By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion

About five years ago, I traveled to rural Iowa to report on a 156-year-old church surrounded by corn and soybean fields and a cemetery where generations of deceased members rest in peace.

The news angle was that the tiny congregation was working hard to survive despite immense challenges facing it and similar houses of worship.

As part of the same “Rural Redemption” project, I spent a Sunday with a 200-year-old assembly in the farming and coal-mining country of southeastern Ohio.

I thought those churches had long histories!

But Washington Post religion writer Julie Zauzmer recently wrote about an Episcopal congregation in rural Virginia that is marking 400 years — 400 years! — in 2018.

The Post’s headline pretty much nails it:

This 400-year-old church is older than almost any institution in America

This won’t be a long post because my basic message is simple: This is an interesting, well-reported story, and I’d urge you to read it.

What did I like about it? I’ll quickly mention three things.

Read the full column.

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All of my GetReligion columns (May 2018):

Continue reading “The very definition of old news, and what a joy to read: A feature on a 400-year-old church”

By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion

Several years ago, I was flying home from a reporting trip when the pilot came on the loudspeaker and reported trouble with the controls that direct the plane.

He said we needed to make an emergency landing, and rescue vehicles would be waiting as a precaution. But he stressed that the flashing lights on the ground shouldn’t alarm anyone because he didn’t expect any problem landing the plane.

That statement would have provided more comfort if I hadn’t kept asking myself: If the plane were going to crash, would he be so candid as to say so?

“Attention, passengers, I fully expect that we are all about to die. Please buckle your seat belts and get your affairs in order.”

For an anxious flyer such as myself, that experience was scary enough.

But I can’t even imagine what the passengers of Southwest Flight 1380 endured this week. As you no doubt heard, one passenger was killed and seven others wounded Tuesday after an engine exploded.

However, as I noted Wednesday, devout Christian pilot Tammie Jo Shults is being praised for her “nerves of steel” in calmly maneuvering the plane to the ground and avoiding a much worse catastrophe.

Since I wrote that post, I’ve come across more faith-filled news coverage that needs to be highlighted.

Read the full column.

• • •

All of my GetReligion columns (March 2018):

Continue reading “‘Dear Jesus, send some angels’: Faith and prayer inside Southwest Flight 1380”

By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion

Did you happen to hear where Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was last week when President Trump posted a tweet about her that the president’s critics labeled “sexually suggestive and demeaning?”

Yep, that’s right: The New York Democrat was at a bipartisan Bible study.

So what are the odds that the New York Times political writers who profiled Gillibrand in Sunday’s newspaper — in a lengthy A-section piece tied to the president’s kerfuffle with the senator — delved into her faith?

Hint: The Times makes passing reference to the aforementioned Bible study.

But any actual consideration of Gillibrand’s faith? Not so much. (Interestingly enough, the profile does point to the senator’s propensity to curse “freely in public venues.”)

In case you somehow missed Trump’s tweet and Gillibrand’s response, here they are:

Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017

You cannot silence me or the millions of women who have gotten off the sidelines to speak out about the unfitness and shame you have brought to the Oval Office. https://t.co/UbQZqubXZv

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 12, 2017

I first became aware of Gillibrand’s participation in the regular Bible study when I did a Religion News Service profile of Sen. James Lankford earlier this year. I asked the Oklahoma Republican’s team for the names of Democrats involved in the study. They put me in touch with Gillibrand’s office.

I visited with Gillibrand about Lankford and her own faith, and a portion of that interview ended up in my story:

Read the full column.

• • •

All of my GetReligion columns (December 2017):

Continue reading “Trump + Gillibrand + faith: ‘Why is religion only talked about when reporters profile Republicans?’”

There's a reason #Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully kept mentioning God during his farewell tour https://t.co/M2kADkXcdd #MLB #Postseason pic.twitter.com/aXiX9spWM4 — GetReligion (@GetReligion) October 5, 2016 Also: Follow-up: Why sports columnist thought story of Vin Scully’s faith was so important to tell. This analysis of media coverage by Bobby Ross Jr. appears online at GetReligion.org. Continue reading There’s a reason Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully kept mentioning God during his farewell tour

Links to Bobby Ross Jr.’s top columns

Religion figures heavily — and rightly so — in AP story on Muslim’s ‘honor’ killing of sister. Published Oct. 3.

There’s a reason Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully kept mentioning God during his farewell tour. Published Oct. 5.

Let’s be clear: It’s rape, not a relationship, when a youth pastor impregnates a teen. Published Oct. 14.

Yes, journalism is a noble profession — so let’s not bash everyone in the news media. Published Oct. 18.

My response to the election, the news media and my alleged ‘blanket defense of journalists.’ Published Oct. 20.

Click below for additional October 2016 columns.

Continue reading “Best of Get Religion: October 2016”

Links to Bobby Ross Jr.’s top columns.

‘End-times cat cult’: Why Bob Smietana’s ‘Apocalypse Meow’ story really is the cat’s meow. Published Sept. 8.

The Palombo 10: At the 9/11 anniversary, an exceptional story of family and faith from CNN. Published Sept. 12.

Thousands of strangers help an 89-year-old Popsicle vendor — surely there’s no holy ghost? Published Sept. 14.

Let’s dig below the surface of Donald Trump’s awkward visit to a black church in Flint, Mich. Published Sept. 15.

‘Respect the culture’ of family of black man shot dead by Tulsa police — but what culture? Published Sept. 20.

How do you report on ‘Muslims Get Out’ sign? Interview diner owner who put it up, of course. Published Sept. 21.

That political despair among white evangelicals? New York Times nails it. Published Sept. 29.

Click below for additional September 2016 columns.

Continue reading “Best of GetReligion: September 2016”

Links to Bobby Ross Jr.’s top columns

Was I too easy on Religion News Service for covering Democratic convention but not GOP one? Published Aug. 2.

In era of Donald Trump, is it true Muslim scholars are no longer split on ethics of voting? Published Aug. 3.

Prosperity gospel vs. social gospel: What religion means to Trump, Clinton & Co. Published Aug. 4.

Husband and wife of 63 years die 20 minutes apart — and the religious details are beautiful. Published Aug. 12.

Battling cancer, major-league coach puts faith into action — but what exactly does that mean? Published Aug. 22.

Continue reading “Best of GetReligion: August 2016”

Links to columns by Bobby Ross Jr. After a home run, a baseball player looks to the sky — might something religious be occurring? Published July 1. On the day after Fourth of July, four Godbeat developments you’ll want to know about. Published July 5. No religion angle as ChristianMingle.com opens website to gay singles? Really!? Published July 6. They’re praying, singing after Alton Sterling shooting. But … Continue reading Best of GetReligion: July 2016

Links to columns by Bobby Ross Jr. In this journalistic desert, abortion supporters thrive while pro-life advocates go thirsty. Published June 2. Exiles in their home country? A deep dive into the changing status of evangelical Christians. Published June 3. Town fighting transgender bathrooms has rattlesnakes and cougars. What about religion? Published June 7. Surprise! An abortion story from a major newspaper that doesn’t favor pro-choice side. Published … Continue reading Best of GetReligion: June 2016