When churches neglect payroll taxes
Experts say this is an all-too-common problem—and one church leaders cannot ignore. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Church Finance Today For about five years, a financial secretary for a 200-member church quit sending payroll tax money to the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, she pocketed the funds. When the IRS came knocking on the church’s door, it owed about $350,000, including penalties and interest, recalled Frank … Continue reading When churches neglect payroll taxes
My trip to Israel with American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange
I traveled to Israel last week with a delegation of 13 U.S. religion journalists.I received a fellowship through the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange. That program aims to enhance participants’ understanding of the Middle East and provoke thought on tough questions. For me, it certainly did. I’ll be writing more about what I learned. For now, here are a few social media posts that offer … Continue reading My trip to Israel with American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange
In-depth exclusive: A perpetrator in the pews
Former youth minister’s presence at worship stirs discord in Pennsylvania congregation. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle UNIONTOWN, Pa. — After a longtime youth minister’s recent conviction on corruption of minors and indecent exposure charges, a judge in this western Pennsylvania community did what the Uniontown Church of Christ’s elders refused to do. The judge told Clyde E. Brothers Jr. to stay away from … Continue reading In-depth exclusive: A perpetrator in the pews
‘Tell somebody. Don’t keep quiet.’
Daughter of a convicted pedophile preacher urges people of faith to speak out when they suspect abuse. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SOMERSET, Pa. — For so long, no one knew Alex Howlett’s name. In 2011, she confided in her brother Jimmy Hinton that the man he followed into ministry — their father — molested her when she was young. But when the case made headlines, the … Continue reading ‘Tell somebody. Don’t keep quiet.’
Pompeo’s invitation-only briefing with ‘faith-based media’ causes a stir
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
On Monday, I got an email inviting me to join an “on-the-record conference call” with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The message, sent to my Christian Chronicle address, indicated that Pompeo would discuss international religious freedom ahead of his trip to Jerusalem and the Middle East and take questions from call participants.
Ordinarily, I might have RSVP’d and listened to what Pompeo had to say.
But I’m still recovering (read: exhausted and taking a few days off) after my own recent travel to Israel. So I decided I’d rely on other journalists’ news coverage of the call and perhaps check out the transcript later.
Little did I know that the exclusivity of the invitation itself would make headlines.
Then today, I noticed on Twitter that the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press had issued a statement expressing concern about the State Department barring some journalists from the call:
Continue reading “Pompeo’s invitation-only briefing with ‘faith-based media’ causes a stir”
Racial concerns prompt renaming of Christian university’s auditorium
Main chapel venue at Oklahoma Christian will honor Benton and Paula Baugh, major donors and Christians involved in racial unity efforts in Houston. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — After a half-century as Hardeman Auditorium, Oklahoma Christian University’s main assembly hall has a new name — a change spurred by concerns over a racist statement attributed to the former namesake. As hundreds of … Continue reading Racial concerns prompt renaming of Christian university’s auditorium
Pennsylvania prosecutor fights clergy sex abuse as she maintains Catholic faith
When local district attorney Kelly Callihan referred an abuse claim against her family’s erstwhile pastor to state authorities, she initiated a series of investigations that renewed the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis nationwide. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service EBENSBURG, Pa. — When allegations of past sexual abuse were first made against a priest at St. Clement Catholic Church in Johnstown, Pa., Cambria … Continue reading Pennsylvania prosecutor fights clergy sex abuse as she maintains Catholic faith
Delaware churches — one white, one black — find new life by merging
Leaders see God in the circumstances that brought these two disparate congregations together. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle WILMINGTON, Del. — In its heyday, the Cedars Church of Christ sometimes topped 350 in Sunday attendance. Many Christians came from the Bible Belt to work for DuPont, the chemical company headquartered in this Mid-Atlantic city. Those workers and their families formed the core … Continue reading Delaware churches — one white, one black — find new life by merging
New federal ‘church parking tax’ sparks questions and concerns
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service Like houses of worship across the U.S., Calvary Church in Santa Ana, Calif., typically hasn’t had to worry about filing a federal tax form. But an obscure provision in the corporate tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress at the end of 2017 may change that. That provision imposes a 21 percent tax on employee parking benefits … Continue reading New federal ‘church parking tax’ sparks questions and concerns
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 