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) Superspreader.

That’s a new word we’ve learned in 2020, thanks to the global pandemic.

Speaking of which, much attention has focused on in-person worship assemblies as potential superspreader events for COVID-19 — and understandably so.

This week, an in-depth New York Times article drew a bunch of attention with this provocative headline: “Churches were eager to reopen. Now they are a major source of coronavirus cases.”

It’s a fascinating piece. But I appreciated the important questions that Ed Stetzer’s blog at Christianity Today raised about the context — or lack thereof — on the numbers that the Times highlighted. GetReligion’s Terry Mattingly also voiced concerns.

Friday morning update: Stetzer points out that the Times has softened its headline to this: “Churches were eager to reopen. Now they are confronting coronavirus cases.” I don’t see any note on the article explaining the reason for the change.

Meanwhile, the Deseret News’ Herb Scribner reported on movie theaters suing New Jersey, arguing that if churches can open, then cinemas can, too. Personal confession: I won’t be eating popcorn anywhere except for my couch for a while.

One more pandemic-related note: I missed this interview when it was first published last week, but it’s an amazing (and encouraging) read: Enjoy New York magazine writer Jebediah Reed’s “long talk with Anthony Fauci’s boss about the pandemic, vaccines, and faith.”

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Megachurch pastor John Ortberg kept a family member’s attraction to children secret. Then his son blew the whistle. Whether delving into an end-times cat cult or how a beloved worship song helped fuel spiritual abuse, Bob Smietana is a master at long-form investigative journalism on the religion beat.

Smietana, the editor-in-chief of Religion News Service, delivers another masterpiece with his 3,350-word Ortberg piece.

2. Washington’s ‘Church of Presidents’ etched in history: Elana Schor, The Associated Press’ national reporter for religion and politics, is still relatively new to covering faith.

Already, though, she has demonstrated a knack for producing timely and insightful coverage on a regular basis. Her latest feature — following up on President Donald Trump’s famous church photo op — dives into the history of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Bonus reason to click the link: the exceptional photos (several in black and white) of past presidents visiting St. John’s.

3. Faith figures prominently as Kanye West talks about running for president: Let the record show that on Aug. 6, 2015, I tweeted skepticism at the notion of Donald Trump running for president, asking if his candidacy might be an elaborate “Saturday Night Live” skit.

O me of little faith.

So I’ll decline to comment on West’s White House chances. But I will point you toward Forbes writer Randall Lane’s long interview with “the billionaire rapper turned speaker mogul.” God, the Bible and a running mate who describes herself as a “biblical life coach" all come up, as noted by Religion News Service’s Jack Jenkins.

More top reads: The Supreme Court just handed a big win to religious employers, and made good on its promise, Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News … Supreme Court rulings expand exemptions for religious employers, Jess Bravin and Brent Kendall, Wall Street Journal … The unofficial racism consultants to the white evangelical world, Emma Green, The Atlantic … We have a story to tell: Indigenous scholars, activists speak up amid toppling of Serra statues, Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service … Ideologies clash at Carmel church amid protests over statements made by suspended pastor, Justin L. Mack, Indianapolis Star … ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ hymn ignites across nation, Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press … 665K ministry jobs covered by Paycheck Protection Program funds, Ryan P. Burge, Christianity Today … Some say faith in the midst of COVID-19 means following health recommendations, Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman … ‘I can’t turn away from this’: Archivist’s Holocaust research gaining wider audience, Peter Smith, Pittsburg Post-Gazette … Seattle-area evangelicals wrestle with racism and their own silence: ‘We repent,’ Nina Shapiro, Seattle Times … As Dalai Lama turns 85, his lineage’s future is as uncertain as Tibet’s, Ira Rifkin, RNS … United Methodist pastor hopes liturgy on anti-racism creates a moment that builds a movement, Holly Meyer, The Tennessean … God and money, Christina Darnell, MinistryWatch.com … To understand this papacy, forget Rome — head to Lampedusa, John L. Allen Jr., Crux.

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

The Jewish Week, a 45-year-old newspaper serving New York’s large Jewish community, is putting its print edition on hiatus, as reported by the New York Times.

“Recognizing both what we’ve learned from the coronavirus crisis and how it has hurt our bottom line and that of our advertisers, The Jewish Week has decided to move faster in the direction of a digital-first enterprise,” the publication said in a note to readers.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

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

• Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic nuns for contraception exemption (by Christina Darnell)

• Popular Christian youth camp source of COVID-19 outbreak (by Christina Darnell)

• Why Catholic voters in four states could again decide the presidential election (by Clemente Lisi)

• Why the Black Lives Matter movement is controversial to many Christians (by Bobby Ross Jr.)

• ‘The Bible Code’: What was that all about, other than a headline grabbing pseudo-mystery? (By Richard Ostling)

• Pope Francis preaches about ‘unbiased’ journalism: is the American press listening? (by Clemente Lisi)

• In rural Uganda, churches provide speakers to safely unite communities during COVID-19 (by John Semakula)

• World watches as battles continue to see who will control iconic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (by Terry Mattingly)

• U.K. report on Nigeria’s religious violence skirts around the word ‘genocide’ (by Dr. Jenny Taylor)

• Wheaton fires chaplain for ‘Inappropriate comments and actions of a racial and sexual nature’ (by Christina Darnell)

The Final Plug

I’m a huge baseball fan, so when I got the chance to talk to Hall of Famer Rod Carew about his new memoir, I jumped at it.

I interviewed the retired superstar about his faith, COVID-19 and, yes, baseball. If you missed my coverage, check out the podcast and related story. And don’t miss my colleague Clemente Lisi’s review of Carew’s “One Tough Out.”

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.