News
Bill Jones to End ‘Weekly Baptist Roundup’
Bill Jones will end his “Weekly Baptist Roundup” that he has been publishing since May 2011. Dec. 18 will be the final edition of the Roundup, which provides links to articles and other resources relevant to faith and contemporary trends and issues.
People of Good Faith: Bruce Salmon
Bruce Salmon served for 33 years as pastor of Village Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Listening Tops Gen Z List for Effective Evangelism
U.S. teens recently offered their views on the most effective approaches to sharing one’s faith. Rather than the apologetics common to earlier generations, they prefer listening, not lecturing.
Slight U.S. Majority Supports Death Penalty
A slim majority of U.S. adults support the death penalty, with support remaining largely unchanged in recent years. Current levels were the lowest since 1972, and well below the 80% who affirmed capital punishment in 1994.
Reaction and Response | Few Cite Faith/Spirituality/Religion As Giving Life Meaning
Few adults worldwide cite faith, religious or spirituality as a leading source of meaning, according to a new report. What were the most common responses? And what do faith leaders think about the findings?
U.S. Protestant Congregations See Finances Stabilizing
Many Protestant churches in the U.S. have seen their finances stabilize after a volatile 2020, a survey found. A majority report that giving was either the same as last year or had increased in 2021.
Government Restrictions on Religion at All-Time High in 2019
Government restrictions on religion were at an all-time high in 2019, according to a Pew Research Center report. Social hostility toward religion declined for the second year in a row.
U.S. Majority Says People, Not God, Responsible for World’s Suffering
Most U.S. adults blame people, not God or a higher power, for the world’s suffering, a report published by Pew Research Center found.
People of Good Faith: Paul Lewis
Paul Lewis is professor of religion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
Statues, Memorials Continue to Reveal U.S. Divides
Protests and counter protests over removing statues and memorials to Confederate leaders have largely died down. However, a recent poll found that polarization remains over some of the people to be honored and memorialized.
More Protestant Pastors Consider Leaving Full-Time Ministry
A growing number of U.S. Protestant clergy are considering leaving full-time ministry, a report found. More than a third seriously considered this possibility in the fall of 2021.
Three New Titles Now Available from Nurturing Faith Books
New titles from Doug Dortch, Bruce Salmon, and Maralene and Miles Wesner are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
UMC Female Clergy Underrepresented, Underpaid
Female clergy in the United Methodist Church are underrepresented and underpaid, according to a report. Even when accounting for mitigating factors, pay is substantially less in several regions.
Non-Christians Most, White Evangelicals Least Affirming of U.S. Religious Diversity
A recent survey asked U.S. adults to share their views on diversity in the nation. Two groups stood out for their divergent perspectives on this inquiry.
People of Good Faith: Imad Enchassi
Imad Enchassi is the founder, imam and president of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.
Muslim Americans More Generous Than Non-Muslims
Muslims in the U.S. are more generous than non-Muslims, a report found. They contribute a significant amount more to charitable causes, both faith-based and secular, than non-Muslim adults.
ISNA Urges Adoption of Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has signed on to a letter urging adoption of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. ISNA is asking Muslim leaders to increase renewable energy investments and to divest from fossil fuels.
Religious Liberty Under Attack in Myanmar (Burma)
Human rights, and specifically religious liberty, are increasingly under attack in Myanmar (Burma), following a military coup. A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom highlights some of the atrocities.
Attendance Lags as In-Person Church Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels
Church attendance remains below pre-pandemic rates, even as in-person gatherings have returned to January 2020 levels, a new report found.
U.S. Majority Says Opposing Racism ‘Essential’ to Faith Tradition
A majority of U.S. adults say opposing racism and racial discrimination is an essential part of their faith, a new report finds. However, more than 10% of Black adults report facing some form of discrimination in religious settings.
Climate Reports Paint Bleak Picture of Global Temperature Increase
Two climate reports published in late October suggest it is unlikely global warming won’t move beyond the 1.5°C pre-industrial level target. This is largely the result of commitments from nations not matching their actions.
Global Child Labor Increased in 2020
Child labor increased in 2020, rising to 160 million worldwide. The U.S. Department of Labor report cited the pandemic as a factor, while noting that “the story begins much earlier.”
White Evangelical Protestants Outliers in Church-State Views
White evangelical Protestants are more likely than the general public to express a desire for less separation between church and state, a new report found. This was true across all six hypothetical church-state actions presented in the survey.
People of Good Faith: Colin Harris
Colin Harris is professor emeritus of religious studies at Mercer University, having retired from full-time teaching in 2013.
Faith Leaders Urge G20 Leaders to Prioritize Creation, People Over Profits
Faith leaders from five Christian organizations representing over 500 million Christians sent a joint letter to G20 leaders ahead of their Oct. 30-31 meeting. They urged a reset of the world’s economic system to adopt a more holistic approach.
Annual Fashion Report Urges Ethical Shopping
Baptist World Aid Australia issued its annual ethical fashion report in mid-October. Despite improvements in recent years, overall grades for fashion brands remain low.
U.S. Adults Divided on Strength of Religious Conflict in the Nation
U.S. adults are evenly divided on the degree of conflicts in the nation based on religious differences, according to a new report. Where does the U.S. rank with the other nations on the perceived conflict?
Pope: Limitless Freedom is Selfish, Empty
Limitless freedom is selfishness and leads to emptiness, Pope Francis asserted in a recent general audience message. The proper exercise of individual freedom considers the impact of our actions on those around us.
Self-Care Vital for Effective Ministry
Congregants and clergy alike have struggled during the pandemic, with mental health being a key challenge. Three North Carolina clergy share their experience and insight on balancing congregational and self-care.
People of Good Faith: Don Gordon
Don Gordon is an ordained Baptist minister who is the founder and CEO of Christians Caring for Creation. He is a member of the Good Faith Media strategic advisory board.