solution to their problems as utilizing a path other than

E-Newsletter

This issue of A Public Witness introduces you to the 56th speaker of the House — the founding dean of a failed Baptist law school, an attorney for three firms devoted to advancing Christian Nationalism, a crusader for prayer in public schools, an evangelist proclaiming the U.S. is “a Christian

In his timely new book, noted scholar David Gushee brings his incisive ethical lens to defending democratic commitments and articulating the need for Christians to recommit themselves to its practices.

While historian Jemar Tisby has been canceled from many conservative White Christian spaces, other Christians are willing to listen. So this issue of A Public Witness takes you to a special class session to learn about the need for churches to fight institutional racism.

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Melissa Rogers, a Baptist expert in church-state issues who previously led White House faith-based efforts, says governments can impose mass gathering bans to temporarily restrict church gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.