For decades, women have outnumbered men in church attendance and have often led the way in spiritual participation. But a significant shift is occurring in American Christianity that demands attention: Women—particularly younger women—are attending church less frequently than men. This reversal isn’t just a numerical milestone; it signals a broader cultural and spiritual turning point.
MAGA salivates at the chance to cut off food stamps
The Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most successful anti-hunger programs in American history. By providing food purchasing benefits to low-income households, SNAP helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries. Now, with the Trump White House exploiting the month-long government shutdown to allow SNAP benefits to lapse on Saturday, the right-wing media is working overtime to argue that, in this time of financial peril, the food stamp program should be harder to access.
SNAP update: 1.7M people to be banned from benefits under GOP proposal
Republican Representative Randy Fine has announced he plans to introduce legislation to stop non-citizens from collecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other forms of welfare.
Half of states sue Trump to keep food stamp funding going
Half of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia are suing to force the Trump administration to continue food stamp funding currently scheduled to end Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
Faith leaders join Democrats to decry health care cuts, expiring SNAP benefits
‘We will not retreat, and we will use every nonviolent tool at our disposal, to call this nation, this Congress, to stop all of this partisan fighting and get down to the business of the people,’ said the Rev. William Barber II.
More Than Treats: A Pastoral Letter on the Ending of SNAP Benefits
In Matthew 14 we find the disciples going to Jesus with the need to feed a hungry multitude in the midst of their own hunger. Their proposition was to send the crowd away to find food for themselves to which he responds, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16, NRSVUE) and from the little food that they could find, the multitude was fed.
Beloved, this is our call to action at this time. Give them something to eat. I know that resources may feel inadequate and the need is great. And, we have our own needs. But I am wondering if this shutdown cannot be another Matthew 15 moment where the few who had little were able to feed the multitude.
Food Ministries Sound Alarm on Rising Needs
Even before the federal government shutdown, United Methodist ministries across the U.S. faced growing demands and reduced federal support.
With the suspension of federal food assistance as of Nov. 1, church pantries plan to step up.
Episcopal churches, food pantries prepare to aid 42 million Americans on food assistance
Food ministries across The Episcopal Church have been offering aid to federal workers furloughed or working without pay since the Oct. 1 start of the government shutdown, and they are also gearing up to help even more people if food assistance benefits for an estimated 42 million Americans run out on Nov. 1.
Churches Brace for SNAP’s Pause
“There is no way for food pantries of any size to take care of all of the need that will come about. We have to advocate for sensible aid to families who are hungry.”
Episcopal Church omits membership total in annual report; baptisms fell considerably in the past decade
The Episcopal Church continued to see declines in baptisms and the number of parishes in 2024, but did not release an overall membership tally when unveiling its annual figures this month.
Episcopal Church reports no baptized membership data for 2024, citing parochial report ‘confusion’
The Episcopal Church has many members. In most years, it can provide a specific count of its baptized members – 1.5 million in 2023 — based on data compiled from its congregations’ parochial reports.
Not for 2024.
On being ‘just Christian’
In its effort to avoid enforcing unity through a single dogmatic standard in the ecclesiastical manner of the Catholics, megachurch ecclesiology unites by abolishing standards. Instead of trying to answer deeper questions about theology, it is a big-tent approach to theology that tries to push the boundaries of Christianity outward to fit everybody.
Practically speaking, though, this approach has served to push Protestants away from their stuffy liturgical traditions and hymnals. It has become a means of turning houses of worship into Baptist-lite churches with contemporary worship music as a means of avoiding distinctives. These congregations end up enforcing an unstated creedal standard in place of formal ones.
Night of Darkness: Halloween’s Forgotten Struggle with Evil
Halloween used to be different. Very different. Before Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger, before trick-or-treating and crowded costume parties, it was All Hallows’ Eve.
What Was the Protestant Reformation?
To understand the Reformation and its lasting influence, we have to imagine a very different world from our own. For one thing, the choices we enjoy in the twenty-first-century West were nonexistent. Life was controlled by financial constraints, geography, ignorance, and family ties. And then there was the church. The freedom to choose one’s own church was unheard of because before the mid 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church was the dominant religious force. In fact, in many parts of the world, it was essentially illegal to be anything but Roman Catholic or to read anything that didn’t agree with Roman Catholic teaching. Rome insisted that it alone could interpret and explain the Bible.
We Need Luther’s High View of Scripture
On All Saints’ Eve 1517, Martin Luther changed the shape of Europe and the world forever. However it was done—and I don’t think Luther was beyond the theatrical flourish of nailing his famous Ninety-five Theses to the church door himself—when Luther’s arguments against indulgences were released on the world, the Protestant Reformation began.
The Narrow Path for the Long Haul
What does it mean to truly have faith? In the Christian walk, faith is more than a word tossed around in church. Faith means believing in God’s promises, even when feelings, circumstances or voices in the world try to shake us. Hebrews 11:1 says it best: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This isn’t just a statement or a Sunday morning slogan. It’s the backbone of a believer’s walk with God, shaping how we think, act and love.
Rick Warren challenges Christians to love like the early church ahead of 2033 milestone
The global Church needs to look more like the early church if it wants to fulfil the Great Commission by 2033, says Rick Warren.
With just eight years to go until the 2,000th anniversary of the Church, he said there were a number of things Christians must do if the ambitious goal is to be met. These include modelling the early Church in love and prayer.
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