COVID-19 Health Emergency Is Ending but Faith-Based Vaccine Clinics Continue

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May 11, 2023

(RNS) — The U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency declared under President Donald Trump on Jan. 31, 2020, may be ending on Thursday (May 11), but across the country faith-based groups that provide health care to communities of color say the availability of vaccinations remains important, even if the number of shots they administer is declining.

“I do not believe that we can turn and walk away and say, ‘Hey, OK, we have COVID under control so now let’s just pack up our tools and go home,’” said the Rev. James L. Patterson, CEO of the Partnership of African American Churches in Charleston, West Virginia. “No, we need to continue to deal with the health outcomes that people are suffering.”

The PAAC coordinates with other churches, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army and several universities to provide vaccines at 15 clinic locations.

Patterson said his organization has received $7.2 million in funding from federal, state and private sources to help provide vaccines and testing over the last three years. With the slowing of COVID-19 cases, he hopes the partnership, which has already been providing flu shots and glucose and blood pressure checks, will be able to expand to address wider health problems.

Community members receive vaccinations at a location organized by the Partnership of African American Churches in Charleston, West Virginia. Photo courtesy of PAAC

“COVID is just the latest pandemic for people of color,” he said. “We’re always in a pandemic. Think about heart disease, diabetes. Those are at pandemic rates in communities of color.”

Over the last few years, African American congregations have provided outsized action on getting people tested and vaccinated.

“Our data shows that not that many congregations served as testing sites and/or vaccination (locations) but almost half of the ones that did were African American,” said Scott Thumma, principal investigator of the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, adding that “14% of Black churches served as testing or vaccination site compared to 7% of other churches.”

Many African Americans were counting on houses of worship to answer the emergency.

“When FDA made the announcement that the second bivalent was available to 65 plus and immunocompromised, we received phone calls and emails like ‘Are you guys going to have it?’ Fortunately we already had scheduled a clinic,” said the Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which received funding from her county for its work. “They knew that they could come right here to Bethel.”

A woman receives a vaccine at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, in Sept. 2022. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Cavaness

An individual receives a vaccine at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, in September 2022. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Cavaness

Cavaness said her church, which also received state support, helped 2,000 people get COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic. Dozens of other AME churches outside Philadelphia have been funded by immunization and pediatric organizations to provide vaccines and other health services.

Bethel, which has inoculated about 200 people since January, is not slowing down, though the mix is expected to continue to shift to vaccinations for other maladies. It has scheduled five clinics to continue to provide vaccinations for the flu as well as COVID-19, shingles and TDAP, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough.

Dr. Brittani James in Sept. 2021 in Chicago. Photo courtesy of IMAN

Dr. Brittani James in September 2021 in Chicago. Photo courtesy of IMAN

On Chicago’s South Side, the Inner-City Muslim Action Network’s health center has administered more than 3,400 COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

“At the height of the pandemic, we were at one time vaccinating approximately 60 patients per day, but that number has decreased over time as more and more people were vaccinated,” said Dabeer Hussain, the organization’s clinical quality manager. “This year, in the past two months, we have given just over 20 vaccines.”

Despite the decrease in demand, Dr. Brittani James, the health center’s medical director, continues to offer the vaccines as she serves those in the community that is predominantly Black and Latinx and about 10% to 15% Arab American.

New Books Celebrate Faith and Motherhood in Time for Mother’s Day

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Emily McFarlan Miller

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May 11, 2023

(RNS) — When sharing about the book she co-authored with the Rev. Kimberly Knowle-Zeller, Erin Strybis has heard “The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years” referred to as “just another motherhood devotional.”

Strybis, a Chicago-based writer with two kids ages 1 and 6, said she could see that. But she also sees motherhood — and parenthood in general — as “a pretty important story that we need to continue to return to as a society.”

“There are lessons that can be taught in these early years about unconditional love and support that I think the world needs right now,” she said.

Strybis has read books that have flipped traditional messages about motherhood on their heads and books connecting creativity and motherhood that became devotionals for her. She’s found healing in the words of picture books she’s shared with her children.

In “The Beauty of Motherhood,” she and Knowle-Zeller hope moms of babies, toddlers and young children will find honesty about the hard parts of parenting alongside the picture-perfect moments often shared on social media. And they hope — as they share reflections from their own parenting journeys alongside Bible passages, spiritual practices and prayers — others will be inspired to share their stories, too.

The two connected when Knowle-Zeller, a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and mom of two, was writing for Living Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, where Strybis previously was an editor.

As Mother’s Day approaches in the United States, here are a few more books released this year that celebrate the subject of faith and mothering.

‘Feminist Prayers for my Daughter’ by Shannon K. Evans

What words do you pray when your own daughter becomes a mother? Or when she experiences the loss of a pregnancy?

Shannon K. Evans, the spirituality and culture editor at the National Catholic Reporter and author of “Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality,” puts words to prayers for things many women encounter in life in her latest book, titled “Feminist Prayers for My Daughter: Powerful Petitions for Every Stage of Her Life.” The prayer book, published in March, includes prayers for when she takes her first steps, leaves home or hits menopause alongside prayers for a just maternity leave, for moments when she is “mansplained” to and for leveraging her privilege.

: Courtesy image

: Courtesy image

‘So God Made a Mother’ by Leslie Means

Tender. Strong. Faithful.

Those are just a few of the attributes of a mother that Leslie Means, founder of the popular faith and motherhood website Her View From Home, focuses on in the collection “So God Made a Mother: Tender, Proud, Strong, Faithful, Known, Beautiful, Worthy, and Unforgettable — Just Like You.” The book, already a Publishers Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestseller after releasing last month, features essays by moms of children of all ages that they hope will speak to anyone who is, has or knows a mother.

‘Create Anyway’ by Ashlee Gadd

Looking for the perfect gift for Mom? Look no further than your nearest Target, which recently included “Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood” by Ashlee Gadd in one of its Mother’s Day gift guides.

“Create Anyway,” published in March, shares photos taken during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside interviews with mothers about their creative work and reflections that include moments of faith by Gadd, founder of Coffee + Crumbs, an online community gathering mothers around storytelling. The book also includes journaling prompts and creative exercises.

: Courtesy image

: Courtesy image

‘Waiting In Hope’ by Kelley Ramsey and Jenn Hesse

Mother’s Day isn’t necessarily a celebratory day for everybody, including the 1 in 6 women who struggle with infertility.

Kelley Ramsey and Jenn Hesse of Waiting in Hope Ministries, a Christian ministry offering support to couples experiencing infertility, wrote “Waiting in Hope: 31 Reflections for Walking With God Through Infertility” with them in mind. The book, released last month, shares both women’s stories alongside reflection questions and prayers for those waiting to become parents.

‘Dear Mama God’ by Daneen Akers

Courtesy image

Like author Daneen Akers’ previous book, “Holy Troublemakers and Unconventional Saints,” picture book “Dear Mama God” was funded on Kickstarter.

“Dear Mama God,” published last month, opens with a translation of Job 33:4 by Hebrew Bible professor and Episcopal priest the Rev. Wil Gafney that restores what Akers says in a note to readers is its original grammar: “The Spirit of God, She has made me, and the breath of the nursing God, She gives me life.” The book continues that feminine language for the divine in words of gratitude inspired by prayers prayed by Akers’ youngest daughter and pictures God as a strong and colorful tree in warm illustrations by Gillian Gamble.

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This article originally appeared here.

8 Reasons the Apostle Paul Finished His Race Well—And What We Can Learn From Him

By

Chuck Lawless

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May 11, 2023

Some years ago, I wrote two posts about finishing well (“10 Characteristics of Pastors who Finished Well” and “10 Characteristics of Leaders who Last”). Today, though, I’m thinking of the apostle Paul, who with spiritual confidence could write, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). Here are some reasons he finished well that challenge me at this point in my ministry:

He never got over grace. He always saw himself as the worst of sinners (1 Tim 1:15), and he understood the necessity of grace in his conversion (Eph 2:8-10). Pride that derails so many church leaders never captured him.
He did not value his life more than faithfulness to his God. He ran the race all the way to his death. Like others, he conquered the enemy through the blood of the Lamb, the word of his testimony, and his willingness to die (Rev 12:11).
He did not miss opportunities to tell the gospel story. Whether before crowds, kings, jailers, Jews, or Gentiles, he always pointed others to Jesus. When you give this kind of attention to ongoing evangelism, you run the race for the sake of others—and you want to finish it well.
He prayed . . . a lot. Just read his letters, and pay attention to the number of times he prayed for those to whom he wrote. He could with integrity call believers to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) because that kind of praying marked his life. He fought the good fight by staying on his knees.
He obeyed the Word. He knew the God-inspired Word was good for equipping him to do God’s work (2 Tim 3:16-17). And, he so obeyed it that he could, in fact, say with assurance, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1); he didn’t just read the Word and then ignore it.
He ran the race in the power of the Spirit. He knew the importance of living by the Spirit and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25). He set his mind on the Spirit (Rom 8:5), knowing it was the Spirit who empowered him to keep the faith all along the way.
He lived with eternity in mind. He knew there would be a finish line that mattered. Paul understood he would stand before his redeemer, and he lived for a reward he might, like others, give back to Christ (see Rev 4:10-11).
He finished the race well in the end because he ran the race well every day. He didn’t wait until close to death to decide to be “super faithful.” Rather, his moment-by-moment, day-to-day faithfulness resulted in his faithfulness for the entire race.

So, what can we learn from Paul? We will finish the race well not by waiting until the end to be faithful, but by running the race well today…and tomorrow…and every day God gives us.

Today, lean into God’s grace. Today, spend time with him in prayer. Today, tell others about his goodness. Today, rely on the Spirit’s power. Today, fight the good fight! Keep the faith! Run the race well!

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Youth Pastor Tensions: When You Clash With Your Senior Pastor

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Jeremy Zach

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May 10, 2023

Youth pastor: How do you manage problems in your relationship with the senior pastor? The intention of this post is for readers to offer resolutions, based off their experience and insight. Thanks in advance!

I need perspective on how a youth pastor and senior pastors can get on the same page. People constantly ask me, “How do I get my senior pastor on board? How can church leaders get realigned?”

Unfortunately, it’s often easier to list problems than to brainstorm answers. But I hate hearing about youth leaders leaving ministry because they’re fed up with senior leadership. Let’s explore the challenges and possible solutions.

Youth Pastor Challenges

The new breed of youth pastor doesn’t naturally drift toward senior pastors. Here’s why that might be:

personality differences
different ministry strategy
gives lip service
makes slow decisions
misaligned mission and vision
steeped too heavily in traditional and denominational values
too old, out of touch, and irrelevant
no vision
lack of commitment
difference in minor theological convictions
not a great work ethic
simply not around—not physically present in the church office
lack of trust
poor communication skills
no desire to try something new
financially doesn’t support youth ministry

Possible Solutions: 10 Relationship-Building Tips

How can a youth pastor have a Kingdom-minded relationship with the senior pastor? Here’s my working list:

1. Do your homework before getting hired.

Make sure the senior pastor shares the same ministry strategy. Does the pastor energize and inspire you? Ask: Would I want to hang out with this person outside of church?

2. Form a team of parents and adults to be the youth ministry elder board.

Then begin to dream and envision what the student ministry should look like. This board/team will be directly responsible and accountable to communicate what God is doing in the youth ministry. It would be wise to recruit a parent/adult who the senior pastor already respects and you already like and work well with.

3. Read a book together and start a conversation.

For example: THINK ORANGE, Orange Leader Handbook and Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors (by Mark Riddle). The beauty about Orange is that it highly advocates for staff synergy and compatibility. It forces everyone to have one end in mind. Orange is like a church chiropractor. It’s all about adjustment and alignment.

The first part of Mark Riddle’s book talks about how to hire the right youth pastor. Then the second part describes the dynamics of the youth pastor and senior pastor relationship.

Christian Comedian Chonda Pierce Speaks Out Against Cancel Culture: ‘You’re Shooting Yourself in the Foot’

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Janna Firestone

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May 10, 2023

For 32 years, comedian Chonda Pierce has made crowds laugh at the puzzling things of life, idiosyncrasies within the church, and her unique perspective of the world. And now, she stars in her own movie, “Roll With It,” hitting theaters May 9, 11, and 13.

Pierce recently sat down with CBN’s Faithwire for an interview. When asked about comedy, she responded, “You have instant gratification or instant rejection. And, I’ve had both.”

The comedian remembered multiple times that preachers, nervous to introduce a comedian to their congregations, would quote Scripture endorsing laughter. Pierce embraces the arts—especially that of comedy—and the emotions surrounding life. “God created every one of our emotions and allows us to use every one of them, even anger,” Pierce said.

Pierce recognizes her style of comedy isn’t for everyone. And, she admitted, she doesn’t resonate with all of the comedy out there either. But, she said, the “art of comedy” is a “sweet gift” from God.

Chonda Pierce Addresses Those Who Cancel Comics

Chonda Pierce gave a her assessment of the bottom-line effect of cancel culture, saying, “You’re shooting yourself in the foot,” and noting that comics can provide a robust picture of the current culture. “In 25 years, there will be no reality of what was really going on in 2023.” She continued, “First of all, there’s free speech, and second of all, you’re missing some great laughs. The world today is so crazy.”

Catholic League president Bill Donohue says that “cancel culture” is different than censorship in that the government has the only power to actually censor, that is, to stop a message before it’s heard or to stop writings from being circulated.

“Today we are faced with a cancel culture, a condition whereby some controversial ideas are being canceled; in effect, they are being censored,” Donohue told Movieguide. “But the censor is not government: it is the private sector. The social media corporations—Facebook, Google, Twitter—are the major culprits. These Silicon Valley behemoths are not interested in canceling all controversial ideas, simply the ones they dislike.”

“I would love to be canceled. It would be so cool — and great publicity,” Pierce joked.

She admitted to the Christian Post, “I’m not politically correct. I’ve been crafting a long letter to Dave Chappelle because I want to tell him welcome to the family.”

Pierce referred to the incident where Chapelle was canceled by the LGBTQ+ community after he made comments within his special, “The Closer.”

“Every night I have to please the Baptist, the Presbyterians, the Catholics, the believer and the nonbeliever. It’s really hard, so I want to tell him, ‘Look, you’re not the only one out there that gets beat up every now and then,” Pierce said. “I think Dave Chappelle is absolutely brilliant. I tell my audience, ‘He’s not a Christian; he’s a Muslim.’ That’s his right. I would love to talk to him about Jesus because I want to see him in heaven because he’s absolutely brilliant.”

She went on to say that supporting or boycotting ideals and companies comes down to money. “More than your picketing, your dollar speaks so much more,” said Pierce.

John MacArthur Gives Update on His Heart Problems on Grace to You Radio Broadcast

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Jessica Mouser

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May 10, 2023

John MacArthur, 83, says he is doing well and is recovering from a health scare that has prevented him from preaching since Sunday, Jan. 1. That morning, MacArthur preached the first service at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, but was unable to preach the second.

“I had a measure of good health,” said MacArthur on the May 8 edition of his Grace to You broadcast, where he shared that he had been in the habit of playing golf prior to the incident. Then, “in one day I became an old man.”

John MacArthur Reflects on Health Scare

At the beginning of the May 8 broadcast, Pastor John MacArthur described to host Phil Johnson what had happened to him the morning of New Year’s Day. “I was preaching at Grace Church on Jan. 1,” he said, “and as I got up to give the sermon in the first service—we have two duplicate services—I just felt like I couldn’t get my breath. That had never happened to me before.”

MacArthur continued, “I think I said to the congregation, ‘Just give me a minute to catch my breath.’ And that, that was kind of shocking. So at that point, I began to feel a little bit better and I went ahead and preached for 50 minutes.”

The pastor finished the first service and went to his office to wait for the next service. However, his elders and some doctors met him there and told him, “You’re done. We’re pulling you out of the game. You don’t get to play the second half.” MacArthur said medical personnel took his blood pressure and “determined that I had some kind of atrial fibrillation and they took me to the emergency hospital.”

In a statement the next day, GCC said:

Many of you are praying for Pastor John’s health due to his absence from the pulpit during the second service. We are pleased to report that he is doing well. He saw a doctor on Sunday afternoon and he is in good health, and just needs rest from a busy holiday week. Thank you for your continued prayers for Pastor John.

On Jan. 13, MacArthur had surgery to clear blockages in the arteries of his heart. “The upshot of it all,” he said, “was they put four stents in my arteries that were blocked 80% or 90%. And the good news is the doctors said, ‘You didn’t have a heart attack and you have a very strong heart. And your heart is now like the heart of a 16-year-old.’”

“So I was thankful to the Lord that there was no damage done to my heart,” said the pastor, “and that they were able to remedy the situation.”

‘I’m No Longer in Ministry’— Carl Lentz Clarifies New Position at Transformation Church

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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May 10, 2023

Disgraced former Hillsong NYC pastor, Carl Lentz, made clear on Instagram Tuesday (May 9) that he is “no longer in ministry” despite recently joining Pastor Mike Todd’s staff at Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a strategist—an announcement that was made this past March.

Lentz hasn’t been in ministry since he was fired in the fall of 2020 from the church he cofounded in 2010 (Hillsong NYC) for what was described by Hillsong’s then-global senior pastor, Brian Houston, as “moral failure.”

After Lentz was fired, Ranin Karim, a designer he met in Brooklyn, New York, came forward with details about a secret affair she and Lentz had been having while he was the pastor at Hillsong NYC.

Later, in a leaked phone call obtained by The Daily Mail, Houston said Lentz was fired due to his “general narcissistic behavior. Manipulating, mistreating people. Breaches of trust and constant lying.”

In the months to follow, the Lentzes’ former nanny claimed that the Carl had bullied and sexually abused her throughout her seven years working in their home.

Carl Lentz: ‘I’m Not Preaching, I’m Not Overseeing People’

Carl Lentz started off his Instagram post sharing that since being removed as Hillsong NYC’s pastor, his only priority has been his family: “For the last 3 years my entire focus has been fighting for my wife and my kids.”

“Seeking sobriety and healing had to run parallel” with the goals of fighting for his family these past three years, he said. “Honestly nothing else mattered. None of the noise, the lies, none of the half truths that were said about me and or us, mattered. All I wanted was to prove to my wife and kids that I could show up for them like I had never done before.”

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Christine Caine Offers Warnings and Encouragement to Church Leaders Who Are ‘Stuck’

By

Jessica Mouser

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May 10, 2023

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Christine Caine Offers Warnings and Encouragement to Church Leaders Who Are ‘Stuck’

Christine Caine is a speaker, author, and activist who has been serving the local church globally for over 30 years. She and her husband, Nick, planted three Zoe Churches in Europe and founded Equip & Empower, Propel Women, and the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign. Christine is the best-selling author of more than a dozen books and studies. Her latest is, “Don’t Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose.”

Other Ways To Listen to This Podcast With Christine Caine

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Key Questions for Christine Caine

-What made you choose Lot’s wife as an example of “looking back,” and what can we learn from her?

-What are some examples that you have seen of how church leaders are stuck?

–What are some of the ways that you have personally struggled with looking back?

-How can people identify that they’re not moving forward in some areas of their lives? What should their next steps be?

Key Quotes From Christine Caine

“Out of, you know, 170 women somehow alluded to in Scripture, there is only one woman that Jesus tells us to remember, only one. And it’s Lot’s wife.”

“It didn’t matter what country I went to, what pastors I spoke to, what leaders I spoke to. After the pandemic, I would hear a version of the same phrase, which was, ‘I just wish things would go back to normal.’”

“I was sitting there by the end of 2022, I’m thinking, ‘We are not in 2020 anymore. We’re not even in 2021 anymore.’ And yet the mindset I found in so many pastors and leaders was, ‘Are things going to go back to normal? Can we get back to pre-2020?’”

“We are in a moment in history right now, that if we don’t arrest this, so many people and pastors and churches and leaders are going to get stuck in a place we’re not meant to get stuck because Jesus is pulling us forward to the future.”

“You’re seeing people that are stuck with, how are we going to move forward, how are we going to navigate all of this? And other people that are stuck in the metrics that they had for measuring what is healthy church. How do we even define church? And the fact that the whole landscape has changed.”

“This is a reckoning moment, I think, for all of us in any realm of church leadership. And we have to look at what it is that we were wanting.”

Southern Baptists Lost Nearly Half a Million Members in 2022

By

Bob Smietana

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May 10, 2023

(RNS) — The long, slow decline of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination continues.

Membership in the Southern Baptist Convention was down by nearly half a million in 2022, according to a recently released denomination report. Nashville-based Lifeway Research reported Tuesday (May 9) that the SBC had 13.2 million members in 2022, down from 13.68 million in 2021. That loss of 457,371 members is the largest in more than a century, according to the Annual Church Profile compiled by Lifeway.

Once a denomination of 16.3 million, the SBC has declined by 1.5 million members since 2018, and by more than 3 million members since 2006. The COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the downturn, as did the reality that as older members die off, there are fewer young people to replace them.

The denomination has also been in a constant state of crisis in recent years, including a major sex abuse scandal, controversies over race and an ongoing feud over the denomination’s leadership and future direction.

Church membership rolls had also likely been filled with people who were no longer part of the congregation.

“Much of the downward movement we are seeing in membership reflects people who stopped participating in an individual congregation years ago and the record keeping is finally catching up,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, in a statement about the report.

The denomination also lost 416 churches and another 165 “church-type” missions, according to the report.

Even as membership dropped, attendance at worship services continues to recover from pandemic lows. Attendance was up 5% to 3.8 million in 2022, after falling from 4.4 million in 2020 to 3.6 million in 2021, due largely to COVID-19 disruptions.

Churches reported 180,177 baptisms for 2022, up 16% from 2021. Like attendance, baptisms took a steep hit during the pandemic, from 235,748 in 2019 to 123,160 in 2020. Baptism numbers then began increasing in 2021.

Why Habitat for Humanity’s Theology of the Hammer Offers Hope in Polarized Times

By

Bob Smietana

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May 10, 2023

(RNS) — Habitat for Humanity was built on a pair of simple yet profound ideas.

Everyone deserves a decent place to live.

Anyone who wants to help make that happen is welcome to pick up a hammer and get to work.

For nearly five decades, those ideas — which Habitat’s founder referred to as the “theology of the hammer” — have helped Habitat grow from its humble beginnings at a Christian commune in Georgia into a worldwide housing nonprofit that’s helped more than 46 million people around the world find a place to call home.

Among those homes are 30 “Unity Build” houses in Nashville, Tennessee, built by an interfaith coalition of congregations over the past three decades. Those congregations believe very different things about God, said Kevin Roberts, a former pastor and director of faith relations and mission integration for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville. But they share a common conviction about helping their neighbors.

That makes a Habitat build site a rare place where people who disagree can work together in polarized times. All they need is a willing pair of hands.

“When you step onto the Habitat build site and someone puts a paintbrush or a hammer or a saw in your hand, no one asks, ‘Who did you vote for?’” said Roberts. “No one asks, ‘Where did you go to church or did you go at all?’”

That inclusive approach has helped Habitat thrive despite the many challenges facing faith-based charities in the United States — including aging supporters in shrinking congregations, a loss of faith in organized religion, and the nation’s growing polarization.

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, said the nonprofit’s mission is to put God’s love in action by providing housing. To do that, he said, requires bringing a wide range of people together.

Using volunteers to help build a Habitat house is a social change strategy, said Reckford, one that invites people to care about affordable housing and about working with their neighbors. That’s an important task in today’s isolated and polarized times.

Jonathan Reckford. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity International

“My observation is that when people serve together, they focus on what they have in common,” Reckford said in a phone interview. “They focus on shared values — as opposed to when we sit by ourselves online. Then it’s all about how we are different.”

Reckford hopes to expand that kind of intentional bridge-building in the coming years through a new initiative called Team Up — a partnership of Habitat, Catholic Charities, the YMCA and Interfaith America. The initiative was first announced last fall at a White House summit.

The IRS Just Hiked Taxes on Private Jet Flights. Pastors Are Not Excluded.

By

Kathryn Post

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May 10, 2023

(RNS) — In 2017, Texas-based televangelist Kenneth Copeland told his followers he received a very specific message from the Holy Spirit: The Lord had set aside a luxury Gulfstream V jet for his ministry’s use.

Copeland purchased the jet — in cash — from renowned filmmaker Tyler Perry in November of that year and soon released a celebratory video, along with an ask for another $2.5 million for upgrades.

“Let’s be aggressive in our faith, in our giving and in our harvesting!” the January 12, 2018, post said.

Copeland is one of a handful of prosperity gospel pastors who insist that jets are essential to their ministry. “If I flew commercial, I’d have to stop 65% of what I’m doing,” Copeland told Inside Edition in 2019.

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland speaks with Inside Edition reporter Lisa Guerrero. Video screenshot via Inside Edition

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland speaks with Inside Edition reporter Lisa Guerrero in 2019. Video screen grab via Inside Edition

These luxury-loving pastors — including Creflo Dollar and Jesse Duplantis — will be doling out extra dough for personal flights on ministry-owned aircraft, according to a tax update released last month. Watchdog organization Trinity Foundation, which monitors religious fraud, reported last week that the Internal Revenue Service ramped up the tax rate for “non-commercial flights on employer-provided aircraft” taken between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023.

When taxpayers fly on employer-owned jets for personal reasons, they must include the value of that flight in their gross income. The update shows that taxpayers will need to pay a $52.35 terminal charge for each personal flight — an $8.17 increase from the previous rate — as well as up to $0.28 a mile, depending on the length of the flight.

These changes apply to pastors, too.

“To the extent that they take personal flights on church-owned private jets, from a tax perspective, those flights will now be slightly more costly to them,” explained Samuel Brunson, an associate dean at Loyola University in Chicago who researches religion and the tax system.

He added that while a tax-exempt organization would typically have to report whether they use such flights on IRS Form 990, churches are exempt from filing 990s, keeping the public in the dark about whether they fly ministry-owned jets for personal use.

That’s where the Trinity Foundation comes in. For decades, president Pete Evans has been tracking ministry-owned jets, taking note when they’re flown for pleasure instead of business. Today, Trinity Foundation staff investigator Barry Bowen keeps daily tabs on televangelists’ private jets, posting screenshots of the flights on the @pastorplanes social media accounts.

Breakaway Texas UMC Megachurch Reveals Plans for New Methodist Denomination

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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May 10, 2023

Breakaway-Texas-UMC-megachurch-reveals-plans-for-new-Methodist- — White’s Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas. Video screen grab

SOUTHLAKE, Texas (RNS) — Last year, White’s Chapel, a large congregation in a wealthy suburb outside of Dallas, overwhelmingly voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.

Today, the church, which draws more than 2,000 people on a Sunday, belongs to a denomination of one, a network it is calling the Methodist Collegiate Church.

Since 2019, 2,996 churches have formally broken from the United Methodist Church over theological disagreements about ordaining or marrying LGBTQ members of the church, according to the United Methodist News Service. Of those, about 2,000 have joined the Global Methodist Church, a budding denomination created by conservative former United Methodists as a new home for dissenting congregations.

When White’s Chapel’s members voted to disaffiliate in November, the Rev. John McKellar, the church’s co-pastor, told Religion News Service they decided not to join the Global Methodist Church, in part because congregants, who hold a diversity of views, want to be a healing agent among Methodists.

The new denomination will reject “extreme positions,” according to the Rev. Larry Duggins, chancellor of the Methodist Collegiate Church.

“We are very deliberately building congregations that have different points of view, and are willing to talk to each other about it,” Duggins said.

At least 50 churches from six different states already have reached out to White’s Chapel about joining the Methodist Collegiate Church, he said, but the church must wait until its annual conference approves its disaffiliation before the church can invite other churches to officially join the collegium. The Central Texas Conference is expected to vote to approve pending disaffiliations at its meeting slated for June 4-6 in Waco.

The Methodist Collegiate Church will be composed of colleges, based on geography, not unlike conferences within the United Methodist Church, Duggins said. Its leaders hope churches within each college will be within a 100-mile radius of one another.

White’s Chapel will be the “Cathedral Church” of the new denomination’s first college, which it has named Trinity College. Cathedrals will provide administrative support to other churches within each college.

Each college will elect a dean who will fulfill similar functions as bishops do in the United Methodist Church.

“Our dean of a college is much more of a coach and adviser and is not acting in the capacity of employer or boss,” Duggins explained. (On the new denomination’s website, placeholders for photos of the to-be-determined college deans are portraits of famous football coaches.)

White’s Chapel’s November vote to leave the United Methodist Church was held in accordance with the United Methodist Church’s 2019 disaffiliation plan, which allows churches to depart with their properties, which are held in trust by the denomination.

White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas. Image via Google Maps

White’s Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas. Image via Google Maps

In order to keep their properties, churches must make certain payments for apportionments — a kind of tithe to the denomination — and clergy pensions.

The new denomination has no plans to build an ecclesiastical structure or financial infrastructure similar to the United Methodist Church or other Methodist offshoots such as the Global Methodist Church. The church is more focused on “connection and accountability,” according to Duggins.

“We don’t want to build a huge hierarchy of people whose job it is to tell everybody else what to do,” he said.

The churches in the new denomination will maintain control of their own financial assets, but agree to govern themselves by a common rulebook. White’s Chapel members approved their Book of Discipline on May 1, but leaders anticipate more revisions as new churches join their ranks.

Duggins said the church is trying to create a middle path forward for Methodists while staying connected to Christian doctrine.

“We have got to be able, if we’re to survive in the long run, and if our societies are going to survive in the long run, to find compromises that allow us to achieve the larger goal without having to disaffiliate with each other and go be part of a congregation who only thinks the way that we think,” he said.

By BeLynn Hollers, Emily McFarlan Miller

This article originally appeared here.

What You Don’t Know About Your Pastor

By

James Emery White

-

May 10, 2023

It was one of many coffees I have with fellow pastors.

He looked tired. Defeated.

He had planted a church, and eight years later it had yet to cross the 200 barrier. Setting up and breaking down, week after week, had taken its toll. Families would come, but only for a season. They would soon leave, tired from the work, discouraged by the lack of progress, and enticed by larger churches with ministries and programs their families needed.

And then came COVID, which cut what small attendance he had managed to gain in half.

He wasn’t sure how long he—or it—would last.

He’s not alone. That is just one story.

There are so many.

I can’t begin to tell you how many pastors I’ve engaged over the last three years who are shells of who they once were. And often because their churches are shells of what they once were. In case you haven’t heard, the state of the church since COVID is not good.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the typical church:

in-person attendance has not rebounded to pre-COVID levels
giving, on the whole, is down
half of all churches have fewer than 65 attending weekly
between 3,850 and 7,700 houses of worship close each week

That is far from the only set of dynamics facing most church leaders. The last three years have seen more political, cultural and ideological divides plague our nation than at any other time in recent memory. Adding to the volatility and stress has been how those very political, cultural and ideological divides have often been cast as religious in nature.

This put every pastor in the crosshairs. People demanded they speak out (translation: take their side), and if they did, those who agreed stayed and those who didn’t left. And if they stayed silent? People still left, looking for a church that would espouse and affirm their ideological bent.

Result?

The percentage of pastors who feel confident about their calling, compared to when they first entered the ministry, dropped from 66% to 35%.
The number who feel satisfied with their vocation as a pastor dropped from 72% to 52%.
The number who feel satisfied with their ministry at their current church dropped from 53% to 38%.
Two in five (41%) say they’ve contemplated quitting over the last 12 months.

Why God Doesn’t Remove Our Sinful Cravings Immediately

By

J.D. Greear

-

May 10, 2023

picking_apple — Photo credit: Georgia de Lotz / Unsplash

Every Christian I know has had the experience of coming up against sinful cravings–the same sin—again—and wondering, “Will this struggle ever end? Why doesn’t God just remove this?” (If you haven’t had that experience, just give it time.) This seems to be a frustration common to all believers, and not just with sin, either. When we experience any prolonged suffering or pain or discomfort, we have to ask, Why?

Why Do Sinful Cravings Persist?

This isn’t the question of a skeptic trying to prove that God doesn’t exist—the famous apologetic “problem of evil.” No, this is the personal question of a believer trying to discern what in the world God is doing with the continued sinful cravings in his life. It is the question of someone who reads, “For those who love God, all things work together for good,” and is trying to reconcile that theological truth with her present circumstances.

One of the most surprising insights into this question comes from Judges 3. Tucked in between the stories of Othniel and Ehud is a statement that most Christians skip right over. But if we took this truth to heart, we’d have a renewed courage to face our struggles: “Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before” (Judges 3:1-2).

Why did God leave struggles for his people, Israel? Israel’s struggle was tangible and obvious: It came in the form of enemy nations and their armies. So why didn’t God drive them out?

In one sense, as the book of Judges pounds into our heads over and over, the enemy nations are there because Israel didn’t believe God enough to drive them out. But that’s not what Judges 3 says. No, here we see that God left them there to test Israel so that they might learn to fight wars.

God wanted to give Israel the land of Canaan. But apparently, he wanted to do it through struggle. So he continued to test them, to see if they would believe him, to teach them to trust him in their fight. He does the same with us, though (as Paul reminds us) our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers. Why doesn’t God remove our struggles when we become Christians? Because he wants us to keep relying on his grace, not on our flesh. As Paul said, some of the weaknesses and trials in our lives are there—by design—to keep us humble.

What this means is that sometimes God allows us to struggle with lesser sinful cravings to keep us from a greater one—pride. Because if you or I were immediately cured from certain sins, we’d become insufferably proud. I know that God has done that with me, specifically in my marriage. The first couple years of my marriage were a struggle for both my wife and me. We had a lot of junk that needed to be exposed. But when I look back, I’m thankful for that time, because it keeps me from becoming self-righteous when I look at problems other people have in their marriages. Struggle is a constant way of driving the proverb “There, but for the grace of God, go I” into our hearts.

John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” understood this from experience as well. He grew frustrated by the continued sin in his life, until it dawned on him that any remaining sin kept him in desperate need of grace: “The riches of his mercy,” he said, “are more illustrated by the multiplied pardons he bestows upon me, than if I needed no forgiveness at all.”

The persistence of pain in our lives—especially the pain of battling against sin—shouldn’t make us complacent. God didn’t leave the Canaanites so that Israel would eventually get comfortable with them being around. It was just the opposite: He left the Canaanites so that Israel would learn to fight.

So when you are tempted to despair because you continue to struggle, remember what God is doing through your circumstances. Look to Christ, whose resurrection guarantees victory. Look to Christ, who fought for you when you were his enemy. Look to Christ, the only Savior who can give you the strength to stand, and who will pick you up every time you fall. Look to Christ, and fight.

Brian and Bobbie Houston’s Daughter and Son-In-Law Announce Hillsong Church Resignations

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

May 9, 2023

(L) Laura Toganivalu (R) Peter Toganivalu screengrabs via YouTube @Hillsong Church

Peter and Laura Toganivalu (nicknamed “Toggs”) announced their resignations as Global Pastors of Hillsong Young & Free this past Sunday (May 7) during the worship service.

Laura, who is Brian and Bobbie Houston’s daughter (which makes Peter the Houstons’ son-in-law), said goodbye to the church where she spent most of her life growing up and serving.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laura Toggs (@lauratoggs)

Recently appointed global senior pastors of Hillsong Church, Phil and Lucinda Dooley welcomed the Toganivalu family on the stage as Phil made the announcement.

“We just wanted to honor a couple who are moving on from roles in our church,” Phil Dooley, who once served as the Toganivalus youth pastor when they were younger, said. “They’ve been just a blessing over so many years.”

Dooley explained that at the end of last year Laura shared with leadership that she felt it was time for her to come off staff. “We’re like, hey,” he said. “If that’s what you need to do—we’re with you—we want you to do well because we’re about the kingdom aren’t we? We’re not just about one church. We’re about the kingdom of God. We’re about seeing people step into whatever the next season looks like, flourishing, stepping forward in faith, and cheering them on.”

About a month ago, Peter approached Dooley and shared that he believed it was time for him and his family to step into a new season of life that didn’t involve them continuing their current roles at Hillsong Church.

“We are with you guys, whatever the choice is,” Dooley told Peter. “If you’re gonna stay, hey, we love you and let’s go for it. If you feel there’s a season for you to step into that is outside of what we’re doing as Hillsong Church, we’re gonna cheer you on as well.”

Laura’s father, Brian Houston, was Hillsong’s global senior pastor until he resigned in March 2022. Phil Dooley, who now fills that role, commended the Toganivalus for their many years of faithful service to the church.

Dooley also thanked Brian and Bobbie, telling Laura, “Obviously your parents, Laura, have just been the reason why so many of us are here, and we are so grateful for them, and we just want to also honor them in this moment.”

Peter expressed the love and respect the Toganivalus have for the Dooleys and how much Dooleys mean to them.

‘Women, Cover Up’—Christian Twitter Debates Modesty, Lust and Self-Control in Time for Summer

By

Jessica Mouser

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May 9, 2023

Summer is upon us, and that means it’s time for Christian Twitter to start debating modesty again, with one camp exhorting women not to wear clothing such as bikinis or yoga pants and another pointing out various layers of hypocrisy they see in the discussion.

“Dear sisters, as summer approaches, it is important to be mindful of your clothing choices,” tweeted Alaska pastor Nathaniel Jolly. “Prioritize dressing modestly in the fear of God, & being considerate of your brothers in Christ.”

“Bikinis are closer to nudity than ‘swim wear.’ Women, cover up—especially Christian women,” tweeted Gabriel Hughes, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas. “Yes, sisters, you are obligated to be mindful of the conscience of your brothers in the Lord. If you cause your brother to sin, you also sin.”

Modesty and the Christian (Woman)

“Acceptable occasions to wear yoga pants,” tweeted Eric Conn, host of the Hard Men Podcast. “Alone in your house w/ your husband. Working out alone in your private gym while your husband watches you. The end. No public venues. Not social media.”

Conn said that the anger he and others evoke for speaking out on this topic is due to the fact that “society worships women.”

“The idols worshipped by a culture are whatever you’re not allowed to criticize,” he said. “Why the outrage over yoga pants? Our society worships women. You may not address their sins. Particularly sexual sins—sensual dress, immodest speech, promiscuity.”

Most commands in the Bible apply to both men & women.

But there are some commands directed toward women—e.g., submission in marriage, modesty, having a gentle & quiet spirit (1 Tim. 2, 1 Pet. 3).

And these are sure to cause public outrage, even among Christian women.

— Zachary Garris (@ZacharyGarris) May 9, 2023

Several women joined the men who were entreating women to dress modestly.

“Women, if you recoil at hearing about modesty from faithful men, that feeling is likely *conviction*. Consider with me that we can be far too quick to adopt the clothing standards of the world instead of being careful to present ourselves always in an honorable way,” tweeted Ginna Cross, executive director at a pregnancy care center.

“When a man posts about modesty, the pagan mob attacks him and claims he is either controlling or a pervert who can’t control his eyes,” said another. “Couldn’t possibly be that he values women and doesn’t want them exposing their bodies to actual perverts and loves his wife dearly.”

One woman encouraged her sisters in Christ not to wear leggings ever, even at home.

You say: “don’t wear legging in public”
I say: “don’t wear legging at home around your own boys”

Ladies, we should model what a beautiful and modest woman looks like for our sons. You are setting their standard now!

— Lauryn (@VeiledGlory) May 8, 2023

Charles Stanley’s eBay Items Returned to Family After Pocket Watch Winner Makes ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Call to Grandson

By

Stephanie Martin

-

May 9, 2023

charles stanley — Screenshots from YouTube / @FriendsWithMatt

In a May 6 YouTube video, Matt Brodersen again apologized for auctioning off items from his recently deceased grandfather, Pastor Charles Stanley. This time, however, the apology was accompanied by an announcement that the eBay auction is over.

Shortly after Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries, died on April 18 at age 90, Brodersen, 29, listed his grandfather’s pocket watch and a framed photo for sale on eBay. The YouTube content creator, who has struggled with mental health issues and addiction, admitted being “desperate for money.”

Grandson of Charles Stanley Has ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Chat With Buyer

In a five-minute video posted Saturday, Brodersen recapped how he obtained Charles Stanley’s personal items, why he decided to sell them, and how people (including family members) reacted. He said the winning bidder for his grandfather’s engraved pocket watch (as well as other watches) called him for a 30-minute, “jaw-dropping” conversation.

The man, who requested anonymity, told Brodersen he planned to send the watches back to Stanley’s family. The purchaser explained that when his own grandpa died, some relatives “went and grabbed his grandpa’s things and they went and auctioned [them] off right away and he did not like it.”

Hearing that story, Brodersen said, “is when it really all sank in about how creepy or weird that was of me to do that.” He added, “When he told me his story, I just died inside, I guess. And I realized how selfish I was being.”

In response to a question from ChurchLeaders, Brodersen said the buyer “got all the items and drove six hours the next day and went to give them back to my uncle [Andy Stanley] by hand delivery. My uncle, in return, paid for his hotel stay that night and they had [a meal and] hung out. It was really sweet.”

Matt Brodersen: Everything Is Being Returned

The other item on eBay, a framed portrait of Stanley, was up for auction with a “bonus” coin collection. According to Brodersen’s latest update, the winning bidder was attempting to skirt the website’s commission, which “felt uncomfortable.” So Brodersen relisted the portrait. But then after hearing the watch-winner’s story, he canceled the entire auction and mailed back the portrait and coins to his uncle, Andy Stanley.

“So technically, nothing has gotten sold on eBay,” Brodersen said. “Everything is going back to its right property owners.” He admitted the whole thing “feels weird,” saying, “I should not have done that.” He apologized and thanked people for their support and forgiveness.

In previous YouTube videos, Brodersen said he didn’t realize that auctioning off his grandfather’s items would upset people. “I promise you, I have a bunch of my grandpa’s stuff that you don’t see that I’m going to keep and cherish and hold on to forever,” he added.

‘I Was Born To Share the Love of Jesus’— Megan Danielle Joins Other Christian Singers in ‘American Idol’ Top 5

By

Janna Firestone

-

May 9, 2023

The 21st season of “American Idol” is inching closer to the finals. The show just announced its Top 5 performers left in the competition: Wé Ani, Megan Danielle, Zachariah Smith, Colin Stough, and Iam Tongi.

Christian contestants have been applauded for sharing their faith publicly. On the next episode, airing Sunday, these contestants will compete with new songs and unique arrangements, attempting to make it through one more round of the competition.

‘American Idol’: ‘Disney Night’ Will Feature Top 5

According to ABC, “Disney Night” will feature guest mentor Sofia Carson, who played Evie in Disney’s “Descendants.” The remaining contestants will “breathe new life into beloved Disney songs,” as is to be expected on Disney Night. Each of the five is hoping to make it through one more round of the competition, but only four will move on.

From the beginning of the season, all of the “American Idol” contestants have displayed engaging stage presence, belted out on-point vocals, and showed teachable hearts willing to learn. But there are specific aspects that set apart the remaining performers. Here is how they made it through the last episode and into the Top 5.

Wé Ani from New York

Honoring guest judge Alanis Morissette, Wé Ani powerfully performed the song, “Uninvited.” At the suggestion of the judges, Wé Ani focused on a raw, unique sound to the popular hit. Wé Ani also teamed up with Warren Peay in a duet covering Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” The duo mesmerized the audience.

As the oldest contestant left in season 21, Wé Ani has already begun her career as a performer. This 24-year-old loves her father, who posted a video endorsing Wé Ani and her talent. “She’s gotten there by her fans, the fans of the show, and people who just recognize talent,” her dad said. “Each week she’s been giving you something different.”

Megan Danielle from Georgia

Megan Danielle invited the audience into her own story as she sang Morissette’s “Head Over Feet.” She also sang Sheeran’s “Dive” alongside Colin Stough. The two combined their unique voices in a way that made it appear they had been singing together for years.

Danielle recently posted on Facebook, “I was born to share the love of Jesus.” At 21 years of age, she works alongside her single mom as a restaurant server in their hometown. Danielle mesmerized fans everywhere with her recent rendition of “Go Rest High On That Mountain” to honor her late “papa.”

“You’re never scared to tell everybody about your faith,” said judge Luke Bryan.

Zachariah Smith from Mississippi

Early in the episode, Zachariah Smith, belted out “Ironic” by Morissette, displaying a unique approach encompassing his own flare. Smith also sang a duet with Haven Madison, who didn’t make it through to the Top 5. The two sang “Thinking Out Loud” by Sheeran and exquisitely nailed the harmony of the song.

This 20-year-old grill cook has made the change from small-town life to the big stage. Smith recently posted, “Thank you so much for the sweet signs at Live Shows this past Sunday! I love seeing these in the crowd!”

New Christian Beaten Unconscious for Leaving Islam

By

Morning Star News

-

May 9, 2023

globe- — Photo credit: Arpit Rastogi / Unsplash

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8, 2023 (Morning Star News) – A former Islamic teacher remains hospitalized after Muslim extremists in eastern Uganda on Tuesday (May 2) beat him unconscious for converting to Christianity, sources said.

Shaquru Ndifuna, 33, was receiving treatment for blood loss at a medical clinic in Iganga town in the district of the same name, area Christians said.

A former Islamic teacher at Noor Islamic Mosque in Mayuge District, Ndifuna is a resident of Kaliro Town Council, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Iganga town. He put his faith in Christ in January an open-air evangelistic event in Namutumba, 39 kilometers from Iganga town.

Word of his conversion spread, a cleric at the Noor Islamic Mosque began monitoring his movements, and in April three Islamic leaders visited him at his home, said an area Christian unnamed for security reasons.

“They questioned me about my absence as a teacher at Noor Mosque,” Ndifuna told Morning Star News. “I tried to explain to them about my other commitments elsewhere. One of them mentioned about me having become a Christian, but I did not respond. Afterwards the three Muslim leaders left.”

Tuesday evening (May 2) at 7:30 p.m., four Muslims intruded into his house, he said.

“They forcefully entered into the house, shouting about me having blasphemed the Islamic religion and trying to force me to confess that Jesus is not the Son of God, and that Allah is the only God to be worshipped and Muhammad is His prophet,” Ndifuna said. “I refused to renounce Jesus as the Son of God. They started beating me up.”

His wife and three children hid in a bedroom, and his wife telephoned a family friend, saying that the assailants were beating him unconscious and that he had lost a lot of blood, the source said.

“The attackers have left, I think they thought my husband is dead – they did not touch his phone nor any property,” his wife told the friend, according to the source.

The friend drove to their home, took Ndifuna to a nearby medicine shop for first aid and later transferred him to the clinic in Iganga, the source said.

“Please take care of my children, I am not sure whether I will survive,” Ndifuna told Morning Star News at the hospital. “The Muslims who injured me were trying to force me to return to Islam, but I refused.”

Ndifuna suffered a deep cut on the right side of the forehead, a fracture in his right hand and a neck injury as the assailants tried to strangle him, the source said. His vision has been affected, and he has difficulty breathing.

“He can’t swallow solid food,” the source said. “He is using a drip of intravenous fluids with a little juice for his survival.”

The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Uganda’s constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one’s faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Uganda’s population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

This article originally appeared here.

UMC Bishops Request 2026 General Conference as Hundreds More Churches Disaffiliate

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

-

May 9, 2023

CHICAGO (RNS) — United Methodist bishops have proposed a five-day meeting of the denomination’s global decision-making body, the General Conference, in May 2026.

The announcement comes at the end of the Council of Bishops’ spring meeting last week in Chicago and a weekend that saw hundreds of United Methodist churches in the United States leave the denomination.

The 2026 General Conference would focus on re-establishing connection within the United Methodist Church, lamenting, healing and recasting the mission and vision for the mainline denomination after years of strife over the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members, according to a press release published Monday (May 8) on the Council of Bishops’ website.

Delegates to the General Conference also would consider a more regional governance structure to better support the remaining denomination, which currently numbers about 30,000 U.S. churches.

“I admit to you I’m eager to get past all this. I want us to stop talking about disaffiliations,” Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the Council of Bishops, said during the bishops’ meeting, which ran April 30 to May 5.

“I’m worried genuinely that we’ve spent more time on those that are leaving than focusing our energy on those who are staying.”

Delegates to the 2020 General Conference meeting had been expected to consider a proposal to split the denomination over its disagreement on sexuality and help create a new, theologically conservative denomination called the Global Methodist Church. That would allow the United Methodist Church to change language in its Book of Discipline that bars same-sex marriages and LGBTQ clergy.

When the 2020 meeting was postponed a third time for pandemic-related reasons, the Global Methodist Church went ahead and launched last year. To date, about 2,000 churches have joined the new denomination.

More recently, United Methodists’ top court, the Judicial Council, ruled that the General Conference meeting set for April 23 to May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina, should be considered the postponed 2020 meeting. Because those meetings must be held once in four years, the court also ruled that the denomination must hold another meeting afterward to take the place of what would have been the 2024 meeting before the next regularly scheduled session in 2028.

The bishops’ request to hold that meeting in May 2026 now goes to the Commission on the General Conference to set the date.

‘Feminist Prayers for my Daughter’ by Shannon K. Evans

‘So God Made a Mother’ by Leslie Means

‘Create Anyway’ by Ashlee Gadd

‘Waiting In Hope’ by Kelley Ramsey and Jenn Hesse

‘Dear Mama God’ by Daneen Akers

Youth Pastor Challenges

Possible Solutions: 10 Relationship-Building Tips

1. Do your homework before getting hired.

2. Form a team of parents and adults to be the youth ministry elder board.

3. Read a book together and start a conversation.

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