When the Rev. Ryan Cook addressed his congregation after the Holy Eucharist on January 5, he had just three more weeks to serve as rector of Church of the Ascension in Orlando, Florida, before he and his family would be forced to return to their home country of Canada. Cook’s abrupt departure from the parish was prompted by a federal backlog in permanent residency applications that has left foreign-born priests serving within U.S. churches in a precarious position.
Mission Possible: Working Toward a Church Multiplication Tipping Point
Twenty-five years ago, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book that would spend eight years on the New York Times Bestsellers list. That book, The Tipping Point, explores the moment when a concept or social trend gathers enough momentum to “tip” and spread rapidly through a population. Drawing on sociologist Everett Rogers’ Law of Diffusion of Innovation, Gladwell wrote that once something gains 16% acceptance within a community—due to the combined influence of pioneers and early adopters—it starts steering the majority and creates a culture shift.
Decline of Christianity slows in US but future among the young looks bleak: study
Despite a consistent decline in the share of adults in the United States who identified as Christians over the last 17 years, the trend appears to have slowed in the last five years of a long-term Pew Research study. The slowdown may not last, however, as other data from Pew's third Religious Landscape Study shows America's youngest adults are significantly more likely to be unaffiliated with religion than their older counterparts, suggesting potential future declines in the "American religious landscape."
7 lies Trump is telling about Ukraine
Confusing historical facts with propaganda should be easier to detect when almost everyone witnessing the events is still alive and knows the truth. January 6 has been given a historical revision. Now, Trump revises the history of the Russia-Ukraine War with a series of lies.
Bishop Mariann Budde receives mountain of supportive mail after post-inauguration sermon
Washington Bishop Mariann Budde has drawn intense national and international attention in the past month for her Jan. 21 sermon at Washington National Cathedral, in which she spoke directly to President Donald Trump in attendance and asked him to “have mercy.” This week, Budde thanked all the people who have responded favorably to that sermon, in a video message she recorded literally in front of some 20,000 positive responses – a mountain of letters piled high in postal crates on a desk.
Do We Have Friends at Church – Or Are We a Lonely Crowd?
I’ve lost count of the number of Christians who’ve told me they either stopped attending or left because they couldn’t make any friends at church. They report that the church people were friendly enough. They were hospitable and welcoming. As one person told me, “They’re nice to you, but no one becomes your friend.” And it hurts when all that friendliness leads only to friendlessness.
This Lent, why not talk to somebody?
We can’t change the world, and declare victory against chatbots, artificial intelligence and online battles of words. But maybe Christians can make a difference on our doorsteps, in our communities, and in our circles of family and friends. Perhaps taking the time to talk could form part of how we mark the season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5.
Leading a Church Without Losing Your Soul
Prior to ministry, you imagine that the inertia of pastoral life will drive you joyfully into deep communion with Jesus. But it doesn’t take long to realize how wrong that idealism is.
Sleeping with the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Viewed Their Scriptural Books
With the rise of modern technology, and the Bible’s ready availability on phones or tablets, the physical presence of a Bible book is becoming more and more rare. Yes, Christians still care about the content of the Bible (I hope), but seem less concerned with the physical presence of the Bible. But it was not so in the early church.
Texas leaders quiet amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades
Texas is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades, as cases have jumped from two to 124 in just one month. A child is dead, 18 more are hospitalized and the worst is likely still ahead, public health experts say, as Texas’ decreasing vaccination rates leave swaths of the state exposed to the most contagious virus humans currently face.
Related: Texas measles outbreak: Here’s why it’s not going away anytime soon, Measles resurgence is 'not business as usual,' doctor says, and As measles cases mount in the U.S., what's the situation worldwide?5 key questions about measles answered amid outbreak
Before there was a vaccine in 1963, measles infected millions and killed hundreds of people in the U.S. every year. Now, with the first measles death occurring in over a decade, doctors warn that declining vaccination rates are bringing the disease back, putting more people — especially children — at risk.
Even RFK’s More Benign-Sounding Rhetoric is Rooted in the Dangerous Ideology Set to Guide U.S. Health Policy
Kennedy defended himself throughout his confirmation hearings by repeatedly claiming that he’s not “anti-vaccine” but “pro-safety,” and confirmed that all of his own children are vaccinated. Given his long, public history of questioning the efficacy of vaccines—including in Samoa prior to a measles outbreak that led to 83 deaths, mostly children—the question isn’t whether Kennedy really is anti-vaccine or not. The question is: what does pro-safety mean and what does it leave the door open to?
Who are the Mennonites in a Texas community where measles is spreading?
While it’s not immediately clear which Mennonite community has been affected, the Gaines County area includes a community with a distinctive history.
