Friday's News & Ideas - 6/21/2024

Texas megachurch pastor resigns after woman says he sexually abused her in the 1980s
Associated Press: The pastor of a Texas megachurch has resigned after a woman said he had sexually abused her on multiple occasions in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12. 
Christianity Today: Robert Morris resigns from Gateway following past abuse allegations*

The author of ‘Jesus Calling’ died last year. Why is a denomination investigating her?
Religion News Service: At a recent PCA meeting, critics of ‘Jesus Calling,’ written by Sarah Young, called for an investigation to see if the book was safe for Christians to read.

NYC pastor is sentenced to 9 years for fraud, including taking a single mom’s $90,000
NPR: Lamor Whitehead, a flamboyant pastor who made headlines in 2022 when he was robbed during a livestreamed church service in Brooklyn — and then became the target of criminal charges himself — has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison.

‘Loyal to the Oil’: Finding religion in the Stanley Cup finals
The Conversation: The Stanley Cup Final offers a glimpse into how the oil industry has helped shaped the religious fervor around Canada’s favorite sport.

What does it mean to be an inclusive church?*
The Christian Century: Being a community means welcoming those with diverse views, not cocooning oneself with like-minded people.

The Spark

One of world’s rarest cats no longer endangered 
One of the world's rarest cats, the Iberian lynx, is no longer classed as endangered, reports the BBC.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers