News & Ideas

Wednesday's News & Ideas - 6/12/2024

  • SBC meeting importance
  • SBC abuse reform hurdles
  • Moltmann & liberation theology
  • Alito’s godliness comments
  • ‘Fall of Roe’ book
  • News coverage of protests

The Southern Baptists are meeting in Indianapolis. Here’s why it matters.
Religion News Service: More than 11,000 church members are expected to gather in Indianapolis for one of the largest, most influential church meetings of the year.

Why does Southern Baptist abuse reform keep hitting hurdles?*
Christianity Today: Leaders and advocates are grateful for the convention’s support but frustrated at the inability to enact their plans.

How Jürgen Moltmann’s ‘theology of hope’ inspired liberation theology*
America: After Moltmann’s death, one commenter said that it is “almost impossible to understand modern Protestant theology without reading [The Crucified God].”

Alito’s ‘godliness’ comment echoes a broader Christian movement*
The New York Times: Justice Samuel Alito’s secretly recorded remarks come as many conservatives have openly embraced the view that American democracy must be grounded in a Christian worldview.

‘The Fall of Roe’ is more than an account of history. It’s a warning about the future.
HuffPost: A new book recounts how a Christian group schemed to erase the right to abortion — and why its work is far from over.

The Spark

Here’s why the news didn’t tell you what protestors really wanted
Baked-in news practices cover only the worst moments of protests* and neglect telling people what protesters are asking for, Scientific American says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



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Lilly logo

Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative

The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith. 

In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.

The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.

Learn More and register for information sessions