Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) The latest clash of religion versus gay rights at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Friction over LGBTQ issues in faiths around the world, from the global Anglican Communion to the vast Muslim world.

Final congressional passage of a bill to protect same-sex marriage rights.

No doubt, there’s a common theme to some of the week’s top headlines.

At The Associated Press, Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman report:

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sounded sympathetic Monday to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, the latest collision of religion and gay rights to land at the high court.

The designer and her supporters say that ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their beliefs. Her opponents, meanwhile, say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants.

Meanwhile, AP’s global religion team partners with its Lilly Endowment grant partners — Religion News Service and The Conversation — to examine LGBTQ belief and belonging around the world.

Among the specific stories:

• Friction over LGBTQ issues worsens in global Anglican church (by AP’s Chinedu Asadu and David Crary and RNS’ Catherine Pepinster)

• Across vast Muslim world, LGBTQ people remain marginalized (by AP’s Edna Tarigan, Mariam Fam and David Crary)

• LGBTQ students wrestle with tensions at Christian colleges (by AP’s Giovanna Dell’Orto and RNS’ Yonat Shimron)

• Why they stay: LGBTQ people of faith find ways to belong where doctrine rejects them (by RNS’ Kathryn Post)

Finally, the Respect for Marriage Act is headed to President Joe Biden for his signature, as the New York Times’ Annie Karni explains:

The House on Thursday gave final approval to legislation to mandate federal recognition for same-sex marriages, with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voting in favor of the measure in the waning days of the Democratic-led Congress.

With a vote of 258-169, with one member voting “present,” the landmark legislation cleared Congress, sending it to President Biden to be signed into law and capping an improbable path for a measure that only months ago appeared to have little chance at enactment.

Delve deeper into related issues with these stories:

• A Virginia restaurant refused to serve a conservative Christian group. Is that legal? (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Idaho Christian law students, adviser, claim victory in settlement with university (by Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times)

• A new clash between faith and gay rights arrives at a changed Supreme Court (by Adam Liptak, New York Times)

• The Supreme Court is hearing a case on LGBTQ rights and religion (again). Here’s what you need to know (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Both sides see high stakes in gay rights Supreme Court case (by Jessica Gresko, AP)

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Scrutiny of Ukraine church draws praise, fear of overreach: “After its searches of holy sites belonging to Ukraine’s historic Orthodox church, the nation’s security agency posted photos of evidence it recovered — including rubles, Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch,” The Associated Press reports from Kyiv.

“Supporters and detractors of the church debate whether such items are innocuous — or increase suspicions the church is a nest of pro-Russian propaganda and intelligence-gathering,” notes the story by Peter Smith and Vasilisa Stepanenko.

Related news:

• Zelensky proposes barring Orthodox church that answers to Moscow (by Marc Santora, New York Times)

• Ukraine clamps down on Orthodox Church linked to Moscow (by Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal)

• With searches, Ukraine focuses suspicions on Orthodox clergy (by Hanna Arhirova and Peter Smith, AP)

2. In the age of megachurches, communion has become a big business: “These days, prepackaged ‘rip and sip’ plastic cups of juice and wafers are a common sight at large churches,” notes this story by Salon’s Ashlie D. Stevens.

For many churches, the “rip and sip” communion cups may be the new normal, Stevens writes, citing earlier reporting by The Christian Chronicle’s Cheryl Mann Bacon.

3. Jewish Americans confront antisemitism with resolve, worry: “Jewish Americans are closely following the recent upsurge in antisemitic rhetoric and actions with a mix of anxiety and resolve — along with a yearning that a broader swath of Americans, including leaders across the political spectrum, speak out against anti-Jewish hatred,” according to The Associated Press’ David Crary, Holly Meyer and Jessie Wardarski.

Meanwhile, “Second gentleman Doug Emhoff opened a White House roundtable on antisemitism Wednesday by declaring his steadfast commitment to his Jewish identity and to fighting the scourge of hatred toward Jews,” Religion News Service’s Yonat Shimron reports.

More Top Reads

• Non-religious voters wield clout, tilt heavily Democratic (by Peter Smith, Associated Press)

• Some churches leave UMC through formal process; others are suing (by Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

• Hundreds of Texas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination after years of infighting over gay marriage and abortion (by Jayme Lozano and Robert Downen, Texas Tribune)

• Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center reopens at last (by Karen Matthews, AP)

• Popular pastor returns after absence over an ‘inappropriate’ online relationship (by Ruth Graham, New York Times)

• Amy Grant, ‘queen of Christian pop,’ feted at Kennedy Center Honors (by Adelle M. Banks, RNS)

• Do Gen Z’s views on religion put the future of religious freedom at risk? (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Maryland judge seals proceedings around Catholic clergy sexual abuse report (by Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post)

• Black Hebrew Israelites in the spotlight (by Mari Cohen, Jewish Currents)

• Flash flood kills nine at church gathering in South Africa (by Mogomotsi Magome, AP)

• Polynesian pride: Three-day canoe voyage in mid-Pacific (by María Teresa Hernández, AP)

• Think piece: Does the pope need an editor? (by Thomas Reese, RNS) 

• Think piece: Our falling birth and marriage rates reflect the lie that only singles have fun (by Karol Markowicz, New York Post)

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

Christianity Today’s Kate Shellnutt talks about “her journey as a religious journalist and how she found Jesus as she covered a church plant in the Chicago area.”

Listen to Shellnutt’s “At The Table” podcast discussion with Jacki C. King.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.

• Despite rising attacks against Christians, U.S. removed Nigeria from religious freedom watch list (by Ekpali Saint)

• Atlanta megachurch alleges widespread fraud against African American churches (by Anne Stych)

• Kanye, Kyrie and the Black Hebrew Israelite elephant in the room (by Dr. Michael Brown)

• How nonreligious Americans are finding ways of pursuing meaning (by Morgan Shipley)

• Chasing the Rothko trail (by Roberta Green Ahmanson)

• Ukrainian churches unable to function as Russian forces arrest priests (by Felix Corley)

• California megachurch members now hold majority on city council (by Steve Rabey)

• Relieve the hell inside your mind — by becoming grateful (by Paul Prather)

• A new documentary tries to portray Johnny Cash as a Christian role model: Here’s why it fails (by Joseph Holmes)

• How Iran underestimated the outrage over the killing of Mahsa Amini (by Ewelina U. Ochab)

• Charity affiliated with Sen. Raphael Warnock subject of inquiry (by Kim Roberts)

• Women better represented at largest Christian ministries than for-profit companies (by Kim Roberts)

The Final Plug

Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, and Paul “Bear” Bryant hadn’t yet started coaching the University of Alabama, when Gerald Romine began preaching for the Roanoke Church of Christ in eastern Alabama in 1957.

I made a quick trip to the Cotton State this past weekend to cover a celebration of Romine’s 65th anniversary serving that same congregation. Check out my story.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for ReligionUnplugged.com 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.