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Rev. Warnock locked in battle for U.S. Senate seat
The Rev. Raphael Warnock, the 51-year-old pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the historic church once co-pastored by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is running as a Democrat for U.S. Senate in a special election in Georgia.
Report notes U.S. Jews of color overlooked, undercounted
The typical photo of American Jews on synagogue websites, camp brochures and Jewish organizations’ fliers features happy-looking white people.
Black Jesus version of Michelangelo’s Pieta divides Catholics on race and politics
An interpretation of Michel- angelo’s iconic Pietà featuring a Black Jesus has unexpectedly caused a debate about Black Lives Matter, the sanctity of art and the evangelization of Africa after the Pontifical Academy of Life, an official Vatican think tank, tweeted out a photo of the reimagined statue on Sept. 12.
Faith leaders react to Tyre Nichols police video beating with grief, goals
Religious leaders reacted swiftly — with legislative appeals and collective grief — to the release of video footage of police officers beating Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died days after a traffic stop in Memphis, Tenn.
William Barber launches new center at Yale
Yale Divinity School is launching a new Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, an advocacy-focused body to be led by prominent pastor and activist the Rev. William Barber II.
Clergy testify to outrage, hope in D.C. demonstrations
A series of religious demonstrations in Washington last weekend mixed prayerful calls for racial equality with frustra- tion with law enforcement, lawmakers and the Trump administration.
Push for evangelical Christian colleges to address racial justice
After the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25, George Fox University, a Quaker-founded evangelical Christian school in Oregon, announced plans to change its campus culture, improve police engagement and diversify its board of trustees.
World religious leaders condemn Paris carnage
Pope Francis raised the specter of a World War III “in pieces,” Muslims issued statements of condemnation, while evangelical Christians in America debated whether to speak of a “war with Islam.” These were some of the responses last week by religious leaders around the world to the series of attacks Nov. 13 in Paris that left more than 120 people dead and hundreds of others wounded.
CeCe Winans first Black female to win Dove Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans, already a multi-Grammy-winning gospel singer, added a historic win at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, the contemporary Christian music honors, becoming the first African-American female solo artist to be named Artist of the Year.
‘You wear out’: How chronic illness grounds and inspires William Barber’s activism
Standing outside a church in rural North Carolina this spring, the Rev. William Barber II leaned on his dented and scuffed wooden cane. With one powerful hand he pushed himself up and into the seat of a long black Chevrolet Suburban, then swung his legs in, using the cane, wedged against the door, as a fulcrum. The effort left him out of breath, his expansive chest heaving as he lay back in the seat, reclined to afford him space. No sooner had an aide closed the door before a man from the church rapped gently on the window. “Rev. Barber,” he said, “you’ve been a role model, an inspiration.”
Thousands gather for March on Washington’s 60th anniversary
Thousands of people assembled near the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 26 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, paying tribute to the historic civil rights gathering led by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while voicing new frustrations with political extremism that threatens racial progress.
Biden calls out ‘poison’ of white supremacy in address at Mother Emanuel in S.C.
President Biden, taking his 2024 re-election campaign to South Carolina, denounced the white supremacy that he said led to deadly violence at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church almost nine years ago.
Fewer Americans turning to prayer to relieve stress
Americans are feeling stressed not only during the holidays but year-round. The American Psychological Association’s newest “Stress in America” survey of 3,440 adults shows the public’s overall stress level remains the same as 2016, with an average level of 4.8 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most stress.
Documentary on Black millennials depicts wide range of religion, rebellion
A member of the second-oldest Black Catholic order in the United States. A voodoo priestess. A gay atheist woman. A new documentary from the National Museum of African American History and Culture explores the range of faith and spiritual expressions of Black millennials and the choices they have made to reject — or embrace — the religious rituals of their childhood.
Play about first African-American priest in U.S. highlights current issues
Actor Jim Coleman stood at the front of a dimly lit stage and recounted the joys and hardships of being a black man of Catholic faith.
At National Cathedral, leaders of different parties, perspectives call for civility
Sitting under the imposing columns of the Washington National Cathedral, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox turned to longtime political strategist Donna Brazile and shared his change of heart about her.
Black clergy memorialize the dead; ask gov’t. to address disparities
The Rev. Frank Williams has been so busy leading two black churches in the New York borough of the Bronx that he hadn’t really considered the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on his congregation, his family and his community.
Who are the Black Hebrew Israelites?
On Dec. 10, two individuals opened fire on a kosher supermarket in Jersey City, N.J. The violent attack — which occurred shortly after the assailants allegedly killed a police officer in a nearby cemetery — ultimately left three bystanders dead and three people wounded, including two police officers.
Multiracial churches growing, but challenging for clergy of color
For four hours at a megachurch outside of Dallas, pastors of color shared their personal stories of leading a multiethnic church.
Investigators probing cause of fires at 3 black churches in La.
About 100 investigators are working to find out who is behind a series of church fires that have struck rural areas of Louisiana in recent weeks. The fires, which have prompted calls for prayer by the state’s governor, destroyed three predominantly African-American churches in St. Landry Parish, around Opelousas, in late March and early April and caused minor damage to a mostly white Pentecostal church in Vivian, about 200 miles north in Caddo Parish.
