Bob Smietana
Bob Smietana is a national reporter for RNS based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of “Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.” Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, senior editor of Christianity Today, religion writer at The Tennessean, correspondent for RNS and contributor to OnFaith, USA Today and The Washington Post. He is best known for his coverage of Islam and Islamophobia, including his comprehensive reporting on the Murfreesboro mosque conflict, and of evangelical Christianity, including the emotional journey of Pearl Joy Brown’s family as well as the Willow Creek Community Church scandal.
All Stories by Bob Smietana
The Meeting House, once one of Canada’s largest churches, shuts down after scandal
By Bob Smietana — September 4, 2024
(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.
Want to write a hit worship song? Invite a few friends to church.
By Bob Smietana — September 4, 2024
(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.
Some nonprofit newspapers endorse candidates. So why can’t churches, new lawsuit asks.
By Bob Smietana — August 30, 2024
(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.
Want a better life? Spend more time thinking about sin, says Elizabeth Oldfield.
By Bob Smietana — August 27, 2024
(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.
How much does forgiveness cost? $7 million for one Christian college.
By Bob Smietana — August 23, 2024
(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.
Parallel to DNC, a Chicago interfaith vigil mourns the loss of life in Gaza
By Bob Smietana and Reina Coulibaly — August 21, 2024
(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.
Why Catholic bishops rocked out to megachurch worship hits
By Bob Smietana — August 15, 2024
(RNS) — The rise in popularity of music from churches like Elevation, Hillsong and Bethel has helped launch a new kind of ecumenical movement.
Would Jesus park in a bike lane? For Philadelphia churches, it’s a real question
By Bob Smietana — August 13, 2024
(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.
Appeals court rules against Dave Ramsey’s company in COVID-era religious discrimination case
By Bob Smietana — August 9, 2024
(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.
At Americans United for Separation of Church and State, complaints of a troubled culture
By Bob Smietana — August 5, 2024
(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.
What is the ERLC and why do Southern Baptists keep getting mad at its leader?
By Bob Smietana — July 26, 2024
(RNS) — Turmoil at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has increased calls to disband the denomination's public policy arm, but some SBC pastors say it can and should be saved.
ERLC reverses course, now says Brent Leatherwood was not fired
By Bob Smietana — July 23, 2024
(RNS) — The kerfuffle over Leatherwood’s status, which played out in competing press releases from ERLC leaders, is the latest controversy for the SBC’s public policy arm.
Brent Leatherwood, ERLC president, fired a day after praising Biden
By Bob Smietana — July 22, 2024
(RNS) — Leatherwood had been criticized for other recent positions on topics of key interest to Southern Baptists, such as not supporting legislation that would have jailed women who chose abortions.
In small-town Illinois, a little church says goodbye
By Bob Smietana — July 22, 2024
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (RNS) — Ryan Burge, pastor and sociologist, has documented church decline for years. This Sunday, after 150 years, his own church held its final service.
How a perfect storm sent church insurance rates skyrocketing
By Bob Smietana — July 10, 2024
(RNS) — The same factors that have caused a crisis in the homeowner's insurance market are also affecting churches, who have to choose between paying for insurance or running programs.
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