Bob Smietana, Author at Religion News Service https://religionnews.com Driving essential conversation about how religion and beliefs shape us and our world. Wed, 04 Sep 2024 22:00:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://religionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Favicon-100x100.png Bob Smietana, Author at Religion News Service https://religionnews.com 32 32 The Meeting House, once one of Canada’s largest churches, shuts down after scandal https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/the-meeting-house-once-one-of-canadas-largest-churches-shuts-down-after-scandal/ https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/the-meeting-house-once-one-of-canadas-largest-churches-shuts-down-after-scandal/#respond Wed, 04 Sep 2024 20:42:27 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4164847 (RNS) — Nine of the megachurch's satellite sites have relaunched as a network of churches with shared preaching and support services — while The Meeting House will continue to collect donations to support those congregations. The rebranding came after The Meeting House lost its liability insurance due to an abuse scandal involving former pastor Bruxy Cavey.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/the-meeting-house-once-one-of-canadas-largest-churches-shuts-down-after-scandal/feed/ 0 Want to write a hit worship song? Invite a few friends to church. https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/want-to-write-a-hit-worship-song-invite-a-few-friends-over/ https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/want-to-write-a-hit-worship-song-invite-a-few-friends-over/#respond Wed, 04 Sep 2024 20:26:47 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4164769 (RNS) — When the CCLI Top 100 chart first appeared in 1988, most of the songs had one writer. Today, the average hit worship song has at least two writers — who often have ties to the so-called Big Four megachurches that dominated modern worship songs.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/09/04/want-to-write-a-hit-worship-song-invite-a-few-friends-over/feed/ 0 Some nonprofit newspapers endorse candidates. So why can’t churches, new lawsuit asks. https://religionnews.com/2024/08/30/some-nonprofit-newspapers-endorse-candidates-so-why-cant-churches-new-lawsuit-asks-nrb-johnson-amendment/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/30/some-nonprofit-newspapers-endorse-candidates-so-why-cant-churches-new-lawsuit-asks-nrb-johnson-amendment/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:14:26 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4164344 (RNS) — The federal lawsuit, filed by the National Religious Broadcasters, is the latest challenge to the so-called Johnson Amendment, which bars charitable nonprofits from taking sides in campaigns.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/30/some-nonprofit-newspapers-endorse-candidates-so-why-cant-churches-new-lawsuit-asks-nrb-johnson-amendment/feed/ 0 Want a better life? Spend more time thinking about sin, says Elizabeth Oldfield. https://religionnews.com/2024/08/27/want-to-a-better-life-spend-a-little-more-thinking-about-sin-says-author-elizabeth-olfield/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/27/want-to-a-better-life-spend-a-little-more-thinking-about-sin-says-author-elizabeth-olfield/#respond Tue, 27 Aug 2024 22:26:17 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4163861 (RNS) — In her book ‘Fully Alive,’ the podcaster and author argues that admitting we aren’t as great as we think we are opens the door to a better life.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/27/want-to-a-better-life-spend-a-little-more-thinking-about-sin-says-author-elizabeth-olfield/feed/ 0 How much does forgiveness cost? $7 million for one Christian college. https://religionnews.com/2024/08/23/how-much-does-forgiveness-cost-7-million-for-one-christian-college/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/23/how-much-does-forgiveness-cost-7-million-for-one-christian-college/#respond Fri, 23 Aug 2024 18:39:37 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4163367 (RNS) — A dispute over how to count employees may cost Gordon College, a Christian school in Boston, millions after its request to have a COVID-era loan forgiven was turned down.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/23/how-much-does-forgiveness-cost-7-million-for-one-christian-college/feed/ 0 Parallel to DNC, a Chicago interfaith vigil mourns the loss of life in Gaza https://religionnews.com/2024/08/21/parallel-to-dnc-a-chicago-interfaith-vigil-mourns-the-loss-of-life-in-gaza/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/21/parallel-to-dnc-a-chicago-interfaith-vigil-mourns-the-loss-of-life-in-gaza/#respond Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:19:30 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4162974 (RNS) — Activists who have been protesting at the Democratic National Convention over the war in Gaza took time out to mourn and draw strength from their varying faiths.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/21/parallel-to-dnc-a-chicago-interfaith-vigil-mourns-the-loss-of-life-in-gaza/feed/ 0 Why Catholic bishops rocked out to megachurch worship hits https://religionnews.com/2024/08/15/why-catholic-bishops-rocked-out-to-a-megachurch-worship/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/15/why-catholic-bishops-rocked-out-to-a-megachurch-worship/#respond Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:40:07 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4162296 (RNS) — The rise in popularity of music from churches like Elevation, Hillsong and Bethel has helped launch a new kind of ecumenical movement.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/15/why-catholic-bishops-rocked-out-to-a-megachurch-worship/feed/ 0 Would Jesus park in a bike lane? For Philadelphia churches, it’s a real question https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/would-jesus-park-in-a-bike-lane-for-philadelphia-churches-its-a-real-question/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/would-jesus-park-in-a-bike-lane-for-philadelphia-churches-its-a-real-question/#respond Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:50:40 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4161976 (RNS) — A dispute over weekend parking in bike lanes has left a group of inner-city congregations in Philadelphia dealing with a tricky urban dilemma.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/would-jesus-park-in-a-bike-lane-for-philadelphia-churches-its-a-real-question/feed/ 0 Appeals court rules against Dave Ramsey’s company in COVID-era religious discrimination case https://religionnews.com/2024/08/09/appeals-court-rules-against-dave-ramseys-company-in-covid-era-religious-discrimination-case/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/09/appeals-court-rules-against-dave-ramseys-company-in-covid-era-religious-discrimination-case/#respond Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:15:57 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4161390 (RNS) — Brad Amos, a former video editor at Ramsey Solutions, claimed he was fired for failing to follow Ramsey's faith-based beliefs on how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/09/appeals-court-rules-against-dave-ramseys-company-in-covid-era-religious-discrimination-case/feed/ 0 At Americans United for Separation of Church and State, complaints of a troubled culture https://religionnews.com/2024/08/05/at-americans-united-for-separation-of-church-and-state-donations-and-conflict-are-on-the-rise/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/05/at-americans-united-for-separation-of-church-and-state-donations-and-conflict-are-on-the-rise/#respond Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:46:34 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4160179 (RNS) — Under its president, Rachel Laser, Americans United has seen rising revenues and visibility — including a new campaign aimed at countering the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. But a staff union and former board members say that success masks internal conflict and a troubled work culture.

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