Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-In” features analysis, insights and top headlines from the world of faith. Got feedback or ideas for this column? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) Warren Cole Smith wants to strengthen Christian ministries.

A major way he intends to do that: through investigative journalism. 

Smith, 61, has served since October as president of the independent charitable giving watchdog MinistryWatch.com. 

“Our overarching goal is to create transparency and accountability in the Christian ministry world,” the 1980 University of Georgia journalism graduate told me. 

Rusty Leonard, who founded the nonprofit with his wife, Carol, in 1998, serves as board chairman. Leonard reached out to Smith after a donor provided funding for the new position.

Smith’s past experience includes serving as vice president and associate publisher of World, a leading evangelical magazine, and owning a chain of Christian newspapers. He is working on a book titled “Faith-Based Fraud,” which MinistryWatch hopes to publish in August.

His interest in reporting stretches back nearly five decades to the 1970s Watergate scandal uncovered by the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. 

“When we’re doing investigative journalism, there are two audiences that I care most about,” Smith said. “What do donors need to know to make them more effective stewards? And how can we serve the victims?

“There’s an old saying that I use a lot in this kind of work: Ideas have consequences, and bad ideas have victims,” he added. “So we want to be an advocate for the victims, which is why we will not only cover financial abuse, but we will also cover sexual abuse as well.” 

See examples of Smith’s recent work here, here and here.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. DNA points to former suspect in 1985 church murders: Here’s a real whodunit with a major break in the 35-year-old case, thanks to digging by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“One night in 1985, a white man walked into an African American church in southeast Georgia and fatally shot a beloved couple,” the AJC’s Joshua Sharpe reports. “For decades, DNA found at the crime scene didn’t match that of any of the suspects who were tested — until now.”

The match: Erik Sparre, a suspect dropped from the investigation in 1986 based on an alibi with which the newspaper’s recent reporting found problems.

2. Donations plunge because of COVID-19, and some churches won’t survive: Washington Post religion writer Michelle Boorstein takes a deep dive into how the coronavirus “is pressing painfully on the soft underbelly of U.S. houses of worship: their finances.”

The blow is hitting small congregations particularly hard, she notes.

But this is more than a story about dollar signs. Boorstein’s focus on real people — such as the Mississippi pastor “who sold cars until the ministry called him 15 years ago” — is what brings this compelling piece alive.

3. Religion freedom attorneys pick their battles amid pandemic: As houses of worship nationwide face decisions over when and how to reopen, The Associated Press’ Elana Schor explores the conservative legal landscape.

Elsewhere, some of the nation’s best religion journalists tackle the question of resuming in-person worship — including The Tennessean’s Holly Meyer, The Oklahoman’s Carla Hinton, the Houston Chronicle’s Robert Downen (with colleague Brooke A. Lewis) and the Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas.

More top reads: Some Catholics suffer sacramental withdrawal as virtual confessions are ruled out, Nathan Romo, Religion News Service … Harlem pastor increases focus on church’s mental health as COVID-19 takes toll, Kimberly S. Johnson, Wall Street Journal … New York City Muslims work to build food security during Ramadan, Aysha Khan, RNS … Beyond Cedarville: Why do pastors keep getting rehired after abuse? Kate Shellnutt, Christianity Today … A Virginia preacher believed ‘God can heal anything,’ but then he caught coronavirus, Peter Jamison, Washington Post … Black pastors say they have trouble accessing SBA loan program, Tom Gjelten, NPR … 2,500 mourners jam a Hasidic funeral, creating a flash point for New York mayor, Liam Stack, New York Times … An Arab doctor and an ultra-Orthodox Jew find common ground in a COVID ward, Steve Hendrix, Washington Post … Military chaplains pivot to serve soldiers in virus outbreak, Sarah Blake Morgan, Associated Press … On LA’s Skid Row, Catholic Worker’s ‘Hippie Kitchen’ adjusts to COVID-19, Alejandra Molina, RNS … Knock knock. It’s weird evangelical Twitter, by Daniel Silliman, Christianity Today.

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

Daniel Darling, formerly the vice president of communications for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has a new gig.

He’s the new senior vice president of communications for the National Religious Broadcasters.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from Religion Unplugged.

• In a pandemic, a Buddhist chaplain’s Zen practice becomes purpose (by Micah Danney)

• What is the 'pro-life' choice in deciding whether to reopen America? (by Richard Ostling)

• Religious nonprofits in “evangelical mecca” face unprecedented challenges (by Steve Rabey)

• This Indonesian Muslim group is keeping millions safe during COVID-19 (by Mark Woodward)

• The coronavirus will force hard choices on faith-based schools (by Terry Mattingly)

• For first-ever virtual Ramadan, American Muslims are creating mini-mosques at home (by Kimberly Winston)

• COVID-19 forces Holocaust survivors to relive self-isolation (by Dave Schechter)

• Two secular New Yorkers visited the Samaritan’s Purse field hospital. One volunteered, one was arrested (by Micah Danney)

• Catholic media shines a light on young people and faith during the pandemic (by Clemente Lisi)

• U.S. commission warns about violations of religious freedom in 29 countries (by Ewelina U. Ochab)

• Tacos to tote bags: Churches partner with small businesses during COVID-19 (by Liza Vandenboom)

• Evangelical Ph.D. student explains why Christians should care about climate change (by Meagan Clark)

The Final Plug

If we gave an award for Religion Headline of the Week, the Dayton Daily News would win it.

See if this title doesn’t grab you: “Holy rock ’n’ rollers: Heavy metal church hosts drive-in service every Sunday.”

That headline appeared atop a feature on the First Heavy Metal Church of Christ.

Yes, that’s a real church. And no, the religion beat is never boring.

Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.