News
Pope Francis Urges Christians to ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’
“Listen to the voice of creation,” Pope Francis urges in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. His entreaty provides both a theme and an invitation for the Catholic Season of Creation.
Latest Nurturing Faith Book Searches for ‘Common-Sense’ Gospel
Offering an exploration of the Gospels in search of a “common-sense gospel,” ‘If Jesus Were Here Today’ by Maralene and Miles Wesner is the latest book from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
Autumn Lockett Departing Good Faith Media for OU Medical School Position
Autumn Lockett is departing her role at Good Faith Media for a position at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine. She has served as GFM’s executive director of development and marketing since June 2020.
Full Gender Parity Worldwide 132 Years Away
It will take 132 years to achieve full gender parity worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report published July 13. The index, launched in 2006, measures progress towards gender parity.
New Nurturing Faith Books Focus on Pain and Suffering, Faith and Family
New books on pain and suffering, and on faith and family, are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, Good Faith Media’s publishing imprint. Check out these and more than 100 additional titles in GFM’s online bookstore.
People of Good Faith: Barry Howard
Barry Howard is pastor at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches.
Food Insecurity Increased by 46m in 2021
The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to an estimated 828 million in 2021, according to a new report. This number reflects an increase of 46 million people affected by hunger since 2020.
U.S. Pastors Who Considered Quitting Less Likely to Prioritize Self-Care
Most pastors of Protestant churches in the U.S. have an overall sense of satisfaction and contentment in their role, Barna Group found. However, self-care and spiritual formation is often neglected.
White Evangelicals Are Outliers Among U.S. Faith Groups on ‘Roe’ Reversal
White evangelical Protestants in the U.S. are the only faith group with a majority approving the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in ‘Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health,’ according to a Pew Research Center report published July 6.
Fewer U.S. Adults View Bible as ‘Actual Word of God’
The number of U.S. adults who say the Bible is the “actual word of God, to be taken literally” reached an all-time low in 2022, according to a Gallup report. The number who say the Bible is an ancient book of fables reached an all-time high.
U.S. Confidence in Church, Organized Religion Declines
Less than one third of U.S. adults expressed confidence in church or organized religion, according to a Gallup report. While not the lowest level in polling history, it is a six-point drop from 2021.
Pandemic Significantly Increased Learning Poverty
Learning poverty has increased by one-third in low- and middle-income countries, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a World Bank report. In addition, new data reveals that learning poverty was underestimated prior to the pandemic.
Nearly One in Five Say Lack of DEI a Common Problem in Houses of Worship
Nearly one in five adults in both the United States and Canada say that a lack of diversity, equity and inclusion is a “common problem” in houses of faith, according to a new report.
U.S. Catholics Not Significantly Influenced by Church Leaders on Social, Political Issues
The political views and position on social issues for most U.S. Catholics are not significantly influenced by church leadership or official doctrine, a report found.
Faith Groups React to SCOTUS Ruling on ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
The Migrant Protection Protocols can be terminated, according to a June 30 ruling from the Supreme Court of the U.S. in ‘Biden v. Texas.’ Several faith leaders and organizations offered statements following the decision.
Many U.S. Protestant Churches to Include Patriotic Elements in Worship July 4 Weekend
Many Protestant pastors in the U.S. will incorporate patriotic elements in their church’s worship services during the July 4 weekend, according to a LifeWay research Report published June 28.
Strong U.S. Majority Says Abortion Should Be Legal
A strong majority of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal in all / some circumstances, according to a recent public opinion survey. Of this group, most feel abortion should be legal in certain circumstances.
Faith Responses to SCOTUS ‘Kennedy’ Decision
The Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled on June 27 that a football coach at a public school can pray at midfield following a football game. Faith leaders offered their reaction and response on Twitter and in formal statements.
Faith Leaders, Organizations Respond to SCOTUS ‘Dobbs’ Ruling
Many faith leaders in the U.S. issued tweets and formal statements following the Supreme Court declaring that there is not a constitutional right to abortion in its June 24 ruling.
Strong U.S. Majority Affirms ‘Establishment Clause,’ Divided on Its Application
Most U.S. adults affirm the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, according to a YouGov report published in mid-June. However, the nation is divided on when, and how, it should be applied.
Annual Report Highlights Challenges, Opportunities for Baptist Women in Ministry
Baptist Women in Ministry released its 2021 Report on the State of Women in Baptist Life on June 21. It highlights both challenges and opportunities, providing suggestions for congregations to better support women in ministry.
SCOTUS Rules Against Maine’s Restriction of Public Education Funding to Non-Sectarian Schools
The Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3 decision on June 21 that the State of Maine cannot restrict its public funds to non-sectarian schools. Here is what the justices said as well as reaction from several organizations and individuals.
Belief in God Among U.S. Adults at All-Time Low
The number of U.S. adults who say they believe in God reached an all-time low 2022, according to a Gallup report. Still, more than eight-in-10 affirm that they belief in a higher power.
Deaths from Alcohol, Drugs and Suicide Spiked in 2020
The combined number of U.S. deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicided jumped 20% from 2019 to 2020, according to a report published in late May by the Trust for America’s Health.
People of Good Faith: Kira Dewey
Kira M. Dewey is a sophomore at Palm Beach Atlantic University, studying English and Creative Writing. She is a summer 2022 Ernest C. Hynds Jr. Intern at Good Faith Media.
Republican Majority Thinks Whites Are Being ‘Replaced,’ Says Discrimination Against Whites a ‘Big Problem’
A Republican majority in the U.S. agree that “white people … are being replaced by non-white people” and that “discrimination against white people has become as big a problem as discrimination against Black people,” a recent survey found.
Children’s Ministry An ‘Unmistakable Priority’ in U.S. Protestant Churches
Though most congregants see children’s ministry as an “unmistakable priority” within the church, a recent survey revealed that children’s ministry leaders often feel that their ministry is forgotten.
U.S. Majority ‘Pro-Choice,’ Does Not Want ‘Roe v. Wade’ Overturned
A majority of U.S. adults (58%) do not want to see the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision overturned, while a similar majority (55%) identify as “pro-choice,” according to two Gallup reports published June 2.
U.S. Correctional Population at Lowest Levels Since 1996
There were 5,500,600 adults in the U.S. correctional system at the end of 2020, according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report published in late March. This is the lowest level since 1996.
People of Good Faith: Libby Carroll
Libby Carroll studies professional writing, liberal arts, art history and philosophy at Baylor University. She is a summer 2022 Ernest C. Hynds Jr. Intern at Good Faith Media.