From Roe To Obergefell: Religious Right Sets Sights On Reversing Same-Sex Marriage

(ANALYSIS) With two dramatic actions, the “Religious Right” is suddenly prodding the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its historic 2015 Obergefell decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Such a radical and unpopular switch after only 10 years might seem implausible — but a close parallel already happened in the 2022 Dobbs decision.

Billy Graham Association Launches UK Religious Liberty Defense Fund

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse are helping Christians persecuted for their faith in the United Kingdom through a legal defense fund of more than $1.2 million.

Email Phishing Scams Increasingly Target Churches

The rector of the 160-plus member Good Shepherd Anglican Church near Charlotte, N.C., recently sent an urgent warning to parishioners about an email claiming to be from him. The email requested donations in the form of gift cards — a known tactic used for phishing scams in which criminals deceive victims into revealing sensitive information.

Americans Becoming More Permissive On Many Moral Issues

When it comes to morality, Americans don’t see much wrong with using birth control or getting a divorce, but few support extramarital affairs or human cloning. The latest poll results from Gallup spell out what activities U.S. adults view as morally acceptable and which ones are seen as immoral.

What Churches Can Learn From The Cracker Barrel Backlash

The brouhaha over a certain country-themed restaurant/store’s brand redesign touches on a topic that churches encounter at some point. “Someone in your congregation should want to get a cap or t-shirt with your logo on it, and wear it,” said author Mark MacDonald. “It actually represents them, since they are the church.” It goes much deeper than a shirt and expands beyond the church’s walls.

The Many Jobs Of A Religious Leader

(ANALYSIS) Every once in a while, someone would ask me how I became a pastor. I completely understand the impetus for the question, by the way. If you didn’t grow up around religion, the pathway to ministry can seem somewhat opaque. Let me just quickly lay out my story.

Why A Kentucky Church Says It’s OK To Steal Library Books

A church in Shelbyville, Kentucky, has encouraged its congregants to check objectionable books out of the public library and not return them — ever!

Online Blasphemy Scams Destroying Lives In Pakistan

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are a set of legislative provisions that forbid statements or actions that are considered offensive to Islam or its sacred figures. These rules inflict severe punishments, including life imprisonment and the death penalty under Section 295-C for defaming the Prophet Muhammad. These laws were expanded during General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization of the country.

Pope Leo XIV Clears Up Confusion When It Comes To The Amazon

(ANALYSIS) In a moment of both theological significance and pastoral clarity, Pope Leo XIV made his most consequential intervention yet on the church’s role in the Amazon. In a recent message, the pope struck a firm tone to 90 South American bishops meeting in Bogota, Colombia — affirming the Catholic Church’s mission and offering a course correction from the recent past.

How College Shapes Students’ Views Of Other Faiths

(ANALYSIS) Students at elite universities tend to talk a good game when it comes to religious pluralism. Many of them show up on day one already saying all the right things about respecting different faiths. Here’s the paradox: They don’t grow from there, according to research published in The Journal of Higher Education. Students at less selective colleges, meanwhile, do develop more pluralistic attitudes.

FTC Drops Lawsuit Against Grand Canyon Education

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dismissed its lawsuit against Grand Canyon Education over Grand Canyon University’s doctoral programs. The dismissal comes after the case, brought during the Biden Administration, suffered “two losses” in motions to dismiss and after the U.S. Department of Education rescinded its $37.7-million fine assessed against Grand Canyon University in 2023.

Church-Building Ministry Launches Giving Program To Empower Believers

At a time when more than three billion people worldwide live without access to a local church, International Cooperating Ministries is inviting Christians to help bridge that gap. The Virginia-based missions organization, which has helped construct more than 13,600 permanent church buildings in 110 countries, recently launched its new Community Impact Partners program.

🏈 How A Prominent National College Football Writer Became A Small-Town Pastor 🔌

George Schroeder loves college football. He just loves Jesus more. After over a quarter-century as a sportswriter, Schroeder found a new calling in ministry.

By ‘Focusing On The Family,’ James Dobson Helped Propel Evangelicals Into Politics

(ANALYSIS) For decades, one name was ubiquitous in American evangelical homes: Focus on the Family. A media empire with millions of listeners and readers, its messages about parenting, marriage and politics seemed to reach every conservative Christian church and school. And one man’s name was nearly synonymous with Focus on the Family: James Dobson.

Crossroads Podcast: When Pulpits Get Political And A Liberal Lutheran Goes Too Far

It helps to remember that this Lutheran denomination has lost roughly half of its members during the last 50 years and insiders have suggested that it may die by 2050.

The Dead End Of ‘Honey Don’t!’: A Detective Story That Forgets The Point

(REVIEW) With no meaningful character arc and no coherent theme, “Honey Don’t!” leaves viewers adrift. It’s a detective story with no one to root for and nothing to say. Instead of delivering clarity in a chaotic world, it adds to the noise. In the words of Macbeth — adapted by Ethan Coen’s brother Joel in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” — the film is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Pastors Unsure If Discipleship Is Really Happening In Their Churches

Pastors have a lot of thoughts about discipleship, but they aren’t sure it’s happening in their churches. In the first part of the State of Discipleship study from Lifeway Research, U.S. Protestant pastors shared their understanding of what discipleship means and how it best occurs. The full State of Discipleship will be released over the next year, providing the perspectives of both pastors and churchgoers.

Focus On The Family Founder James Dobson Dead At 89

James Dobson, a politically influential conservative and anti-abortion activist who founded the Christian ministry Focus on the Family, died on Thursday at the age of 89. Dobson started Focus on the Family in 1977, which had more than 1,000 employees at its peak in the mid-90s, giving him the chance to influence legislation and White House policy for decades.

Another Texas Pastor Ousted Due To ‘Pattern of Moral Failure’

The lead pastor of Central Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has resigned after confessing to a “pattern of moral failure,” according to an announcement posted earlier this month on the church’s website. While the announcement is now deleted, the text of it is still visible on Google’s search page.

Christianity, Justice, News, North America, protestantsLiz LykinsAugust 21, 2025Liz Lykins, Texas, Clergy sex abuse, justice, Christianity, news, Secondary featureComment

Day Commemorating Victims Of Religious Violence Highlights Rising Global Trend

(ANALYSIS) August 22nd marks the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, a day established by the U.N. General Assembly to condemn acts of violence targeting individuals on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.

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