News & Ideas

Tuesday's News & Ideas - 10/4/2022

  • Russian rabbi in exile
  • SBC president profile
  • Liturgy in borderlands
  • CofE faces questions on LGBTQ rights
  • Samford cuts ties with LGBTQ ministry
  • False choices in homelessness

My first Yom Kippur in exile*
The New York Times: The crisp Moscow autumn air; the illuminated synagogue which I called home for 30 years; my white hat and kittel, the robe Jews wear on the High Holy Days, folded up, in my apartment that now sits locked, says the former chief rabbi of Moscow.

Amid crises, rural roots anchor Southern Baptists’ president
Associated Press: A staunch theological conservative, Bart Barber touts biblical inerrancy, opposes women serving as pastors and supports abortion bans. In running for SBC president, he expressed a desire to be a peacemaker and a unifier.

A liturgy in the borderlands*
Christian Century: Alvaro Enciso plants crosses where migrants have died, to keep them from disappearing into oblivion.

C of E must welcome gay people or face questions in parliament, says MP
The Guardian: Labour’s Ben Bradshaw says church is ‘actively pursuing a campaign of discrimination’ against lesbian and gay people

Samford University cuts ties with LGBTQ-affirming ministries amid student outcry
Religion News Service: ‘When a student Googles ‘LGBTQ Samford,’ I just want the first thing to not be discrimination,’ said one current student.

The Spark

False choices and familiar stories in a California homeless encampment
How do you tell the story of the biggest crisis* on the West Coast when every typical journalistic avenue seems to have run its course? The New Yorker asks.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



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Most recent News & Ideas

Friday's News & Ideas - 9/22/2023

  • Gallup poll on spiritual & religious
  • Evangelical colleges’ enrollment up
  • When your boss has Bible study
  • Baptist leader steps down over fund use
  • Community of murdered Sikh activist
  • AI-assisted writing

Thursday's News & Ideas - 9/21/2023

  • SBC expels church where pastor did blackface
  • Falwell’s legal battle with Liberty
  • Theology of Sojourner Truth
  • Religious objections to DEI
  • Survey on Catholics & marriage
  • Bob Ross painting sold

Wednesday's News & Ideas - 9/20/2023

  • Suspended UMC bishop trial
  • Why don’t men sing in worship?
  • Hamline University lawsuit
  • Temple’s president dies after event
  • Legal battle over confessional
  • Kathmandu’s kung fu nuns
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Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants

The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants Program at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is designed to foster, strengthen and sustain well-grounded worship in congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Two streams of grants are offered: to teacher-scholars and to worshiping communities.

Grant proposal due date options include October 15, 2023, or February 15 or June 15, 2024.

Learn More