News & Ideas

Thursday's News & Ideas - 4/9/2020

  • SBA help breaks from past
  • Easter more like Passover
  • Pell’s acquittal tied to abuse
  • LA pastor faces charges
  • Falwell announces warrants
  • Pandemic affects black community

Another break from the past: Government will help churches pay pastor salaries
NPR: In a development that could challenge the Constitution's prohibition of any law "respecting an establishment of religion," the federal government will soon provide money directly to U.S. churches to help them pay pastor salaries and utility bills.

This year Easter will feel more like Passover
Religion News Service: This year the Exodus story will mirror the experience of millions across the globe who are staying inside their homes, praying that death will pass them by and that God will once more provide deliverance.

It is not possible to divorce George Pell's acquittal from the Catholic church's history of child abuse
The Guardian: The bishops should end their obsession with Pell and take up their moral responsibility to victims.

Louisiana pastor: ‘True Christians do not mind dying’ of coronavirus if infected at church
HuffPost: Rev. Tony Spell, who already faces charges for ignoring his state’s ban on public gatherings, bused people in for Palm Sunday services.

Jerry Falwell Jr. says warrants are out for 2 journalists after critical stories on coronavirus decision
Politico: The president of Liberty University accuses a NYT photographer and ProPublica reporter of trespassing.

The Spark

Covid-19 is disproportionately taking black lives
Hundreds of years of racism has delivered poor health and economic outcomes for black people, making them more vulnerable in the pandemic, Vox says.

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Lilly logo

Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative

The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith. 

In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.

The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.

Learn More and register for information sessions