Today's News & Ideas - 3/24/2025
- Pastor fights mental health stigma
- Churches urged to take legal action on climate
- Middle Eastern Christians face persecution
- Yeshiva U settles with LGBTQ+ student group
- Willow Creek pastor to step down
- Spring forever
This Harlem pastor fights mental health stigma — and shares his own struggles
NPR: Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr.’s experience prompted him to talk openly about suicide and mental health and to bring mental health care to his church.
Christians worldwide urged to take legal action on climate crisis
The Guardian: A World Council of Churches handbook outlines practical ways faith organisations can “speak truth to power” to help protect the planet.
The West has blinded itself to the suffering of Middle Eastern Christians*
The Telegraph: There is no shortage of protest for Palestinians, but only silence for other religious minorities facing great persecution, writes Israeli historian Benny Morris.
Yeshiva University recognizes LGBTQ+ student group in landmark settlement*
The Forward: The settlement with the YU Pride Alliance — now called ‘Hareni’ under the settlement — ends litigation that lasted nearly four years.
Willow Creek pastor Dave Dummitt to step down, Shawn Williams named successor
The Roys Report: David Dummitt, who became pastor of Willow Creek Church at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Sunday that he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch.
The Spark
Spring forever
Essayist Karen Anderson of Interlochen Public radio reflects on a short poem about spring by Vachel Lindsay that has comforted her for 50 years.
