At least 12 pastors, seminarians and former clergy have run for federal office as Democrats this year, and five have already become the Democratic nominees. @jackjenkins.me tallies up the campaigns and how Republicans are attacking with calling them "PINOS." religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Abdul El-Sayed's candidacy in Michigan is a window into the emerging, religiously-informed conversation on the left for economic populist ideas. @krystafauria.bsky.social explored where faith is overlapping with support for DSA-aligned policies and candidates: apnews.com/article/prog...

As progressives seek to take on inequality, some cite religion as a motivating factor

Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says his Muslim faith shapes his progressive views.

apnews.com

Amid rapid secularization in Germany and declining church membership, more Protestant and Catholic churches are sharing spaces. But sometimes there are legal hurdles to those partnerships. @strackchristoph.bsky.social chronicles one church at the center of these trends: www.dw.com/de/zwei-kirc...

Erst katholisch, dann evangelisch: Neue Wege der Ökumene

Erst die katholische Messe, direkt danach der evangelische Gottesdienst: Immer mehr Kirchen in Deutschland teilen sich Altar und Orgel. Wie gelingt die praktische Ökumene und wo liegen die Chancen die...

dw.com

With growing tensions among some traditionalist Catholics following the excommunication of SSPX adherents, there's a desire for Pope Leo XIV to loosen restrictions on traditional Latin Mass to cool the temperature. @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social on why that's unlikely: religionnews.com/2026/07/31/a...

After SSPX schism, some Catholics urge greater access to the older Latin Mass

(RNS) — Many of the 2% of U.S. Catholics who attend the traditional Latin Mass weekly surmount considerable obstacles, like long drives and disapproval from the Catholic hierarchy, to attend.

religionnews.com

With the AfD on the brink of a historic election performance in Sachsen-Anhalt, the state's current premier, Sven Schulze (CDU), has taken to the campaign trail on bike. "You can see it in his calves," a member of his security detail said. www.zeit.de/2026/33/sven...

Sven Schulze: Kann dieser Normalo den Selfiekönig der AfD besiegen?

Sven Schulze, CDU-Ministerpräsident in Sachsen-Anhalt, macht eine Radtour durch sein Bundesland. Das Ziel: verhindern, dass die AfD die Macht übernimmt.

zeit.de

When the House voted on a resolution to strip military aid for Israel, most Jewish lawmakers in the House didn't support it. Rep. Jamie Raskin told @jackjenkins.me why he did in a story that more broadly explores this division among Jewish lawmakers: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/w...

The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances

(RNS) — 'I think it's a sign of health, as well as inevitable, that the Jewish members of Congress would approach this vote from different perspectives,' Rep. Jamie Raskin said.

religionnews.com

Mysterious German woods’ churches on an early Sunday morning bike ride.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett's pastor, Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, who at one point led the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is running for Crockett's seat after her primary loss. In an interview w/ @adellembanks.bsky.social, he cites Warnock as a model for his candidacy: religionnews.com/2026/07/28/b...

‘Blessed’: Frederick Haynes, pastor and candidate, on his politics, faith and health

WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘The church has been so supportive that, I mean, they've been more excited about my campaign than I have,’ Haynes said of his historically Black Dallas megachurch.

religionnews.com

Nashville nonprofit leaders worry the area's Black population will continue to plummet as a Civil Rights-era nonprofit is expanding services to neighboring counties. More in Molly Davis' sweeping story on how gentrification is reshaping Music City: eu.tennessean.com/story/money/...

Priced out, pushed out: Displacement in Nashville disrupts communities

Nashville's growth has brought jobs and attention, but it's also accelerating displacement. Black and working class residents are bearing that burden.

eu.tennessean.com

The AfD has outlined an ambitious 100-day plan if it wins in Sachsen-Anhalt on the September 6 election, including creating a "remigration task force" and programs to incentivize the nuclear family. @zeit.de's overview of the plan: www.zeit.de/politik/deut...

Landtagswahl Sachsen-Anhalt: Wie radikal die AfD Sachsen-Anhalt umbauen will

Hinter dem kürzlich vorgestellten 100-Tage-Programm der AfD Sachsen-Anhalt steht das weit umfassendere Wahlprogramm. Es zeigt, wohin die AfD im Land will. Ein Überblick

zeit.de

Shaw University, a historically Black theological institution, is the first in the U.S. to offer a doctor of education on AI and Moral Agency. @yonat.bsky.social looks at how it fits into the larger conversation on AI within ministry training spaces: religionnews.com/2026/07/27/t...

This historic divinity school is offering the first doctoral degree in ‘AI and Moral Agency’

(RNS) — Shaw University Divinity School hopes to be the first theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools to offer a doctoral degree in AI. Its first cohort begins in Janua...

religionnews.com

Rev. Juan Carlos Ruiz, who was among faith leaders to give a speech at NY Mayor Zohran Mamdani's interfaith breakfast, leads a congregation that sees advocacy for immigrants as inseparable from the Gospel. @fiona-ndre.bsky.social gives an inside look at the church: religionnews.com/2026/07/21/g...

Inside a Brooklyn church where immigration activism is the gospel

(RNS) — From encrypted apps to legal clinics: How an immigrant-majority church is responding to protect its congregation.

religionnews.com

Following the deadly attack at Berlin Pride, Protestant pastors and the co-founder of a mosque preached before Chancellor Merz and other government officials during an ecumenical service at St. Mary's Church at Alexanderplatz on Sunday. From @zeit.de: www.zeit.de/gesellschaft...

Anschlag in Berlin: Ein Gefühl wollen sie nicht zulassen: Angst

In Berlin kommen Tausende Menschen am Tag nach dem Anschlag zum Trauern zusammen. Sie weinen, sie sind wütend. Sie versuchen, das Unbegreifliche zu begreifen.

zeit.de

Moving to Berlin, told in the four stages of a bike’s trip across the Atlantic… 1) Drive it up to NYC (not part of the original plan) (neither was the truck). 2) Lug it, and other luggage, through JFK 3) Pick up in Berlin 4) Reassemble

Andy Burnham is the UK’s first Catholic-born prime minister, meaning some jobs related to Church of England appointments may have to be delegated to another government minister who is part of the church. Catherine Pepinster on the significance of Burnham’s faith: religionnews.com/2026/07/20/h...

How Andy Burnham's religious roots shaped Britain's first Catholic-born prime minister

(RNS) — Back in 2009, Burnham recalled that important influences on him were, in order: the Everton FC soccer team, the Labour Party and the Catholic Church.

religionnews.com

Some personal news: today is my last day at The Tennessean. Being its religion reporter for five years has been a dream job and it’s hard to leave it. More importantly, I’m sad to be parting with such amazing colleagues at the paper.

Sean Feucht opens his free concert at the Ryman Auditorium here in Nashville. The opening video reminded an audience of hundreds about Feucht’s major appearance in Nashville during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Christian tech company Gloo is hoping a stock sale today will bring a much-needed $20 million, which saw its stock drop to under $4. @bmietana.bsky.social looks at the services Gloo provides to churches and why it might be struggling to master a market. religionnews.com/2026/07/09/f...

Faith-based AI company Gloo faces moment of truth after $438M in losses

(RNS) — Serial entrepreneur Scott Beck believes he has a mission to help churches and Christian ministries spread God's work and help others. After years of financial losses, he believes his investmen...

religionnews.com

When I went out of my way to attend the top data journalism conference in March, I had a revelation about accessing records and internal info about religious organizations. But not in the way I expected. My reflections for the @ire.org journal: www.ire.org/2026/07/06/i...

Investigating religious groups? These records might help

By Liam Adams, The Tennessean I went out of my way to attend NICAR 2026 for the first time, hoping to unlock a bunch oftrade secrets for accessing records on my beat. As a religion reporter who often ...

ire.org

Pope Leo XIV has stressed the need for church unity, reaching out to the conservative and traditionalist wing of the church. But his excommunication of SSPX bishops and priests on Thursday is a turning point, Nicole Winfield reports for @apnews.com: apnews.com/article/vati...

Vatican cracks down on a traditionalist group by excommunicating its bishops

The Vatican has responded aggressively to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent.

apnews.com

The embattled leader of a small, Nashville-based denomination, called the House of God Church - Keith Dominion, was reconfirmed last week. Delegates protested his continuation as chief overseer amid controversy about property sales and an AG's letter. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

House of God Church members protest bishop’s reconfirmation

House of God Church - Keith Dominion is in the middle of a controversy over Florida property disputes.

tennessean.com

Asbury Seminary, which historically has graduated many of the traditionalist Methodist ministers (many of whom have now gone Global Methodist), is now no longer an approved UMC seminary. Adelle Banks breaks down last week's announcement: religionnews.com/2026/06/25/a...

Asbury Theological Seminary cut by United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage issue

(RNS) — The decision was attributed to Asbury’s objections to the new version of the denomination’s social principles that no longer solely affirm heterosexual marriage.

religionnews.com

GOP governor candidates for TN gave their stump speeches at a dinner on Saturday, with Blackburn promoting conservative Christian-aligned ideals. Meanwhile, Monty Fritts wants public schools to teach the Bible and creationism, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

TN GOP governor candidates share plans, take swings at annual fundraiser

At annual fundraiser, Blackburn shared a vision for TN that includes existing state laws. Rose needled her "faltering" Jan. 6 vote on 2020 election.

tennessean.com

ICYMI: Last week, I traveled up to Louisville to cover the PCA General Assembly's discussion on Christian nationalism. There, the conservative evangelical denomination rejected ideas that a self-avowed Christian nationalists promoted in Presbyterian ranks. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Why this conservative evangelical group rejected Christian nationalism

An influential evangelical Christian denomination is resisting the idea that government should "promote true religion."

tennessean.com

I have been sitting on this interview since December 2024 and I when this story came up in our editorial meeting I was like “oh do I have the quotes for YOU.”

Liam Adams@liamsadams.bsky.social · last mo.

Wherein @jackjenkins.me reminds us of TN Rep. Tim Burchett’s quote from 2024 about a passage in Ezekiel: “He described basically what I would say (is) a traditional flying saucer.”

Wherein @jackjenkins.me reminds us of TN Rep. Tim Burchett’s quote from 2024 about a passage in Ezekiel: “He described basically what I would say (is) a traditional flying saucer.”

Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · last mo.

Took a break from reporting on some other stuff to dig deep into a topic I know you're all curious about: religion and aliens. No, really. Come for the "Disclosure Day" discourse, stay for the shockingly specific cosmology of a Seventh-day Adventist co-founder. religionnews.com/2026/06/26/r...

The PCA is ripe territory for a debate about Christian nationalism because of American Presbyterians’ history. In a follow-up report, I look at why the denomination feels it’s important to study and denounce Christian nationalism: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r... #PCAGA

Why this conservative evangelical group rejected Christian nationalism

An influential evangelical Christian denomination is resisting the idea that government should "promote true religion."

tennessean.com

Here for a second day of the PCA General Assembly, where I’m most interested in a debate about a proposal to affirm the Danvers Statement. Some are skeptical the overture would pass, and no less in the backyard of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. #PCAGA

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) advanced a report that marks the strongest rebuttal to Christian nationalism for a major evangelical body. My story on the significance of yesterday’s PCA General Assembly decision: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r... #PCAGA

Presbyterians advance report denouncing Christian nationalism, racism

The study committee chair said the report denounces "wickedness of racism and kinism, antisemitism and all forms of racial prejudice.”

tennessean.com

I’m here at the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) General Assembly, where today the influential evangelical denomination is taking up a report on Christian nationalism. But I’m also here because I love Presbyterian polity. If you’re here, let’s catch up! #PCAGA