(ANALYSIS) U.S. courts have long wrestled with the extent to which government funding can be used at private religious schools. And on June 5, 2023, Oklahoma’s five-person Statewide Virtual Charter School Board pushed this much-debated question into new territory by approving plans for a religious charter school — the first in the nation.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in provides the latest details on a mass shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses hall in Germany. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreSupporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in Oklahoma outspent opponents by millions of dollars. Yet when the votes were counted Tuesday, the anti-marijuana side — backed by prominent faith leaders and law enforcement officials — prevailed.
Read MoreNearly five years after approving medical marijuana, voters in the Bible Belt state will decide whether to expand cannabis sales and create a legal framework to expunge pot-related criminal offenses. People of faith are divided in a referendum that is drawing national attention.
Read MoreWhen a tornado struck this southeastern Oklahoma town on Friday night, the Bypass Church of Christ served the community as a shelter. The 100-member congregation opened its doors almost immediately to help — as the American Red Cross and news stations spread the word.
Read MoreOn the heels of a May 14 supermarket barrage in which 10 people died in Buffalo, New York, and a May 24 school massacre that claimed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, a gunman opened fire last week in a medical office in Oklahoma’s second-largest city. How do Christians respond?
Read MoreAt a small Ukrainian Orthodox church in Oklahoma, a priest worries about his mother, brother and other loved ones caught in harm’s way. At Sunday’s service, the Rev. Stepan Bilogan and other believers prayed for peace in their homeland.
Read MoreMonday marks the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the role of religion at the centennial. Plus, catch up on all the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.
Read MoreAt the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, pastors in Oklahoma’s second-largest city have issued a joint statement against racism. It’s part of a special prayer room at the First Baptist Church of Tulsa.
Read MoreMeet the Christ (pronounced “Crist”) family. They built a tiny chapel to inspire their rural Oklahoma community. In the midst of COVID-19, it’s taken on a deeper meaning.
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