CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — The Church of England plans to rush through legislation to consecrate women bishops after last week’s surprising defeat at the church’s General Synod in London. The church’s Archbishops’ Council ended two days of closed-door meetings Nov. 28,…
Catholic intensity fades as evangelical devotion surges
(RNS) — After November’s presidential vote, Catholics could cite ample evidence for their renewed political relevance while dispirited evangelicals were left wondering if they are destined to be yesterday’s election news. Yet their roles in American spiritual life may be…
Court: Catholic businessman can fight contraception mandate
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — A federal appeals court Nov. 28 temporarily blocked the enforcement of the Obama administration’s contraception mandate while a Catholic business owner appeals a lower court’s ruling that tossed out his suit. Opponents of the law said it…
TV station tells story of Concordia, Portland, collaboration with grade school
A story by NBC-affiliate KGW-TV Channel 8 in Portland, Ore. — airing several times over the Nov. 17-18 weekend — highlights the five-year relationship between Concordia University, Portland, and neighboring Faubion Elementary School. Since Concordia University students and faculty began volunteering…
CPH offers gift set to benefit Lutheran Malaria Initiative
This Christmas, you can give a gift of hope to a child a world away while encouraging the gift of compassion in a child close to home. Concordia Publishing House’s “Save A Life Gift Set” includes one copy of the children’s…
New LHM Bible study tackles challenges of veterans
Americans who sign up to serve their country in the U.S. armed forces expect challenges — especially if their duty includes combat. But service members also encounter challenges far from the battlefield, after they come home. “Warriors of Faith —…
Lutheran ministries offer free Advent devotions
Several Lutheran ministries are offering free devotions for Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas that begins on Dec. 2 this year and ends on Christmas Eve. Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. Louis, is offering two new sets of Advent…
Kenyan church leaders say laws would weaken marriage
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Kenyan church leaders are lining up in opposition to proposed new marriage bills, which they say will weaken marriage by allowing cohabitating couples to register as married. One bill would bring Christian, Hindu, Muslim, civil and customary…
Church of England rejects women bishops
LONDON (RNS) — In a surprise move that shocked both sides of a years-long debate, the Church of England Nov. 20 rejected an expected move to allow women bishops, preserving the church’s status as one of the last bastions of…
Judge defends sentencing teenager to church
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (RNS) — A district judge in Oklahoma who sentenced a 17-year-old boy to 10 years of church attendance is standing by his sentence as the right thing to do — even if it may not have been the…
New Congress more religiously diverse, less Protestant
(RNS) — Three Buddhists, a Hindu and a “none” will walk into the 113th Congress, and it’s no joke. Rather, it’s a series of “firsts” that reflect the growing religious diversity of the country. When the new Congress is sworn in…
Analysis: Film revives questions about Lincoln's faith
(RNS) — There is a moment in Steven Spielberg’s masterful new film “Lincoln” when the 16th president asks the kind of big question usually tackled by religion: Why are we here? “Do you think we choose the times into which we…
Episcopal leader: South Carolina diocese can't secede
(RNS) — Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said Nov. 15 that the Diocese of South Carolina can’t unilaterally secede from the national church, and urged conservatives to stay despite sharp disputes over theology and homosexuality. “The Episcopal Diocese of South…
#GivingTuesday event aims to boost charities
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (RNS) — In the days following Thanksgiving, there’s already Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday shopping season. Now, a group of charities and corporate sponsors is urging Americans to make the…
LCMS coordinates long-term recovery following Superstorm Sandy
By Megan K. Mertz “The living room portion of our house had been blown away,” said the Rev. Alan Steinke, recounting his first look at his Massapequa, N.Y., home after Superstorm Sandy pounded the Eastern Seaboard on Oct. 29. Steinke,…
Nunes blogs to promote '#GivingTuesday,' LWR Gifts
Americans have a day for giving thanks, followed by two for getting deals: “Black Friday” on Nov. 23 and “Cyber Monday” on Nov. 26. Wouldn’t it be great to have a day for giving back? This year a group of charities and…
