Earlier this week (July 3), the board of elders of Gateway Church and the overseers of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries released a joint statement informing the public that “all future radio and television broadcast ministry from Pastor Robert Morris Ministries has been cancelled” due to Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of a minor.

The Gateway Church elders accepted Morris’ resignation from Gateway Church on June 18, four days after allegations came to light that he abused a 12-year-old in the 1980s.

Morris’ alleged abuse became known after the testimony of survivor Cindy Clemishire was published by The Wartburg Watch on June 15.

RELATED: Gateway Church Learned of Robert Morris’ Crime in 2005, Says Abuse Survivor Cindy Clemishire

“Pastor Robert’s sin and his lack of transparency to the church’s elders and leadership has disqualified him from continuing in his role as senior pastor at Gateway Church and as leader of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries,” the joint statement said. “As a result, all future radio and television broadcast ministry from Pastor Robert Morris Ministries has been cancelled.”

The statement continued by saying that the board and overseers were “grateful for how God has used Gateway Church and Pastor Robert Morris Ministries to minister to so many people around the world for decades.”

“Countless people have come to Christ, grown in their faith, and been ministered to in their time of need. We are truly humbled by what God has done through these ministries,” the statement said.

RELATED: Robert Morris Resigns as Gateway Church’s Senior Pastor Following Sexual Abuse Allegations

The overseers of Robert Morris Ministries told supporters that they “know God is on His throne—even when it seems that everything around us is shaking, He is our firm foundation.”

“We know He loves and cares for every one of you, and we encourage you to continue looking to Him as the source of hope and strength,” the statement added.

The statement concluded, “Our prayer for you who have watched our television programs, listened to Worship & the Word on radio, and supported this ministry with your prayers and gifts can be found in Scripture.”

While admitting that he has “many skeletons” in his closet, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling a recent Vanity Fair article about his life “a lot of garbage.” The 70-year-old political scion and environmental lawyer, who is running for president as an Independent, has sparked controversy for years.

In his Vanity Fair article, Joe Hagan explores Kennedy’s “darkest secrets,” including his links to conspiracy theories, his history of drug use, claims of infidelity, and allegations of sexual assault. Kennedy accuses Vanity Fair and Hagan of supporting the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden.

Appearing on the July 2 episode of the “Breaking Points” podcast, Kennedy sidestepped questions about assault allegations from his family’s former babysitter. He also denied eating dog during a trip to Asia.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Had a ‘Very Rambunctious Youth’

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy has been characterized by controversy and shocking headlines. News leaked in May that he once said a worm ate part of his brain, leaving him with such severe symptoms he thought he had a brain tumor.

RELATED: Pastor Jack Graham, Paula White-Cain Pray for Evangelical ‘Warrior’ Donald Trump Ahead of Debate

The Vanity Fair article included a photo of Kennedy standing by what appears to be a barbecued dog. He reportedly sent the photo to a friend while recommending a Korean restaurant that serves dog. On the podcast, Kennedy refuted that claim, saying he was actually “eating a goat in Patagonia on a whitewater trip many years ago.”

Vanity Fair also details claims made by Eliza Cooney, who babysat Kennedy’s children 25 years ago, when she was 23. Cooney alleges that Kennedy groped her without consent and acted inappropriately, showing up shirtless in her doorway, wanting her to rub lotion on his back.

Cooney, now 48, recalled feeling “frozen” and “shocked” by what happened. Both the #MeToo movement and Kennedy’s presidential run made her break her silence, she said.

When asked on the “Breaking Points” podcast about Cooney’s allegations, Kennedy replied, “I’ve said this from the beginning. I am not a church boy. I am not running like that.” The candidate admitted he had “a very, very rambunctious youth,” pointing out, “I said in my announcement speech that I have…so many skeletons in my closet, that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world.”

Instead of addressing the assault allegations, Kennedy said, “Vanity Fair is recycling 30-year-old stories, and I, you know, am not gonna comment on the details of any of them.” The magazine, he added, had “joined the ranks of supermarket tabloids.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Possibly Replacing Biden

On the podcast, Kennedy admitted that “the best path for me to the White House is through the Democratic Party.” If Biden were to step aside, Kennedy added, he would “certainly…consider” taking his place on the ticket, calling it “probably…the best choice for everybody.”

Some participants in the 2024 Fourth of July Parade in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, proudly carried crosses alongside American flags after the city’s chamber of commerce reversed its decision to ban religious and political symbols in the parade. A spokesperson for the chamber said that the intent with the original decision was to eliminate “offensive displays” and to “ensure we honor America’s military.”

“As a person of deep faith, the recent events and accusations have been especially heartbreaking,” said Linda Coppess, president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene (CDA) Regional Chamber in a statement posted to Facebook July 1. “Our goal for the Fourth of July American Heroes Parade is to create a celebration that honors our military, fosters family-friendly fun, and respects all attendees.” 

Fourth of July Parade in Coeur d’Alene

A video posted by the conservative media outlet Idaho Tribune on the afternoon of July 4 showed people marching in a Fourth of July parade carrying crosses and American flags. “Banning Crosses didn’t work out well for the @cdachamber,” said the caption. “We the People have had enough of the anti-Christ tyrants that are in control of Coeur d’Alene. CHRIST IS KING!”

Banning Crosses didn’t work out well for the @cdachamber.

We the People have had enough of the anti-Christ tyrants that are in control of Coeur d’Alene.

CHRIST IS KING! pic.twitter.com/KQLPXCOtTJ

— Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) July 4, 2024

However, in a statement to the Coeur d’Alene Press, Coppess said that the rule banning “symbols associated with specific political movements, religions, or ideologies” was a response to the many complaints the chamber had received about offensive signs, including those portraying “Confederate flags, derogatory illustrations, harsh politically-based language, and graphic photographs.” 

RELATED: Idaho Pastor Who Went Missing This Week Died From Apparent Suicide

The ban was not targeted at Christianity, or even religion in general, but included controversial political signs. “The original policy was not meant to isolate individuals or be considered an anti-religious policy,” said Coppess. She told the Press that last year the chamber received over 50 complaints about displays that people found offensive.

On June 28, the Idaho Family Policy Center (IFPC) posted an alert urging people to “push back against this censorship of our founding values—and stand with conviction for religious expression at local Independence Day celebrations.”  

On its website, IFPC describes itself as “a ministry that advances the lordship of Christ in the public square through engaging the church, promoting God-honoring public policy, and training statesmen.” The organization encouraged people to email the CDA Regional Chamber “asking them to allow Christian parade participants to express their faith.”

In a post on June 29, IFPC said, “It’s time to double down. We’ve heard from a local church that the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber called to tell them that they still cannot display their cross—despite receiving over 1,000 emails since yesterday and seemingly flip flopping on their policies regarding religious symbols.”

Community members are calling for greater transparency after it became more widely known that the pastor of Eternal Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, is a registered sex offender. Don Logan, who has been pastor of the non-denominational church since 2015, was convicted of a child sex abuse charge in 1997. 

The church had been associated with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) but left the denomination in 2009.

Dana Cummings, who formerly attended the church, told Fort Mill Sun that she and her husband became aware of Logan’s status as a sex offender after receiving a cryptic email about a meeting to discuss Logan’s past. 

“I realized something must be very wrong,” Cummings said. “My husband jokingly made the comment, ‘Is he a sex offender?’”

Shortly after a brief online search of sex offenders, the couple was looking for a new church. 

RELATED: After Robert Morris Allegations, Texas Legislators Vow To Expand Statutes of Limitations on Abuse

According to Indiana court records, Logan pleaded guilty to a felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor younger than age 16 as part of a plea agreement in 1997. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment, with an additional three years suspended pending his adherence to probation. 

As part of the agreement, the court also ruled that Logan “relinquish his minister’s license, that he have no contact with any minor without adult supervision, and his type of employment is approved by the Court and Probation Department.”

Logan was 30 years old at the time. 

According to the sex offender registry in Lexington County, South Carolina, the victim was a 14-year-old girl. 

RELATED: Prosecutors Characterize SBC Youth Pastor as Serial Sexual Abuser Who Moved From Church to Church

“I feel like people who walk in that door and make the decision to be a member and give your time and money and effort need to know who is preaching to them. He is a wonderful preacher,” Cummings said. “But it really takes away all the credibility when I feel like this past is being hidden with the understanding that only the right people know.”

(RNS) — As it elected Bishop Sean Rowe its new presiding bishop at last week’s General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, the Episcopal Church adopted more than 20 resolutions related to Title IV, a section of the church bylaws that governs its response to allegations against clergy of abuse or misconduct.

Over the past year, a spate of public Title IV cases prompted concerns about the complexity and effectiveness of the denomination’s approach to clergy discipline, particularly in cases involving bishops’ decisions or misconduct of their own. Less than two weeks before General Convention, the denomination disclosed that three of the five presiding bishop nominees had faced current or prior Title IV complaints. (Rowe was one of the two nominees not listed in the disclosure.)

“There’s been a lot of activity and action of distrust by the wider church, in the way Title IV has been adjudicated with bishops,” said Bishop Ian T. Douglas, retired bishop of Connecticut. He added that some bishops, on the other hand, are concerned that they might be unfairly targeted. “I think, and I hope and I pray that these changes can help rebuild trust in the system,” he said.

Some hope that the election of Rowe, who has procedural expertise and a history of bringing abuse to light as bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, signals a broader shift toward a more streamlined, consistent application of Title IV.

Douglas, for one, noted that Rowe is an expert on the church’s bylaws and has years of experience chairing committees that make recommendations on Title IV. In 2010, Rowe revealed that sexual abuse allegations had been made against his deceased predecessor in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and in 2018 he published an op-ed in The Christian Century about covering up abuse in the church.

“Protecting the church, its reputation, and the vocations of clergy can no longer be more important than developing accessible, transparent procedures through which clergy and bishops are held accountable,” wrote Rowe, who, as presiding bishop, will play a key role in Title IV cases involving bishops.

While the changes to Title IV are by no means an overhaul, the technical adjustments, most of which will go into effect in January, are designed to improve fairness of the process for everyone involved, according to Christopher Hayes, a lawyer who chaired the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, which proposed resolutions on Title IV.

Some of the changes address Title IV’s discipline of bishops, which some in the wider church say has been too lenient. Last week’s General Convention voted to more closely align the Title IV process for bishops with that of other clergy, in particular extending to bishops a provision that ends their “pastoral relationship” with their dioceses by default if they are suspended for misconduct for longer than six months.

A separate resolution adjusts the composition of the board that hears complaints against bishops so that it has a slight minority, rather than a majority, of bishops.

“This rebalancing isn’t really because there is, in fact, an observed inequity, but there is a perceived inequity. And it’s that we are trying to respond to. We need to have a process that people believe is fair and careful,” Bishop Nicholas Knisely of Rhode Island, who chairs the disciplinary board for bishops, told Religion News Service. Knisely and Hayes served together on the Title IV Disciplinary Canons Committee.

The new resolutions also ensure each diocese has at least one intake officer — the first point of contact for those submitting complaints of abuse or harassment — who isn’t employed by the diocese and therefore isn’t under the auspices of the bishop. Intake officers will also be required to provide monthly updates to complainants and respondents. These reports, according to Nathan Brown, a lay representative who also served on the Title IV Disciplinary Canons Committee, could be one of the most impactful changes.

“By having monthly reports required and ensuring people are kept up to date on what’s going on, particularly early in process, and having that communication, I think that will provide much greater trust in the system and much greater transparency,” Brown told RNS.

(RNS) — The California Southern Baptist Convention, one of 41 regional groups that make up the Southern Baptist Convention, announced this week that it had cut six staff jobs, citing an ongoing decline in giving.

Donations to the state’s Cooperative Program, which funds national, international and state-specific ministries, fell short by $170,000 in the current fiscal year. That 7% shortfall is part of an ongoing decline in giving, according to Baptist Press, an official SBC publication.

State Baptist officials have drawn on reserves to cover shortfalls over the past three years. The staff cuts, including four layoffs and two voluntary retirements, mean the state convention will not need to draw on reserves — as long as giving does not decline.

“The stewardship that God has given me as the Executive Director in assuring we continue to have a healthy and sustainable future is a heavy burden,” Pete Ramirez, the state convention’s executive director said, according to Baptist Press.

Giving overall to the SBC’s Cooperative Program is down just under 2% in the current fiscal year. The SBC’s annual budget called for $148 million in donations to be given to national and international causes, but actual giving to date is $145.4 million, according to a recent report posted by the SBC’s Executive Committee.

The SBC’s Cooperative Program, which turns 100 years old in 2025, is one of the nation’s most successful religious charitable programs, having raised more than $20 billion since its inception. Those funds pay for overseas missions, new church starts, seminary education, disaster relief and other programs.

But giving to the program has declined in recent decades. Southern Baptist churches give less than 5% of their income to the Cooperative Program, down from 10% in the 1980s. And less than 60% of SBC churches give to the program, down from three-quarters in the early 2000s.

The denomination has also lost more than 3 million members since 2006 and has faced a sexual abuse crisis and debates over the role of women in church leadership. The denomination’s Executive Committee also spent several years dealing with leadership turmoil before electing a new permanent leader this spring.

In 2023, the SBC expelled Saddleback Church in Southern California, one of its largest congregations, after that church ordained several women as pastors. At the time, Saddleback was giving $100,000 annually to the Cooperative Program. It’s unclear whether Saddleback remains a member of the California Baptist Convention, or if that congregation still gives to the convention. In either case, the shortfalls in California predate Saddleback’s removal from the SBC.