Friday's News & Ideas - 8/19/2022

31 UMC churches in NC demand immediate exit from denomination, threaten lawsuit
Religion News Service: Legal action or the threat of legal action represents a new strategy on behalf of churches wanting an immediate exit from the United Methodist Church.

The Bible is among dozens of books removed from this Texas school district
NPR: School staff in a district outside Fort Worth, Texas, pulled all copies of a list of more than 40 books from classrooms and school libraries.

Meet the Christian rap duo from ‘Reservation Dogs’
Christianity Today: Hip hop artists Lil Mike and Funny Bone got their start performing at churches. Now they’re acting on FX’s critically acclaimed television series.

Sarah Jakes Roberts is remaking the image of the modern Christian pastor*
Los Angeles Times: As a teenage mom and the second youngest child of renowned bishop T.D. Jakes and first lady Serita Jakes, she will be the first one to tell you that she didn’t expect to be the one people pay attention to.

First diocese of Australia’s breakaway Anglican church officially launched
The Guardian: New conservative Diocese of the Southern Cross – which explicitly forbids same-sex marriage – is headed by bishop Glenn Davies.

The Spark

Home appraised with a Black owner: $472,000. With a white owner: $750,000.
Nathan Connolly and his wife, Shani Mott, say an appraisal company* undervalued their home based on their race. The couple has filed a lawsuit in Maryland, The New York Times says.

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