Thursday’s News & Ideas - 6/18/2026

Episcopal Church puts multimillion-dollar New York headquarters on the market*
The Washington Post: The decision to give up its headquarters building reflects the shrinking of mainline Protestantism and institutional religion in the U.S. and the way religious groups are reshaping their commercial footprint.

‘Not a day off’: For Juneteenth, some faith leaders promote political causes
Religion News Service: “As we acknowledge the contributions of the African American community to America, it’s appropriate for us to lead the way in unifying and making a call for unity,” said evangelist Alveda King, niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Half of U.S. churches to honor America’s 250th anniversary, Lifeway Research finds
Baptist Press: Almost half of U.S. Protestant pastors (45 percent) say it’s important to incorporate patriotic elements into worship services the week of July Fourth, including 16 percent who strongly agree.

Church of England apologizes for role in forced adoptions
The Guardian: The Church of England is “profoundly sorry” for pain caused to mothers and children separated at birth between 1940s and 1980s.

‘They have already suffered enough’: Central African clergy respond to US deportation
Religion News Service: Faith leaders say they would welcome migrants deported from the United States but question the decision to send vulnerable people without ties to a nation still healing from years of sectarian violence.

The Spark

How to canoe to the World Cup in New Jersey
MetLife Stadium, the site of eight FIFA matches, is surrounded by creeks and canals. Amid exorbitantly priced public transportation and reports of bumper-to-bumper traffic, we tried our luck arriving by boat,* The New Yorker says.

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