News & Ideas

Thursday's News & Ideas - 9/29/2022

  • Clergy loophole in abuse reporting
  • Religion & Confederate memorials
  • UMC bishops speak out
  • Suspects charged in mid-sermon robbery
  • Hasidic pilgrims in Ukraine
  • Lizzo plays James Madison’s glass flute

Churches defend clergy loophole in child sex abuse reporting
Associated Press: In 33 states, clergy are exempt from any laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report information about alleged child sexual abuse to police or child welfare officials if the church deems the information privileged.

Survey: Confederate memorials still divide Americans and religion is a big predictor
Religion News Service: Majorities of Protestants, Catholics and Mormons support efforts to preserve Confederate monuments and memorials, a PRRI survey finds.
The Washington Post: Just how racist is the MAGA movement? This survey measures it.*

Bishops push back against recruitment tactics
United Methodist News: United Methodist bishops are pushing back against recruitment tactics being used by some supporters of a new traditionalist breakaway denomination.

Two charged in mid-sermon robbery of bejeweled Brooklyn bishop*
The New York Times: Lamor Whitehead of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries lost chains, rings, watches and jewelry when gunmen invaded a service.

War didn't stop Hasidic pilgrims from gathering in Ukraine for the Jewish new year
NPR: Every fall, thousands of Hasidic Jews from around the world transform a central neighborhood in Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashana. And this year, despite warnings from their home governments and Ukraine that the country is under invasion and could be dangerous, the festival went on.

The Spark

Lizzo played a 200-year-old glass flute given to James Madison
The Twitterverse works in mysterious ways — and earlier this week, it brought together superstar Lizzo and the Library of Congress to showcase a 200-year-old flute, says Smithsonian Magazine.

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2024 Sabbatical Grant for Researchers

The Sabbatical Grant for Researchers (SGR) offers grants up to $40,000 to support academic sabbatical leave for projects about Christian faith and life, the practice of ministry, religious trends and movements, Christian and other faith-based institutions and religion and social issues. Louisville Institute is especially interested in projects that demonstrate a desire to bridge the North American church and academy.

SGR is most often used to supplement an existing semester sabbatical with a second term or semester. Typical applicants are fully employed in accredited academic institutions and are eligible for a full year leave from teaching and administrative responsibilities. Grants awarded in the 2024 cycle will fund sabbaticals taking place during the 2024-2025 academic year or during the 2025 calendar year.

Applications are due November 1, 2023.

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