Posts in protestants
8 Religious Charities Helping With Back-To-Back Hurricane Recovery Efforts

Many charities and nonprofit organizations are currently accepting donations to help the victims of Hurricane Helene. As the country turns its attention to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to Florida’s Gulf Coast, specifically Tampa, communities throughout the region are still reeling from the devastation caused by Helene almost two weeks ago.

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More Americans Grow Open To Political Endorsements In Church

Few pastors endorse political candidates outside their role at church. Even fewer endorse during a church service. Most Americans like it that way, but they’re growing more supportive of churches jumping into the political fray. Lifeway Research studies of U.S. Protestant pastors and Americans found little practice or support for political endorsements from clergy and churches.

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Black Pentecostal And Charismatic Christians Boost Their Political Visibility

(ANALYSIS) Many Black leaders are swinging into action for the Harris-Walz campaign — and clergy are no exception. On Aug. 5, The Black Church PAC hosted a “Win With the Black Church” webinar to register voters, sign up volunteers and raise funds for Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Evangelicals Twice As Likely to Back Trump Over Harris

Entering into the final months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, former President Trump holds a sizable lead over Vice President Kamala Harris among evangelicals. Likely voters with evangelical beliefs are twice as likely to plan to cast their ballot for Trump than Harris (61% to 31%), according to a study from Lifeway Research. Few say they are still undecided (5%) or supporting another candidate (3%).

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On Religion: Do Pastors Face Pressure Tied To Partisan Politics?

Eight years ago, Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors who they planned to support in the presidential election and only three percent declined to answer. That number didn't change much in 2020, when four percent declined. But things changed recently, when almost a quarter of the pastors refused to voice their choice in the 2024 White House race.

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Churches Now Less Likely To Provide Help For Those With Opioid Addictions

A Lifeway Research study found U.S. Protestant pastors are just as likely to say someone connected to their congregation has been personally affected by opioid abuse today as compared to five years ago. They are less likely, however, to report their church is providing spiritual support for those addicted or any type of support group for those dealing with substance abuse.

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Small Groups Remain Key Aspect of Churches’ Discipleship Ministry

According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant churches with ongoing adult Bible study groups, 56 percent say the label “Sunday School” describes at least part of their groups ministry. Almost three in four (72 percent) say they are comfortable with others referring to their groups as adult Bible studies.

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New Report Sheds Light On The Role Of Faith In A Polarized America

A report issued on Tuesday found that religious beliefs aren’t motivated by politics and that a series of “misconceptions” has left Americans polarized. More in Common, a nonpartisan research organization, released the report where more than 6,000 Americans were polled just two months before the presidential election.

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Pastors’ Pay Rebounds In Southern Baptist Churches After Outpacing Inflation

After a difficult economic stretch for many churches and pastors, Southern Baptist pastors may feel more comfortable compared to two years ago. Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist senior pastors, full-time staff ministers and full-time office personnel outpaced inflation over the past two years, according to a study conducted by Lifeway Research.

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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Title IX Exemption For Religious Schools

The exemption, the appellate court affirmed, does not violate the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law or the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a particular religion.

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Survey Finds Churches Spending More On Salaries And Benefits

According to the annual State of the Church Compensation Survey by ChurchSalary, the average church increased its staff salaries and benefits more than they expected in 2024. In 2023, churches predicted they would increase personnel budgets by 4.5%, but the average actual increase turned out to be 4.9%. The greatest increase was seen in the cost of benefits.

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Christian Movies A Useful Tool When It Comes To Discipleship And Evangelism

Not only are churchgoers watching Christian movies, but some find them useful as an evangelistic and discipleship tool. A recent study asked churchgoers if they agree with the statement, “Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.” The study by Lifeway Research finds 68 percent of American Protestant churchgoers have watched a Christian movie in the last year. Around four in five say Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.

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What About White Evangelicals Who Aren’t Conservative?

(ANALYSIS) Every once in a while I will get an email from someone who doesn’t really fit the mold. Let me be clear that the amount of communication I get from Bernie Sanders-supporting White evangelicals is not huge. The more common sentiment is a White evangelical who sees themselves as politically moderate or really pushed out by the modern MAGA Republican Party.

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‘Doing What God Had Called Them To’: Q&A With ‘Accidental Diplomats’ Author Phil Dow

During the Cold War, an oft overlooked battle for minds unfolded on the vast stage of Africa. As colonial powers withdrew and new African nations emerged, both the United States and the Soviet Union scrambled for alliances.  Author Phil Dow’s new book, “Accidental Diplomats,” catalogs the influence of American evangelical missionaries in Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Culture Warrior, MAGA Champion, Church Of Christ Member: Who Is Ryan Walters?

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, spoke recently inside the Board of Education conference room at the state Capitol complex in Oklahoma City. The interview came amid a national debate that every teacher in Oklahoma must be provided with physical copies of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments.

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Robert Morris’ Son Steps Down As Pastor At Gateway Church

Seven weeks after Robert Morris resigned from Gateway Church after Cindy Clemishire publicly claimed he abused her in the 1980s when she was 12 years old, Gateway has announced that Morris’ son, James Morris, is stepping away from the church.

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‘Shepherds For Sale’ Provides A Mixed Bag Manifesto For The Religious Right

(REVIEW) “Shepherds” is certainly a book that is stuffed with footnotes, each page linking to multiple articles and websites to back up her claims. It’s unfortunately a book many people will jump to either attack or support without actually looking up the sources themselves. But it is a book that requires just that to responsibly engage with it. To Basham’s credit, she provides the footnotes for people to check her work. For this review, I did not fact-check every source that Basham cited.

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Most Southern Baptist Churches Effectively Using Background Checks

According to the 2023 Annual Church Profile, most Southern Baptist congregations, like New Vision, use background checks for volunteers. Fewer, however, say they have been trained in reporting sexual abuse or caring for sexual abuse survivors.

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