Clergy led a protest to usher in Tennessee's legislative session yesterday, emphasizing the importance of caring for immigrants in an issue that will be central to contentious legislative debates this year, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Vanderbilt announced yet another satellite campus, this one in San Francisco that it plans to enroll 1,000 students at. It adds to previously announced campuses in Palm Beach and New York, reports Hadley Hitson: www.tennessean.com/story/money/...

As Tennessee's legislative session begins today, immigration is expected to be a major debate as Republican lawmakers have spoken with Stephen Miller and designed 8 or 9 restrictive bills. @vivianejones.bsky.social breaks it down: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

“We own that we have not always been a healthy culture... We don’t ignore that, but we learn from that," Nicole Martin, new president/CEO of CT, told @bmietana.bsky.social in a story looking at successes and turnover at the magazine in recent years. religionnews.com/2026/01/12/n...

Literally just learned this news, despite @kateshellnutt.bsky.social sharing it last week. Christianity Today has been the highly professional journalistic institution it has been, much to the thanks of Kate. I wish her the best in the next stage of her career.

Tyler Poole, 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and reckless endangerment after firing more than 60 gunshots at pastor Greg Locke's former home in 2024, reports Andy Humbles: www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

An affidavit following an investigation into the arson fire at a Jackson, MS synagogue identified a suspect who "confessed to lighting a fire...due to the building's Jewish ties," reports the Clarion Ledger. Keep up with the local paper's latest: www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2...

Mark Walker, a former North Carolina congressman and pastor of 16 years at Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina, announced his appointment as the State Department's advisor for global religious freedom, reports Baptist Press: www.baptistpress.com/resource-lib...

Really enjoyed reading Paul Elie's profile of Pope Leo XIV in @newyorker.com, and how it delves into the Opus Dei-related politics of the Catholic Church in Peru prior to Prevost's appointment as Bishop of Chiclayo. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

An attorney for the Becket Center for Religious Liberty defended the SBC's case before the TN Supreme Court yesterday, saying the church autonomy doctrine protects the convention from Preston Garner's defamation case. My report on the hearing: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

In an ongoing scandal of Johnson City and its police department allegedly allowed Sean Williams, a convicted child abuser and alleged serial rapist, to abuse, the city is paying $30.6 million in a settlement to victims, Kelly Puente reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

After Bieber cut ties w/ Carl Lentz following scandal, Judah Smith "became the most powerful hypepriest left standing." @skestenbaum.bsky.social gives us an inside look at one of the few remaining modernity-spirited/open-minded, evangelical celebrity preachers: www.vulture.com/article/juda...

The U.S. air strikes in Nigeria came after months of lobbying by faith-based groups (including SBC) for the Trump administration to intervene over claims of persecution against Christians. I outlined a little of that history and responses to the strikes: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

In the aftermath of the ACNA archbishop's suspension following allegations of misconduct, interim leader Bishop Julian Dobbs is accused of misusing charity funds. @ianshapira.bsky.social's latest looks at an ACNA probe into a 102-page investigative file: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

The Choir Room began with a simple invitation for any community members to participate in a gospel choir. Here’s the story of how it’s preserved that mission as it’s exploded in popularity: www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...

60 years ago, The Tennessean hired Bill Reed as its first FT religion reporter, which also made Bill the paper’s first FT Black reporter. I traced Bill’s trailblazing journey and that of his successors (my predecessors) in a story on the history of the beat. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

The SBC’s public policy arm, which has been among many evangelical groups who have asked the Trump administration to intervene in conflict in Nigeria affecting Christians, has shown support for yesterday’s strikes. Southern Baptist missionaries are active in Nigeria. From Baptist Press:

NEWS re ACNA abuse, a source of national media attention due to a trial for Bishop Ruch (for mishandling abuse) & allegations against Archbishop Wood: Ruch found not guilty in a trial following a scandal that sparked this crisis, reports @kathrynpost.bsky.social: religionnews.com/2025/12/16/b...

Appeal to Heaven" flag spotted outside the U.S. Department of Education office, reports @zachschermele.bsky.social: www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

My colleagues Stuart Dyos and Denny Simmons visited East End UMC's building on Saturday as the church's centennial bells were removed as part of a restoration project. The building had been rendered unusable by the March 2020 tornado. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...

My colleagues Kelly Puente and photojournalist Mark Zaleski went out to East Tennessee for a major new report on opioid abatement -- where county governments are falling short and even how churches are stepping in. Here's part 1: www.tennessean.com/story/news/i...

My colleagues @kirstenfiscus.bsky.social, @evanmealins.bsky.social and Molly Davis' full coverage of Harold Wayne Nichols' execution. The reporting includes faith voices, who protested TN's death penalty (i.e. Catholic, Episcopal bishops' statements): www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

My colleagues are covering the execution of Harold Wayne Nichols today, and the live stream of the witnesses is about to begin. You can tune in here: www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

Lobsters aren't just a summer fad for New England, as @bmietana.bsky.social chronicles for us in this story about Cape Codders building lobster trap nativity scenes and Stonington CT putting up a lobster trap tree. religionnews.com/2025/12/10/l...

A former VP at the SBC-affiliated Truett McConnell University who's at the center of a sexual abuse scandal is facing three felony charges for lying to law enforcement. This scandal had led to the ouster of TMU president Emir Caner in Sept. From @ajc.com: www.ajc.com/news/2025/12...

Apparently, Christmas in Nashville also exists in the Upside Down.

Tennessee faith leaders gather at Downtown Presbyterian Church to protest the upcoming execution in Tennessee on Thursday, and are emphasizing recent statements from TN’s Catholic and Episcopal bishops opposing the state’s death penalty.

Hundreds of solar panels provide power to the #UMC Africa University, saving money and offering a reliable source of energy for students as the country grapples with power-shedding outages.

As evangelical groups’ support for Trump and some of his hardline policies go unperturbed, so do their appeal among Hispanic parishioners. Here's what a Lifeway Research study says about the growth of Hispanic evangelical churches: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Myself, @drmoore.bsky.social and Vandy's Dr. Phillis Sheppard joined @thisisnashville.bsky.social to discuss Christian nationalism, immigration, capital punishment, and even my reporting project on Zimbabwe. Give it a listen or watch, thanks @wpln.bsky.social! wpln.org/post/episode...

Important scoop from Molly Davis on yesterday's U.S. Senate hearing for TVA board nominee Lee Beaman, a TN car dealership mogul, and his ties to controversial pastor Steve Berger (who was at the hearing) following revelatory ProPublica reporting: www.tennessean.com/story/money/...

A key case before the Tennessee Supreme Court involving defamation claims against the SBC and dealing with an oversight group for churches accused of mishandling abuse is scheduled for a hearing on Jan. 8, Baptist Press reports: www.baptistpress.com/resource-lib...

Today's print issue: the future of United Methodism in Zimbabwe, an post-script to our reporting on this moment of dramatic change for the church in the southern African nation. The story's publishing completes the extent of our work on this project (www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...).

Since early this year, we've been pitching @pulitzercenter.org on a partnership for a reporting trip to Zimbabwe about the #UMC. (ICYMI), you can now find all 8 of our articles related to this partnership on Pulitzer Center's landing page for our project: pulitzercenter.org/projects/lib...

Be sure to catch up with @vivianejones.bsky.social's coverage of TN's special 7th District Congressional election: the margin between Van Epps' electoral victory and Behn's fundraising, and what it means for Dems future chances in a recently redrawn district. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Zulfat Suara, at-large Metro Nashville Council member, alleges in a new complaint former employer Meharry Medical College, a local HBCU, discriminated against her based on her religion and/or nationality, @ahornbostel.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

New gig announcement:

Franklin pastor Steve Berger, whose nonprofit operates out of an apartment that House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly lives at, opened a rally yesterday for GOP candidate Matt Van Epps in advance of today's special election, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Generational changes in Zimbabwe's United Methodist Church is ushering in new pressures, such as the rise in Pentecostalism, and shifting attitudes on major cultural debates, like LGBTQ+ rights. Story by @liamsadams.bsky.social and Andrew Nelles for The Tennessean. bit.ly/48xbPGd

Some amazing, late Friday breaking news from @keithsharontn.bsky.social, @kirstenfiscus.bsky.social and a testimony to their reporting on the 1998 murder of David Schulman: a star witness told Keith and Kirsten today that he lied in the case against James Caveye. www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

ICYMI: The streets of Harare were covered w/ motorists driving the massively popular Toyota HiLux, bright purple flowers blossoming from jacaranda trees & billboards advertising the recent appearance of Benny Hinn. Why Hinn matters to the UMC in Zimbabwe: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

So many parallels across each of these reports. Great, important work by all of you. And yes, people don’t realize how much effort goes into nailing down every detail in stories like these.

This past month, four different Protestant groups/denominations, most evangelical, have been at the center of in-depth news reports detailing how those denominations’ systems of oversight have failed victims of alleged abuse. In chronological order…

In our final report from our trip to Zimbabwe, I examine a sense of normalcy that UMC leaders in Africa have sought to restore and new pressures it may face — from the prosperity gospel's rise, to generational changes in views on LGBTQ+ rights. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Little did I know when I shared this yesterday that this overlap was happening in real time. Specifically, Doug Wilson platformed a campaign that's advocating to fully restrict women from "roles function in officer-like ways." This campaign parallels an SBC debate.

ICYMI: The PCA, an influential Reformed denomination, is designed to assess claims of abuse or wrongdoing and pursue accountability. But women said the inverse happened at churches from Georgia to Philly to Ft. Lauderdale. Find it on 1A today or online (www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...).

The Anglican Communion is facing a new level of upheaval among counterparts in Africa (in very similar ways as the UMC) with Gafcon declaring independence. @apnews.com explains what that means and the proposed responses are under consideration: apnews.com/article/angl...

Finally was able to catch up with some of the latest major ACNA abuse news, which escalated in a big way this week with the suspension of Archbishop Stephen Wood. Recommending @rns.org @kathrynpost.bsky.social's reporting, a story she's been covering for years. religionnews.com/2025/11/17/a...

Yesterday, we published a project on abuse in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The reporting began in Jan with interviewing survivors, but the project's scope and broader relevance for Reformed evangelicalism drew from earlier inspirations (🧵). www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...

Andrew Nelles and I, journalists w/ a metro daily paper in a city that's an HQ for the globally influential UMC, traveled to Zimbabwe to tell a story of local relevance and international import. Now, @usatoday.com circulated our reporting for national audiences: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...