Check out @rns.org story about new NYC church pipe organ by @kathrynpost.bsky.social and me, now with video produced by @fiona-murphy.bsky.social

Said Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock about U.S. “spiritual crisis”: “for me, faith has an important role here, and it is as basic as that question that the lawyer asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2026/01/08/w...

Appreciated the opportunity to join my @rns.org colleague Jack Jenkins in a year-in-review discussion on The State of Belief podcast. religionnews.com/2026/01/03/w...

“There are still churches with means, and they want to have good music,” said Andrew Gingery, VP of organ builders trade association, as NYC church celebrates new organ. @kathrynpost.bsky.social, my @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2026/01/06/n...

“When you write a particular piece, you have no idea what’s going to become of it — will people like it, or will people sing it?” Richard Smallwood, who died 12/30, told RNS of “Total Praise.” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/12/30/r...

“The court has now confirmed what we have known all along: the voice of the congregation was heard, and the will of the congregation was honored,” said Abyssinian Baptist Church about 2024 election of its pastor. My, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social RNS story: religionnews.com/2025/12/26/c...

Faith leaders who died in 2025 include those who used their pulpits to preach the gospel or advocated for the environment, election fairness or justice within and beyond their denominations. @RNS story: religionnews.com/2025/12/26/i...

"As we see a decline in church membership, we see a decline in trust of church organizations; then we're seeing a rise of magic,” said Baylor scholar Paul Froese. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/12/16/f...

“There is a universality in our humanity and in our faith. There is more that binds us as Americans than divides us,” said Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro at forum, describing receiving an Old Testament prayer from a fire dept. chaplain. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/12/10/a...

The decline of religious affiliation in the US has stalled -- for now - remaining steady at 70% since 2020 religionnews.com/2025/12/08/d...

“For it is in giving, like St. Katharine Drexel, that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life,” said university chaplain on Founders’ Day at Xavier University of Louisiana. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/12/04/a...

“For it is in giving, like St. Katharine Drexel, that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life,” said university chaplain on Founders’ Day at Xavier University of Louisiana. My RNS story: religionnews.com/2025/12/04/a...

Readers have already brought us halfway to unlocking a $5,000 Giving Tuesday challenge match. With the day moving quickly, your gift could be what carries us the rest of the way. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom today? #GivingTuesday @GivingTuesday rns.donorsupport.co/page/2025-gi...

“The church at its best is after the benediction, when you leave the Lord’s house, go into the Lord’s world,” African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald Jackson preached two days before his death on 11/25. My RNS story: religionnews.com/2025/11/26/a...

Join us on December 4 for our free virtual event, “Can Catholic Universities Stay Catholic?”, where we'll ask top journalists and university leaders: What does it mean to be a Catholic university today—and does that still matter? Register now! us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

At The Texas Tribune Festival, Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry spoke about the challenges he faced as presiding bishop, his family’s faith history and how he is mulling how to spend his retirement years.

“I’ve spent my life speaking to people’s souls,” Bishop T.D. Jakes said in an announcement about new podcast. “Now, I want to sit with their stories.” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/11/12/t...

The plan decentralizes the role of the U.S., which gave birth to churches in Europe, the Philippines and Africa. religionnews.com/2025/11/07/u...

Niece of Sarah Rector, title character in “Sarah’s Oil” movie, about its depiction of her family’s faith: “it was like, ‘Oh, my God, I'm reliving my childhood.’” My @RNS story: religionnews.com/2025/11/07/s...

“We will fight for you because we are you, or as we say on Steinway, ‘Ana Minkum wa Ilaykum,’” said Mamdani, referring to the busy Astoria commercial street and citing an Arabic adage meaning “I am from you and return to you.” Read more here: religionnews.com/2025/11/05/a...

Over the past year, Zohran Mamdani has leaned on his Muslim identity to mobilize voters from across traditions, from Friday prayers and Diwali celebrations in Queens, to Baptist church services in Harlem and Sukkot observances in Hasidic Williamsburg.

So grateful that Religious Research Association President Edwin Aponte awarded its Outstanding Applied Research Award for “Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders” to co-author Warren Bird and me for book we wrote with Daniel Yang!

“I hate that I’ve hurt so many people,” said the Rev. Henry J. Lyons, former National Baptist Convention USA president, who spent time in prison after a fraud scandal and who died Oct. 27 at 83. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/31/h...

A tour of historically Black colleges and universities by Blexit, a Black conservative group, drew criticism and “cordial” engagement. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/30/t...

What does the government shutdown mean for the financial stability of houses of worship in the DC area? And how are clergy ministering to those affected? Listen to RNS’ @adellembanks.bsky.social on @npr.org!

We are so grateful for everyone who joined us at our fall symposium, "God, the Government and the Algorithm." Whether you attended in person in New York or watched our livestream, it is because of you that we bring people together for these inspiring, thought-provoking and informative conversations.

On the 1st anniversary of the publication of “Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation Leaders,” I thank my co-authors Daniel Yang and Warren Bird. Hope you’ll buy/share our award-winning book!

D.C.’s Masjid Muhammad is among congregations helping furloughed federal workers during the federal shutdown who may say “I don’t have any money, but I do have a light bill coming up right now,” said Imam Talib Shareef. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/17/s...

As technology transforms belief and politics, who speaks for morality and ethics? Join us online Oct. 22 for a daylong livestream unpacking the new rules of belief and power in American public life. Register now: rns.org/live

“This feels to me like a ubiquitous call to make ‘just love’ the window through which Christianity happens,” said the Rev. Jacqui Lewis, co-creator of “The Just Love Story Bible.” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/16/n...

“I am the founding pastor, and my goal is to support him in every way,” Dallas megachurch founder Tony Evans, on his son Jonathan Evans’ leadership of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/10/t...

Willow Creek --a Chicagoland megachurch with a worldwide reach - turns 50 this year. Here's why that matters religionnews.com/2025/10/08/w...

Want to see Keith Green's guitar, the soundboard that launched Amy Grant's career, or the actual Christmas shoes? The Christian music museum in Nashville has it all religionnews.com/2025/10/07/f...

“I apologize sincerely for any instability that this season has caused you because you are my treasure,” Dallas megachurch pastor Tony Evans said after its elder board announced he would no longer lead it. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/06/t...

“He has discipled hundreds and hundreds of the next-generation worship pastors, organists, pianists, church musicians,” said Baylor music professor Stephen Michael Newby of musician James Abbington, who died 9/27. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/10/02/d...

“It is a haven in a world of unending trouble,” photographer Gordon Parks once wrote of Chicago church featured in a new photo exhibition. “It offers leadership and a powerful-preaching minister.” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/26/p...

BREAKING: Voddie Baucham Jr., a conservative Black pastor, author and seminary leader known for advocating for restricting women’s roles in the church and critiquing what he saw as “woke” influence on Christianity, has died at 56. religionnews.com/2025/09/25/v...

Ecumenist Wes Granberg-Michaelson has written a guidebook on how faith leaders can undergird their public activism with private spirituality: “The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements for Contemplative Action” My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/24/a...

It’s not too late to register for “Becoming a Future-Ready Church” 4-week online cohort my coauthors Daniel Yang, Warren Bird and I will lead starting Tuesday. Register now/share with others. Thanks! exponential.org/frc-cohort

Huston-Tillotson University, a Texas Christian school, has received, on its 150th anniversary, a $150 million gift — the largest-ever single donation to a private historically Black college or university. My @rns.org: religionnews.com/2025/09/18/t...

“We expect the settlement will more than double plan participants’ current account balances and restore them to about 61.5% of the June 30, 2021 statement balance,” said a lawyer representing AME Church retirement plan participants. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/17/w...

NEW: As supporters of Charlie Kirk gathered for vigils, many framed Kirk—a right-wing activist—as a religious leader. Some claimed his death was spurring people to convert to Christianity. Meanwhile, other faith leaders were vocally critical of Kirk's past comments. religionnews.com/2025/09/16/a...

DC’s First Congregational United Church of Christ, which dates to 1865, dedicated six recently installed stained-glass panels, titled “Forever in the Path,” on Sunday to enslaved people who worked on its building’s land. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/16/p...

My coauthors Daniel Yang, Warren Bird and I are set to lead 4-week online cohort on “Becoming a Future-Ready Church” starting a week from today (9/23). Register now/share with others. Thanks! exponential.org/frc-cohort

Today is the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church. Here’s my ’23 @RNS Q&A story about singer Candi Staton’s recollections of that day. religionnews.com/2023/09/15/f...

As a journalist, this is one of those little details that ends up as a brief aside in your rapidly written story to offer the reader additional context for a source, but ends up sticking with you for a while.

“Turning Point realized the importance of explaining and debating and championing conservative ideals to people under the age of 30,” said Isaac Willour, a conservative journalist and commentator. religionnews.com/2025/09/11/h...

“I submit to you, sisters and brothers, we need the Black church to lead us in times of Jim Crow Junior in 2025 now more than ever,” lawyer Benjamin Crump said at annual session of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/12/n...

Please register today for 4-week online cohort my coauthors and I will lead about “Becoming a Future-Ready Church” – starting 9/23: exponential.org/frc-cohort

“Tonight will go down in the history books,” said National Baptist Convention USA Inc. President Boise Kimber after the Rev. Tracey L. Brown became the first woman to preach at evening service of its annual session. My @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2025/09/10/n...