News & Ideas

Friday's News & Ideas - 3/7/2025

  • SBC exec committee is broke
  • Gay student at nonaffirming seminary
  • State of Christianity in TX
  • Japan’s Christians
  • Pope shares audio message
  • Streaming & cinema literacy

Southern Baptist Convention leaders address lack of funds for legal bills
Religion News Service: While the SBC collects hundreds of millions in donations each year, very little is spent on overhead or oversight. Now, a series of lawsuits by pastors accused of abuse has left the denomination unable to pay its legal bills.

I’m a gay student at a nonaffirming seminary: Why?
Baptist News Global: What so many people, both conservatives and progressives, seem to forget, or not realize, is that there are countless LGBTQ students at nonaffirming seminaries across the country.

New study reveals fewer Texans identify as Christians — yet evangelical churches holding strong*
Chron: Data from a Pew Research Center study paints a complex picture of Christianity in Texas.

Growth is good. Survival is, too.*
Christianity Today: Japan’s Christians still pray for revival. But endurance is its own reward.

Pope shares audio message from hospital thanking well-wishers
The Guardian: The pontiff is nearing three weeks in the hospital after being admitted with respiratory problems.

The Spark

How streaming is making us all cinema-illiterate
The oldest title* available on Netflix last month was 1973’s “The Sting.” Where does that leave the next generation of film lovers? The Hollywood Reporter asks.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



Sign up to receive religion news every weekday in the free News & Ideas newsletter

Signup options

Most recent News & Ideas

Thursday’s News & Ideas - 7/3/2025

  • Religion in higher ed
  • Fast for Gaza crisis
  • Divided opinion on evolution
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jews
  • Dalai Lama succession plan
  • Black Pheonix

Wednesday’s News & Ideas - 7/2/2025

  • Clergy struggle to visit detainees
  • Jimmy Swaggart dies
  • Ethics of brain-dead pregnancy
  • Gun laws after Charleston
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jews & politics
  • What makes someone cool?

News & Ideas - 7/1/2025

  • Religious attacks surge
  • Officials address religious conference
  • SCOTUS decision hurts pluralism
  • Dalai Lama turns 90
  • Church roof tells story
  • Woman frees mom from prison
Reading the lectionary

New lectionary search tool 

Easily find scripture passages and resources for any lectionary week with Zeteo’s new search feature. You can even filter by your preferred lectionary version: Revised Common, Catholic or Narrative.

Learn More