OPINION: Navigating the Moral Complexity of a Post Roe World

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June 30, 2022

It’s official: Roe is no more.

Following the leak of a draft opinion authored by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, pro-life advocates had been awaiting the official ruling in a SCOTUS case that they believed would lead to the overturn of Roe.

Those hopes have now come to pass.

Abortion is no longer considered a constitutional right, and the question of legality with regard to the practice has been turned over to individual states to decide. In advance of the ruling, a number of states enacted trigger laws that went into effect as soon as the judgment came down, immediately banning abortion in those states.

As I have said in the past, the overturn of Roe represents the single largest victory for the pro-life movement in five decades. Over 63 million abortions have taken place in America since the 1973 ruling. That is a loss of life that is difficult to comprehend.

While this is certainly a moment of celebration for those who stand on the side of life for the unborn, it does not signify the finish line for pro-life work, even if it is a significant milestone.

In fact, in the aftermath of the ruling, pro-life Christians are grappling with a morally complex landscape that I did not anticipate we would face in my lifetime.

While I can’t offer a definitive solution to those complexities, I believe it’s important for Christians to consider their ramifications and how to best pursue a holistic sense of justice in light of them.

The Moral Complexity of How We Got Here

The United States Supreme Court is not a faceless entity. It is composed of nine justices with particular legal and moral philosophies that guide their rulings. And the justices whose concurring opinions tipped the scales toward Roe’s overturn were appointed by none other than former president Donald Trump.

In response to that reality, some pro-Trump evangelicals have taken the opportunity to publicly dunk on their never-Trumper counterparts, lambasting them for refusing to provide their endorsement for “the most pro-life president in history.”

However, simultaneous with celebration of Roe’s overturn, Americans have also been witness to damning testimony regarding Trump given to the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.

Just this week, it was revealed by a former White House aid that President Trump knew that his claims of widespread voter fraud during his failed 2020 presidential bid were false, he was aware that a large number of those who sought to come to his January 6 rally were armed, and that he wanted to join the mob at the Capitol Building, even physically assaulting a member of his security team who insisted on taking him back to the White House in light of security concerns.

Submit to Husband and Make Pancakes If Asked, Pastor Tells Wives

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 30, 2022

Based on his reading of the Bible, Pastor Jared Pozarnsky says wives need to be prepared to change up their meal plans at short notice. In a June 24 video clip, the California preacher explains passages from Ephesians and Acts, saying wives are “to be subjected to their husbands in everything.”

Marital submission isn’t “popular today,” says Pozarnsky, pastor of Hold Fast Baptist Church in Fresno. But the Bible leaves “a lot of things” up to the husband. “If I came home and my wife had a whole meal on the table and I said, ‘I want pancakes.’ And she’s like ‘Oh man, but I’ve already made hamburgers.’ And I’m just like, ‘I just have to have pancakes right now.’ Look, she should make pancakes,” he says.

Hold Fast Pastor Jared Pozarnsky: That Would Be ‘A Jerk Thing’ To Do

Pozarnsky followed up that statement by admitting, “That would be kind of a jerk thing for me to do, and I wouldn’t do that.” During his 23 years of marriage, he says he’s never done anything like that. “But the point is, the husband is in charge of everything. And if I want pancakes over hamburgers, that’s not against what the Bible says.”

The Hold Fast pastor continued: “There’s no sheriff that’s going to come over and tell my wife to make pancakes if she doesn’t listen to me. If she won’t make pancakes and is like ‘No, eat your hamburger.’ And I’m like, well that’s not correct according to the Bible. Look, there’s no law that’s going to enforce that for me.”

Hold Fast describes itself as “an independent, fundamental, soul winning, separated, King James Bible-believing Baptist church – and not ashamed to say so.” Earlier this year, Pozarnsky ruffled some feathers by saying that women’s sports were “being taken over by a bunch of homosexual men.”

‘Pancakes? I’ll Give You Pancakes’

Online reaction to Pozarnsky’s pancakes comment was swift and critical. Hemant Mehta, founder of the Friendly Atheist website, tweeted the video clip with this caption: “Christian hate-preacher Jared Pozarnsky says wives must obey their husbands… even for the pettiest of reasons.”

In the replies, people write, “This sort of thing makes me so glad I’m not a Christian,” “He definitely hits his wife,” and “Stop giving them the oxygen of publicity.” One woman writes, “Pancakes? I’ll give you pancakes. Pay no mind to the explosive diarrhea in the morning. That’s just God’s will.”

LA Billboard Welcomes People to California, ‘Where Abortion Is Safe and Still Legal’

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 30, 2022

abortion billboard — Screengrab via Twitter

A controversial billboard is making waves in the Los Angeles area, as it welcomes drivers to California, “where abortion is safe and still legal.”

An image of the billboard was tweeted by Candidate for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors District #1 Kevin Dalton.

“Your tax dollars at work,” Dalton tweeted alongside the image on Wednesday. Later in the thread, Dalton confirmed that the billboard was purchased by Planned Parenthood, which receives government funding.

Legislation regarding abortion has been a point of conversation in each of the 50 states following the Supreme Court’s ruling last week that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right. Following the ruling, a number of trigger laws went into effect in Republican controlled states, limiting access to abortion immediately after the SCOTUS decision was announced.

In Democratic controlled states such as California, political leaders have vowed to pass robust legislation that will protect access to abortion.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has gone beyond promises to protect abortion access within the state to pledge that California will become a sanctuary state for women around the nation who are seeking an abortion.

On June 24, Newsom signed legislation that provides protections for medical professionals and out-of-state women who seek abortions in California from civil liability potentially brought against them from states with restrictive abortion laws.

“With today’s Supreme Court decision to endanger the health and safety of millions of women across the country, California must do everything it can to protect the fundamental rights of all women—in California and beyond,” said Governor Newsom on June 24, the day Roe was overturned. “We know that states like Missouri are already targeting women seeking abortions in states like California where abortion remains legal. This legislation seeks to protect women and care providers from civil liability imposed by other states, and sends a clear message that California will continue to be a safe haven for all women seeking reproductive health care services in our state.”

In response to Dalton’s tweeted image of the LA area billboard harolding safe and legal abortions, a number of people noted that abortion is “not safe for the baby.” Others expressed their intention or desire to move out of the state.

What Happened to United Methodists’ Proposal To Split the Denomination?

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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June 30, 2022

united methodists — LGBTQ advocates react to the Traditional Plan being adopted at the special session of the UMC General Conference on Feb. 26, 2019, in St. Louis. RNS photo by Kit Doyle

(RNS) — It was the thing that was supposed to save the United Methodist Church.

The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, brokered by 16 United Methodist bishops and advocacy group leaders from across theological divides, outlined a plan to split the mainline Protestant denomination over its disagreement about the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists.

But before delegates to the General Conference, the denomination’s global decision-making body, could vote on the widely endorsed protocol, so-called traditionalists went ahead and launched a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church.

And, most recently, several representatives of groups identifying as centrist and progressive announced they no longer supported the protocol.

While legislation to enact the plan still likely will be considered at the next General Conference meeting, wavering support for the protocol leaves the United Methodist Church either imagining a new way forward or plunging into chaos, depending on whom you ask.

So what happened?

Mainly, bishops and advocacy group leaders say, too much time went by. Because of COVID-related delays to the General Conference meeting, four years will have passed by the time delegates finally can vote on the plan they negotiated.

“There’s a lot that’s happened since that protocol was signed, and the context really has changed,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Annual Conference, who recently became president of the denomination’s Council of Bishops.

“We’re sad about these departures that are happening, but to think that the protocol is going to be the great solution, I don’t know that it will, because it’s in the hands of these delegates who are going to amend it and change it and make it what they want.”

New Council of Bishops President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, left, receives the gavel from outgoing President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey during the spring meeting, Friday, April 29, 2022. Video screen grab via COB

Alaska Church Revitalization Result of Letting God Work, Pastor Says

By

Scott Barkley

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June 30, 2022

revitalization — Liberty Church has outgrown the worship area configured in the basement of its unfinished building. Photo courtesy of Jamie Baldwin / Baptist Press

CRAIG, Alaska (BP) – Liberty Church has made great strides in the past year. At one point down to 10 members, it currently averages 50-60 in attendance each Sunday. Community goodwill toward the church has grown through outreach. A partnership with Alabama Baptists has the congregation poised to move into new worship and education space.

On July 3 Liberty will host a Fourth of July extravaganza open to the public, celebrating what God has done in addition to dedicating its new building and recognizing the ordination of Pastor Cody Schwegel. With such momentum, Schwegel’s response after being asked about further plans may surprise you.

“I don’t have any,” he said.

That doesn’t mean the church’s work will fizzle out like a July 5 sparkler. Schwegel grew up in Craig, a town that despite a population of just over 1,000 is nevertheless the largest on Prince of Wales Island, which is conversely the fourth-largest island in the United States. He’s familiar with the effects of the long, wet winters that contribute to depression and drug and alcohol addiction. He’s seen firsthand the lack of jobs and loneliness from isolation.

It’s an environment where Liberty Church can become a beacon for freedom through Christ.

“It’s a perfect place for the Church to get its act together and minister to people through love and grace,” he said. “There are so many opportunities to change the direction of the generation coming up, to be the generation that seeks God’s face.

“We want to show them that God’s love is better than what the world can give them.”

Schwegel had been a ministry leader and apprentice at Anchor Church before being named pastor. Anchor struggled and in October 2020 decided to shut the doors for a season, with plans to replant.

“I’m not a quitter,” Schwegel said. “The church was strong; we just didn’t have the numbers.”

About 2,800 miles away, Jamie Baldwin was preparing to enjoy retirement in Tallassee, Ala. Baldwin had spent 23 years in Sunday school and discipleship ministries with Alabama Baptists, but had barely leaned back in his rocking chair before he got a phone call.

Scotty Goldman, Alabama’s director of the Office of Global Missions, was on the other line. Alaska Baptists had called asking for help with a church revitalization. Could Baldwin help?

That led to a five-year partnership agreement between Alaska and Alabama, with Baldwin living in Craig for six months last year and currently coming to the end of two months there.

“I will be 68 years old tomorrow (June 25) and have 50 years in the ministry,” Baldwin said. “I have never worked so hard in my life nor been part of a greater blessing than the last two years working with Cody and Liberty Church.”

Nine teams comprising more than 70 people visited last summer to help finish the construction of Liberty’s building, begun when it was still Anchor Church. Baldwin told Baptist Press that he estimates more than 100 Alabama Baptist churches gave by sending either volunteers or money.

A group from First Baptist Church in Reeltown, Ala., is currently working to complete the upstairs sanctuary and education space in time for the July 3 celebration.

“Folks in the town are seeing the difference in the church and how they’re reaching out to the community. They’re seeing what’s happening here,” said Tim Smith, First Reeltown’s pastor.

“It’s been pretty cool to watch. Our folks who are here are seeing it too and it keeps them energized.”

Schwegel knows about energy, as he works full-time for Alaska Power & Telephone. Liberty’s outreach team had made its presence felt last year through efforts such as providing a backpack for every child on the island who wanted one. Schwegel felt God calling for another big effort at Christmas but knew the church didn’t have the funds. He filed for grants and asked around, but nothing materialized. Schwegel told church leaders he didn’t think the outreach would happen.

Then he went to work and found a $5,000 check waiting on his desk. His company was so impressed with Liberty’s community impact that it fast-tracked a grant that would normally not appear until January.

Anti-Abortion Movement Faces Internal Divisions After Roe’s Fall

By

Bob Smietana

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June 30, 2022

anti-abortion — Anti-abortion activist Doug Lane uses a ladder to peer over the covered fencing as he calls out to patients entering the Jackson Women’s Health Organization clinic in Jackson, Mississippi, moments after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade was issued, June 24, 2022. The clinic is the only facility that performs abortions in the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

(RNS) — For nearly five decades, abortion opponents held two truths to be self-evident.

Abortion ends the life of a human being.

Women who have an abortion are “second victims.”

Now, with Roe v. Wade overturned, a small but influential group of abortion foes believes women who have abortions should be prosecuted as criminals. Known as abortion abolitionists, they want to ban abortion with no exception. And they want women who have abortions to face jail time.

“You can’t abolish abortion without criminalizing the act of abortion,” said T. Russell Hunter, co-founder of Free the States Action Fund and Abolish Human Abortion, a pair of Oklahoma-based abolitionist groups.

The rise of groups like Free the States has complicated the post-Roe response of abortion foes, who have long positioned themselves as defenders of both unborn children and pregnant women.

Many established groups opposed to abortion find themselves fighting both supporters of abortion rights and abolitionists who want to ban abortion with no exceptions and oppose any incremental restrictions.

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, said her group will support legislation to “save as many babies as possible.”

Carol Tobias. Photo via NRLC.org

This would include bans on abortion in more conservative states and in states where abortion is legal, more education for women who seek abortions, as well as laws to protect the conscience of health care professionals who object to abortion.

She said her organization hopes to see an end to all abortions someday. For now, she said, it will support whatever restrictions are possible and push for tighter restrictions in the future.

“Our position has always been to save as many babies as you can, as soon as you can,” she said.

Tobias also encourages abortion foes to communicate to pregnant women that they are not alone. For 50 years, she said, women have gotten the message that abortion is the “easy solution” to an unwanted pregnancy. Now, she said, groups like hers want to stand by pregnant women and encourage them and provide assistance.

FBI Opens Sweeping Probe of Clergy Sex Abuse in New Orleans

By

Jim Mustian

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June 30, 2022

clergy sex abuse — FILE - Archbishop Gregory Aymond conducts the procession to lead a live streamed Easter Mass in St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Sunday, April 12, 2020. The FBI has opened a widening investigation into Roman Catholic sex abuse in New Orleans, looking specifically at whether priests took children across state lines to molest them. The FBI declined to comment, as did the Louisiana State Police, which is assisting in the inquiry. The Archdiocese of New Orleans declined to discuss the federal investigation. “I’d prefer not to pursue this conversation,” Aymond told AP. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The FBI has opened a widening investigation into sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans going back decades, a rare federal foray into such cases looking specifically at whether priests took children across state lines to molest them, officials and others familiar with the inquiry told The Associated Press.

More than a dozen alleged abuse victims have been interviewed this year as part of the probe that’s exploring among other charges whether predator priests can be prosecuted under the Mann Act, a more than century-old, anti-sex trafficking law that prohibits taking anyone across state lines for illicit sex.

Some of the New Orleans cases under review allege abuse by clergy during trips to Mississippi camps or amusement parks in Texas and Florida. And while some claims are decades old, Mann Act violations notably have no statute of limitations.

“It’s been a long road and just the fact that someone this high up believes us means the world to us,” said a former altar boy who alleged his assailant took him on trips to Colorado and Florida and abused him beginning in the 1970s when he was in the fifth grade. The AP generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted.

The FBI declined to comment, as did the Louisiana State Police, which is assisting in the inquiry. The Archdiocese of New Orleans declined to discuss the federal investigation.

“I’d prefer not to pursue this conversation,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond told the AP.

The probe could deepen the legal peril for the archdiocese as it reels from a bankruptcy brought on by a flood of sex abuse lawsuits and allegations that church leaders turned a blind eye to generations of predator priests.

Federal investigators are now considering whether to seek access to thousands of secret church documents produced by lawsuits and shielded by a sweeping confidentiality order in the bankruptcy, according to those familiar with the probe who weren’t authorized to discuss it and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Those records are said to document years of abuse claims, interviews with accused clergy and a pattern of church leaders transferring problem priests without reporting their crimes to law enforcement.

“This is actually a big deal, and it should be heartening to victims,” said Marci Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor and chief executive of Child USA, a think tank focused on preventing child abuse. “The FBI has rarely become involved in the clergy sex abuse scandals. They’ve dragged their feet around the country with respect to the Catholic Church.”

The U.S. Justice Department has struggled to find a federal nexus to prosecuting clergy abuse, hitting dead ends in cases as explosive as the ones outlined in the 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report that disclosed a systematic cover-up by church leaders. Federal prosecutors subpoenaed church records in Buffalo, New York, the same year in an inquiry that similarly went quiet.

Marshall Blalock Reflects on Service With Sexual Abuse Task Force

By

Timothy Cockes

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June 30, 2022

Sexual Abuse Task Force — Marshall Blalock speaks at the press conference following the SATF report at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting. Photo by Adam Covington. Courtesy of Baptist Press.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) – Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist Church, Charleston, S.C., said one of the spiritual lessons he learned through serving on the Sexual Abuse Task Force was how to “think and act with more compassion.”

Blalock was one of the eight members selected by immediate-past president Ed Litton to serve on the Task Force, and was also named vice chairman.

The Task Force began their work this fall by signing a contract with independent firm Guidepost Solutions, who conducted an investigation into allegations of mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the SBC Executive Committee.

Guidepost released their full report in May, and the Task Force later released recommendations for reform based upon the findings of the report. Those recommendations were subsequently overwhelming approved by messengers at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

Blalock said the whole experience greatly impacted his understanding regarding ministering in situations of abuse.

“There are certainly some things from the past I would have done differently from the pastoral perspective regarding abuse,” Blalock said.

Blalock described a couple of previous situations at his church where instances of abuse happened at a school that met on their campus. The church immediately reported these instances to law enforcement, and the abusers were convicted and went to jail.

The regret for Blalock lies in the way he would have ministered to the survivors of abuse in these situations. He said this is a good lesson for all pastors to learn.

“Had I known what I know now we would have gone back and operated more effectively in caring for the sexual abuse victims,” Blalock said. “I think when it comes those who have been affected by sexual abuse, the first thing is to be able to see them and try to understand the kind of trauma they have experienced.

“I think that most, if not all, pastors have a heart to want to help and serve people … but if you want to lead and pastor well, it’s important to understand how sexual abuse has affected the people in your church. I, along with the other pastors on the Task Force, didn’t realize the depth of the trauma that’s involved with someone who is abused. It’s much more traumatic and life-altering than I ever understood or new.”

When initially approached by Litton about joining the Task Force, Blalock was willing to serve, but had no idea what he was getting into.

“I love the cooperative work that we do as Great Commission Baptists together, so that’s my baseline when I’m asked to do something,” Blalock said. When President Litton called me, I had no idea at the time what was really involved or the burden it would be.

“Had I known what I know now, I would never have volunteered for this. Yet, the Lord sustained us, and the Lord gave us direction. It was really a sense of love and appreciate for the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention that made me feel called to serve in this regard.”

Blalock said he is grateful for the passing of the Task Force’s recommendations during the annual meeting, and the great first step of reform in the Convention that it represents.

“I’m so grateful the Convention overwhelmingly adopted the recommendations,” Blalock said. “The unique factor of what has happened in the last year is that the messengers initiated this investigation with clear directions to the Task Force to bring recommendations on handling and preventing sexual abuse. That was a huge initiative that wasn’t forced on us, it actually came from us.

Children’s Ministry Is Essential for Your Church’s Success

By

Dale Hudson

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June 30, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

If you serve in children’s ministry, you are serving in the most strategic ministry in the church.

If your church is going to grow, it will be because your children’s ministry starts growing.

If you emphasize the importance of children’s ministry, you will have people step up and serve in children’s ministry.

The most important physical space in your church, is your children’s ministry space.

Remember this…

Children’s ministries that have subpar space, will seem worse than the ministry really is. Children’s ministries that have excellent space, will seem better than the ministry really is.

Jesus believed in children’s ministry. We often see Him taking time to minister to children.

Children’s ministry is how you reach families. Think about how many times in Scripture when parents came to Jesus for one reason. They needed help for their child. Their first contact with Jesus was because of their children. This still rings true today. You can reach parents and grandparents through their children. I have seen this happen so many times.

When you make children’s ministry a top priority, Jesus will bless your ministry. Every single time when we invested in children’s ministry I saw the ministry begin to grow.

One of the churches where I served as children’s pastor grew from a weekend attendance of 6,000 to 16,000 in three years. Guess when the growth explosion happened? After we build a new children’s ministry area. This type of exponential growth can happen when you make children’s ministry a top priority.

A church that maximizes children’s ministry will maximize the blessings of Jesus. A church that minimizes children’s ministry will minimize the blessings of Jesus.

Churches that are dying…and there are lots of them…are dying because they are not successfully passing off the faith to the next generation. If you do not reach the next generation, your church is terminal. You will eventually have to close the doors.

I often say, “Where there is no crying (nursery), your church is dying.”

But you can change that. If you will turn and engage the next generation, you can see your church begin to grow and flourish. When churches die, it is often because the older generation isn’t willing to let go of their preferences. Notice I said “preferences” because that is what it is. One of the biggies is worship music. The older generation doesn’t want to introduce new worship songs that the next generation can connect with. In the “struggle” to keep the church tied down with their preferences, they are missing out on the opportunity to engage the next generation.

Personal preferences are often generational. Older generations like older hymns. The next generation likes worship music and style that is connected with their generation. Hence the battle of the worship preferences begins. I am not saying you can’t sing any hymns. And I am not saying we should abandon great hymns like “Amazing Grace.” But I am saying that new worship songs should be the predominate theme if you want to reach the next generation.

In closing…let me ask you this.

Are you willing to step up to the plate for the next generation? Are you willing to change to reach the next generation? Are you willing to make children’s ministry a top priority?

If you want your church to grow and thrive…then that is what needs to happen.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

5 Top Video Production Books To Up Your Game

By

Duke Taber

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June 30, 2022

Learning video production can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a mentor who can talk you through what you need to know and do to be successful. Rather than allowing yourself to become stressed out about what you need to learn and how you will get the information that you need to succeed, you can turn to a book. These are the top five video production books on the market today. They are all designed to make it easier than ever for you to learn about video production and creating gorgeous videos you’ll be proud of.

5 Top Video Production Books To Up Your Game

1. Video Production Handbook

Video Production Handbook

This new edition of the Video Production Handbook walks students through the full video production process, from inception of idea to final distribution. Concentrating on the techniques and concepts behind the latest equipment, this book demonstrates the fundamental principles needed to create good video content on any kind of budget. Ideal for students, the new edition features a new chapter on directing and updated information on the latest DSLR and cinema cameras, LED lighting and much more. A companion website with additional resources for professors rounds out this full-color, highly visual text to meet all of your video production learning needs.

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(If you buy from Amazon, Easy Church Tech earns a very small commission at no charge to you.)

If you’re ready to get started with video production and don’t want to spend a ton of time reading how-to books and manuals, then it’s time to let Steve Stockman teach you what you need to know. While there are an impressive 74 chapters in this book, they are all short, exciting, easy to read, and packed with information so that you don’t feel like you’re wasting your time.

You’ll learn all of the rules about how to keep your audience entertained and ensure that they actually want to watch the video that you have made. Additionally, you’ll learn how to think in shots and move around to capture the best video that you can and then edit it into a flawless final product during post-production.

With information on lighting, framing, sound, editing, and even why you should skip the special effects, this book is full of knowledge that is applicable to any shooting situation. Whether you are shooting a video for your child’s birthday party or making a video about your church, this book will ensure that the final product looks amazing.

2. How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro

How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro

Newly updated and revised, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck is a quick and easy guide that will make your video better instantly—whether you read it cover to cover or just skim a few chapters. It’s about the language of video and how to think like a director, regardless of equipment (amateurs think about the camera, pros think about communication). It’s about the rules developed over a century of movie-making—which work just as well when shooting a two-year-old’s birthday party on your phone. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of the award-winning feature Two Weeks, plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. In other words, how to shoot video people will want to watch.

Here’s how to think in shots—how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing “Record” for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject’s eyes. Why to “zoom” with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of video production: framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more. At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you’ve learned into practice, so the next time you’re shooting you’ll have begun to master the skill. Steve’s website (stevestockman.com) provides video examples to illustrate different production ideas, techniques, and situations, and his latest thoughts on all things video.

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The author of this book, Jim Owens, has taught and worked in TV and video for more than 30 years, and he brings all of that experience to the table in his book. This is an updated version of the book, which means that it has been edited to include tips and tricks that are useful in modern applications, making it a great book for anyone looking to wow their audience.

See more of the top five video production books on page two.

During COVID-19 Saddleback Church Small Group Ministry Started 3,000 Groups

By

Josh Hunt

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June 30, 2022

Rick Warren recently preached a sermon where he mentioned that Saddleback has added 3,000 groups during Covid-19. Saddleback started the year with around 6,000 groups. They now have about 9,000 groups. Wow. I did a deep dive into the Saddleback church small group ministry to see if I could discover how they did it. I listened to all the latest Saddleback podcasts, as well as all the latest Small Group Network podcasts. I read Steve Gladen’s latest book, Planning Small Groups with Purpose: A Field-Tested Guide to Design and Grow Your Ministry and re-listened to the much of Purpose-Driven Church. To top it off, Steve Gladen was willing to conduct a Zoom interview. Here is what I learned.

To quote Bobby Unser, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Saddleback’s story is a picture of that. They have been preparing for this moment for 30 years. When opportunity came, they were ready.

Saddleback Church Small Group Ministry

An optimistic, positive, faith-filled attitude

This was my first observation. Where most of us saw obstacles and problems, Saddleback saw opportunity. Both Rick Warren and Steve Gladen were quick to emphasize that the church tends to be at its best when the world is at its worst. The church grew in the aftermath of 9/11 as it often grows during tragedy. Thinking individually, people tend to turn to look up to God when life turns down.

A willingness to adapt, adjust, experiment and learn

I remember hearing Rick Warren speak years ago about why they call their small group leaders Lay Pastors. He was very emphatic about the idea that they wanted to lift up the position of the Lay Pastor. This seemed like the right thing to call them… until it wasn’t.

Company Sued for Firing Atheist, Agnostic Who Refused To Participate in Christian Prayer Meetings

By

Jessica Lea

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June 29, 2022

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing a home service and repair company in Greensboro, North Carolina, for firing two employees who refused to participate in Christian prayer meetings. A video that went viral in September 2020 appears to show the owner of Aurora Pro Services (APS), Oscar Lopez, in the act of firing one of his employees.

“Beware of Aurora Pro Services,” said Hueston Lackey in the caption of the video, posted Sept. 8, 2020. “They are forcing their employees to participate in prayer and Scripture reading (not that there’s anything wrong with prayer and Scripture) and if you choose not to, they fire you. This is exactly how you give Christianity/good Christians a bad name. Just [because] someone works for you doesn’t mean you can force your religion on them (not to mention it’s your protected right of choice).”

On June 28, 2022, Lackey posted a link to the EEOC’s press release about its lawsuit, saying, “I don’t know if some of you remember a video I posted a few years ago that involved Aurora Pro Services firing a friend of mine? Well this is how [it] is going for them.”

Aurora Pro Services Sued by EEOC

Aurora Pro Services lists heating, plumbing, roofing, and electrical work among the services it provides. A description on its website, which appears to be from the company’s owner, Oscar Lopez, says he took the name of the company from his grandmother, whose name was Aurora.

“I’ve never met anybody who worked harder, had more integrity, and had a deeper faith in God,” says the website. “From her, I learned what family means. I learned honesty is the only option. I learned that no matter what troubles I have, the solution can always be found in the Lord. You may have had a grandmother like mine. If so, we’re going to get along just fine. And you’ll know my team will take care of you.”

In its press release about the lawsuit, the EEOC alleges that Aurora Pro Services “violated federal law when it required employees to participate in religious prayer sessions as a condition of employment and retaliated against employees who opposed the unlawful practice.” According to the EEOC, APS has required employees to participate in Christian prayer meetings since at least June 2020.

“The meetings were conducted by the company owner and included Bible readings, Christian devotionals, and solicitation of prayer requests from employees,” says the EEOC, adding that APS’s owner tracked who attended the meetings and “reprimanded” any who did not.

The lawsuit claims that in the fall of 2020, when John McGaha, a construction manager and an atheist, asked not to attend the prayer meetings, APS cut his pay in half and then fired him. The suit also alleges that in January 2021, Mackenzie Saunders, a customer service representative and an agnostic, was fired when she stopped attending the prayer meetings.

Pastor Judah Smith Says Pleasuring Yourself Sexually in the Confines of Marriage Is a Gift From God

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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June 29, 2022

A video conversation between Chelsea and Judah Smith, the husband and wife team who serve as lead pastors for Churchome in Kirkland, WA, regarding single people’s sexual desires recently resurfaced because of popular YouTuber Ruslan KD.

Churchome is known for being the church home of world-renowned pop-star Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey. Judah was featured on Bieber’s surprise 2021 Easter album titled “Freedom” and gave a short message at one of Bieber’s concerts last July. Bieber credits Judah for helping him change his life, pointing him to Jesus.

In the video, Ruslan KD breaks down a portion of a 35-minute video wherein Judah Smith discusses the topic of masturbation, calling it a “gift” from God when done within the confines of marriage.

The Instagram live conversation between the Smiths took place over a year and a half ago and was part of Chelsea’s social media marriage series titled “Marriage Monday.” The description of the video reads, “A session for singles! We talk about sexual desires, masturbation, and loneliness. Judah even cries at the end…wait for it.”

In the video Chelsea said to Judah, “Somebody asked, I’m single [and] I don’t want to have sex right now. Is pleasuring myself okay?”

Chelsea explained the distinction between biblical absolutes, community standards, and personal convictions to provide a framework for the question before Judah responded.

“There’s a history to the Church and there’s a history to what the Church teaches and there’s a history to certain communicators and teachers. And so there’s a bit of a history with masturbation in the Church,” Judah said.

Judah said that while Scripture doesn’t directly address “personal sexual pleasure and masturbation,” it does address the idea of lust. The pastor shared his reasoning for not using Old Testament passages, saying, “Old Testament is a portrait and a neon sign pointing us to our need for the Incarnation, for the fullness of the Godhead bodily forming the person of Jesus. And so the New Testament now is our guide in terms of in the Old Testament reveals why we needed a new covenant and why the fulfillment is Jesus.”

Lust is the imagination, where someone thinks about having sex with someone with whom they’re not in a covenant relationship, Judah explained, going on to characterize lust that leads to masturbation as “against God’s desire.”

“But there is a way to pleasure yourself for physical reasons and use it as a weapon to resist and fight the urge to sexually engage someone and start crossing lines that not only hurt you but hurt others,” Judah said.

The pastor admitted that this isn’t a popular opinion with most Christians, citing Christian psychologist Dr. James Dobson, who founded Focus on the Family and would disagree with he and Chelsea’s take on self-pleasure.

Preston Perry Defends Himself, Jackie Hill Perry, Against Criticism for Not Celebrating Roe’s Demise

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 29, 2022

After being criticized as cowardly for not celebrating Roe v. Wade’s recent demise, Preston Perry is pushing back and clarifying his stance. In two lengthy videos posted to Instagram this week, the Christian performing artist says he and his wife, author and artist Jackie Hill Perry, are under attack on social media for not saying “amen” to the June 24 Supreme Court abortion ruling.

Preston Perry emphasizes that he and his wife have always believed “life starts at conception” and “human beings don’t have the right to take a life.” Jackie has written numerous blogs about abortion, and Preston has composed poems about the topic. “There’s no way we’re cowards,” he says, adding that his wife’s entire ministry “consists of doing hard things.”

In this week’s videos, Preston Perry talks about the “nuance” and “bigger context” of abortion, which he’s able to see because of his community and experiences.

Preston Perry: Abortion ‘Not As Black and White As You Think’

Preston Perry repeatedly says he’d like all abortions to end. But he adds it’s “heartbreaking for people to not understand there’s nuance.” Abortion is “not as black and white as you think,” he tells viewers. He says he lacks confidence in the government “protecting mothers” and in politicians who “will work to keep the conservative vote but not to serve the people this law will affect.”

Abortion is a “holistic human life thing,” says Perry, and “it’s really not about babies.” Urging viewers to “stop being fake,” he clarifies, “Yes, abortion is wrong. But I do think the church and this country has to figure out how do we serve these mothers” who are in tough situations and afraid.

“There is a particular lament that we should have,” Perry says, for people who are fearful and for marginalized women who lack resources and support. Black women, he notes, are often scared of hospitals and labor due to higher maternal mortality rates. Rejecting the notion that he’s making excuses, Perry says, “It’s a big difference between a Christian wanting to see abortion ended but also having been face to face with lives that are affected by abortion.”

When issues are outside our own community and bubble, we don’t think about them, he says. “It’s easy to vote; it’s not easy to put yourself in other people’s shoes.” Perry encourages viewers to learn about and support The Whole Life Project, which has a holistic goal of ending abortion while serving mothers.

Preston Perry Discusses Abortion and Social Justice

Addressing abortion isn’t necessarily “brave” for him and his wife, Perry says, because they have a “large white conservative Christian following.” What’s brave for them, he says, is speaking out about social justice, which their audience doesn’t like to hear about.

‘I’m Not a Religious Person’: Chris Pratt Discusses Faith, Hillsong, and Online Backlash

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 29, 2022

In a recent interview with Men’s Health, Hollywood star Chris Pratt expressed that he never intended to become an icon of Christian faith, noting that the criticism he has received for speaking about matters of faith in public forums baffles and frustrates him.

Pratt began developing a reputation as a man of faith after a speech he gave at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, wherein he said, “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that. I do.”

“Nobody is perfect. People are going to tell you you’re perfect just the way you are—you’re not! You are imperfect—you always will be—but there is a powerful force that designed you that way, and if you’re willing to accept that, you will have grace, and grace is a gift,” Pratt went on to say in the speech. “And like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody else’s blood. Do not forget it! Don’t take it for granted.”

Since that time, Pratt has experienced considerable backlash for his faith on a number of separate occasions, with some accusing the actor of being hateful and homophobic, despite him never having spoken publicly on issues concerning the LGBTQ community and being reportedly almost universally beloved by the actors and directors who have worked with him.

In his interview with Men’s Health, Pratt reflected on how his 2018 speech has affected the trajectory of his public persona and reputation among online critics.

“Maybe it was hubris. For me to stand up on the stage and say the things that I said, I’m not sure I touched anybody,” Pratt said. Pratt further expressed that he understands why he has received backlash for his association with Christianity, saying, “Religion has been oppressive as f**k for a long time.”

“I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person,” Pratt said. “I think there’s a distinction between being religious—adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God—and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is. The evil that’s in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride.”

Some of the online backlash Pratt has received centers on the actor’s alleged involvement with Hillsong Church, which has been the target of sharp criticism for its non-affirming stance with regard to LGBTQ issues. Hillsong has also made recent headlines amid accusations that the church has long cultivated an abusive leadership culture.

Here Is Where Every State’s Abortion Legislation Currently Stand Now That Roe Has Been Overturned

By

AP News

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June 29, 2022

abortion_states — A celebration outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years — a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect varies.

Some Republican-led states will ban or severely limit abortion immediately, while other restrictions will take effect later. At least one state, Texas, is waiting until after the Supreme Court issues its formal judgment in the case, which is separate from the opinion issued Friday and could take about a month.

In anticipation of the decision, several states led by Democrats have taken steps to protect abortion access. The decision also sets up the potential for legal fights between the states over whether providers and those who help women obtain abortions can be sued or prosecuted.

Here is an overview of abortion legislation and the expected impact of the court’s decision in every state.

ALABAMA

Political control: Alabama has a Republican-controlled legislature and a Republican governor who want to ban or restrict access to abortions.

Background: In 2019, Alabama lawmakers approved what was then the most stringent abortion ban in the country, making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The only exception would be when the woman’s health was at serious risk. A federal judge issued an injunction, under the precedent of Roe v. Wade, blocking the state from enforcing the law. In 2018, voters agreed to amend the Alabama Constitution to say the state recognizes the “rights of unborn children” and “does not protect the right to an abortion or require the funding of abortion.” A 1951 law made it a crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to induce an abortion, unless it is done to preserve the life or health of the mother.

Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortions became almost entirely illegal in Alabama on Friday. A 2019 state abortion ban took effect making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. All three clinics stopped providing abortions Friday morning under fear of prosecution under the 1951 state law. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson hours later granted Alabama’s request to lift an injunction and allow the state to enforce the 2019 abortion ban. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said it is now a felony to provide an abortion in Alabama beyond the one exception allowed in the 2019 law, which is for the sake of the mother’s health. Doctors who violate the law could face up to 99 years in prison. Marshall said the state would also move to lift other injunctions that blocked previous abortion restrictions, including a requirement for doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges.

What’s next: Some Republican lawmakers have said they would like to see the state replace the 2019 ban with a slightly less stringent bill that would allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Proponents said the 2019 ban was deliberately strict in the hopes of sparking a court challenge to Roe.

Unify Project Allows SBC To Set Gospel-Based Racial Unity Example

By

Diana Chandler

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June 29, 2022

unify project — Renowned pastor and author Tony Evans joined SBC President Ed Litton and former SBC President Fred Luter to announce an initiative June 15 to build racial unity nationwide, conducted by the local church, called The Unify Project. The Unify Project will work in concert with The Urban Initiative, a ministry Evans co-founded in 1981 with his late wife Lois. (Baptist Press photo by Karen McCutcheon)

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Fred Luter, the lone African American to have served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, sees great opportunity in the Unify Project, a new national grassroots racial unity initiative he’s leading with former SBC President Ed Litton and Dallas-area pastor Tony Evans.

“It would allow us to show that it is possible, according to the Scripture, for brothers and sisters to come together — of different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures — and be the church that Jesus died for,” said Luter, senior pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. “He died for everyone.”

Luter, Litton and Evans announced the Unify Project at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim with plans to launch the pastor-driven program in the fall, backed by a diverse core steering committee.

Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Mobile, Ala., said the initiative extends beyond Black and white cultural groups.

“It’s important to stress too, because we have received some questions about this, that this isn’t just an African American (and) Anglo American experience,” Litton said, but includes Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and “all sorts of divisions racially in our culture.”

Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas and a noted author, theologian and radio host, will help lead the Unify Project in concert with The Urban Alternative, a ministry he co-founded in 1981 with his late wife Lois.

Within a short time following the announcement in Anaheim, Litton said, the initiative drew more than 2,000 requests for information on the program (available by texting Unify to 63566), and more than 1,000 requests for information registered at Unifysbc.org.

“I think it expresses what has been a deep current within the SBC for the last five years, and that is people see this. They have a desire for it, but they lack a plan and a strategy,” Litton said. “And one of the things we set out to do was to say, let’s not talk about, let’s not over-debate the subject as it is in our culture. Let’s just see what the Gospel tells us to do. What does the Gospel expect the Lord’s church to do?”

Luter describes Unify as an opportunity for the SBC to lead in unity at a particularly divisive time in the U.S.

“This is one that every one of us who are real true believers in Jesus Christ can come together and support. It would be great that the Southern Baptist Convention would be known for a convention that comes together to unify people, and not to divide people,” Luter said. That’s what I hope would happen. Because this racial issue is something that’s happening across the country.”

The program will allow pastors to build meaningful cross-cultural relationships that could impact the nation, Luter said.

Despite Attacks, Christian Pregnancy Centers Poised to Expand as Roe Falls

By

Kathryn Post

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June 29, 2022

pregnancy centers — Vandalization to the Mountain Area Pregnancy Services property in Asheville, North Carolina, June 7, 2022. Courtesy photo

(RNS) — One Tuesday in early June, Kristi Brown, executive director of Mountain Area Pregnancy Services in Asheville, North Carolina, arrived at work to find shattered windows, a broken door and red, spray-painted text scrawled across the sidewalk. “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you,” the graffiti read.

A month earlier, Politico had published a draft majority opinion in the Mississippi abortion rights case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, showing that the Supreme Court had voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Since the draft opinion was leaked, at least a dozen pregnancy centers like Mountain Area have suffered attacks, many of which have been claimed by what appears to be a radical abortion’s rights group called Jane’s Revenge.

“You hope it’s never you, but you know it’s always a possibility,” said Brown.

With the formal announcement of the Dobbs decision on Friday (June 24), pregnancy centers in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Longmont, Colorado, were vandalized or set ablaze, just as centers braced for the influx of clients they expect in a post-Roe world.

Crisis pregnancy centers do not support or offer abortions. Instead, these organizations, most of them sponsored or run by Christians, offer free parenting classes, pregnancy tests and post-abortion counseling, hoping to give clients the option to carry their pregnancies to term. While most are not licensed medical facilities, some offer ultrasounds to confirm pregnancies or testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

While the centers believe they embody Christ’s love by serving what they nearly uniformly call “the unborn,” they have been long criticized by abortion rights advocates, who say the centers intentionally mislead women. Offering “pregnancy services” or “free pre-termination evaluations,” they draw women who may think the centers provide abortions. Ultrasound images are often used to help dissuade women from seeking abortion.

Planned Parenthood calls crisis pregnancy centers “fake clinics” and says they aim to “scare, shame, or pressure you out of getting an abortion” while withholding “honest facts about sexual health and your pregnancy options.”

James Harden. Photo courtesy CompassCare

James Harden. Photo courtesy of CompassCare

But crisis pregnancy centers already outnumber abortion clinics, even before some clinics began shuttering across the country in the wake of the Dobbs decision, and some pregnancy centers are moving to expand their role.

Post-Roe, pregnancy center directors say their organizations will have a better chance of reaching clients before they access abortion clinics.

“For pro-life pregnancy centers, we for the first time have the opportunity to compete head-on with this billion-dollar abortion business,” said James Harden, CEO of CompassCare, a Christian pregnancy organization in upstate New York.

Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, a faith-based organization that partners with over 100 local churches, often refers clients to an adoption agency it partners with and soon hopes to support a local foster care program, said Brown.

“If we do get an influx, we are then prepared to add staff and to add machinery, whatever we need to do,” added Brown, who said the vandalism at the center hasn’t deterred the staff.

Adam Wyatt: How To Be a Biblical Patriot, Not a Christian Nationalist

By

Jessica Lea

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June 29, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Adam Wyatt: How To Be a Biblical Patriot, Not a Christian Nationalist

Dr. Adam Wyatt currently serves as the senior pastor of Corinth Baptist Church in Magee, Mississippi. He received his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Adam has a heart for church revitalization and has served in various denominational roles within the Southern Baptist Convention. His new book is “Biblical Patriotism: An Evangelical Alternative to Nationalism.”

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Key Questions for Adam Wyatt

-How do you define “patriotism” and “nationalism”?

-Why not just be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and a world Christian? Why also be a patriotic citizen of one’s nation?

-What do you think the 2020 presidential election showed us about patriotism and nationalism?

-How do you advise church leaders to navigate patriotism in church contexts?

Key Quotes From Adam Wyatt

“So many people use nationalism and patriotism interchangeably, and some are pro both and some use them wrongly.”

“The way I define patriotism is it’s rooted in loyalty for our country, our home country, our land, our people and our culture. And I actually make the claim that a proper, biblically informed patriotism is the proper alternative to both nationalism and cosmopolitanism.”

“Nationalism is seeking to exalt our country over others.”

“I don’t think it’s wrong to be political. God’s given us in our country the ability to vote, and I’m thankful for that because we actually have a role to play in the political process. But also at the same time, because of social media and division and disunity and different opinions, there’s no middle ground anymore.”

“Patriotism has become a toxic word, and I think that’s unfair.”

“As a pastor, you can have your own personal opinion, but you’ve also got to be sensitive to your people while also trying to lovingly shepherd them well. And so I think there’s a tension.”

In Defiance of US Bishops, Nancy Pelosi Receives Communion at the Vatican

By

Claire Giangrave

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June 29, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In defiance of some U.S. bishops, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, reportedly received communion during a mass presided over by Pope Francis on Wednesday (June 29) for the celebration of the feast of St. Peter and Paul.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone announced June 1 that the Catholic congresswoman is banned from receiving communion in her home diocese of San Francisco due to her abortion rights stance. Since then, she has been barred from receiving the sacrament in four dioceses.

Pelosi called the recent pronouncement by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade an “outrageous and heart-wrenching” decision. The U.S. Catholic bishops lauded the court’s decision, which they said overturned “an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die.”

Pelosi met with Francis on Wednesday before the service and received a blessing, according to one of the Mass attendees.

Sitting in the VIP section during the traditional Mass at St. Peter’s to celebrate the patron saints of Rome, Pelosi listened to Pope Francis’ homily before receiving communion from one of the many priests in the Basilica, according to eyewitnesses. Francis has rarely distributed Communion, citing precisely the desire to prevent politicization of the sacrament.

Last year, President Joe Biden, another Catholic who also supports abortion rights, said after meeting with Francis that the pontiff told him to continue receiving the sacrament. Biden later received Communion during a Mass in a Rome church that is under the authority of Francis as bishop of Rome.

In his homily, Francis urged faithful to “Go to the crossroads and bring everyone: blind, deaf, lame, sick, righteous, sinful, everyone, everyone! This word of the Lord must resound, resound in the mind and heart: everyone! In the Church there is room for everyone,” adding that “many times we become a Church with open doors but to dismiss people, to condemn people.”

Last year, Pope Francis told reporters on his return flight from Central Europe that he has never denied Communion to anyone and criticized bishops who didn’t act as shepherds and “aligned themselves with political life, on political problems.” The Vatican’s doctrinal department, in a letter in May of last year, urged the U.S. bishops to engage in dialogue among themselves and with Catholic politicians before reaching any decision.

During the Mass on Wednesday, Pope Francis blessed the palliums, the liturgical vestments, of new metropolitan archbishops. He told the archbishops in attendance to “fight the good fight,” but to do so with the entirety of the faithful, without considering themselves superior.

After the Mass, Pelosi met with representatives of the Catholic charitable movement St. Egidio where she spoke in support of Ukrainian refugees and made a donation of $25,000.

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Preston Perry: Abortion ‘Not As Black and White As You Think’

Preston Perry Discusses Abortion and Social Justice

Here is an overview of abortion legislation and the expected impact of the court’s decision in every state.

ALABAMA

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Key Questions for Adam Wyatt

Key Quotes From Adam Wyatt

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