Texas GOP leader who is Muslim declares victory over bigotry
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service Dr. Shahid Shafi, a trauma surgeon who is Muslim, declared victory over bigotry and a win for religious freedom after fellow Republicans in Texas’ most conservative urban county voted 139-49 with 10 abstentions to retain him in a key leadership position. The much-anticipated vote Thursday night (Jan. 10) by the Tarrant County GOP came during a … Continue reading Texas GOP leader who is Muslim declares victory over bigotry
Yes, there’s a Jesus angle — and a Chick-fil-A one — in Clemson’s national title
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Regardless of which team prevailed in the College Football Playoff national championship Monday night, Jesus was going to get some credit.
Both Alabama’s Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, and his Clemson counterpart, Trevor Lawrence, are known for giving the glory to their Lord.
As it turned out, Clemson cruised to a 44-16 win, putting the focus on the team’s coach, Dabo Swinney, as well as its heralded freshman QB, Lawrence, neither of whom is shy about emphasizing his strong Christian faith.
Coverage of Clemson’s national title run that ignored that fact missed an important angle.
But I was pleased to see a number of reports that caught the relevance of Swinney’s mention of God, including this one from the Sporting News:
• • •
All of my GetReligion columns (January 2019):
Continue reading “Yes, there’s a Jesus angle — and a Chick-fil-A one — in Clemson’s national title”
Year in review: My Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018
By Bobby Ross Jr.
My dream job would be pretty close to what I do right now: traveling all over the U.S. and even around the world to report the news.
I consider myself blessed to have enjoyed another (mostly) exciting year in journalism, including my full-time work with The Christian Chronicle and freelance gigs with media such as Religion News Service, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. (That’s not to mention my regular blogging for GetReligion.)
Since I love to look back and reflect, I compiled my Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018.
Here they are, in random order:
1. 25th anniversary of Waco inferno: I visited the Branch Davidian compound where David Koresh — leader of an apocalyptic religious sect known as the Branch Davidians — and 75 followers perished in a firestorm on April 19, 1993. My in-depth takeout for Religion News Service was picked up by USA Today. As part of that package, I did a Q&A with Bob Ricks, who was the face of the FBI during the Central Texas standoff — and whom I first interviewed a quarter-century earlier in the immediate wake of the siege.
Continue reading “Year in review: My Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018”
How Kendra Horn turned Oklahoma’s 5th District blue for the first time in 44 years
Religion played a role as the 42-year-old Democrat pulled off one a major upset. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY — U.S. Rep.-elect Kendra Horn, D-Okla., knelt at the front of the sanctuary as the Rev. Joseph Alsay, rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, anointed her with chrism, a consecrated oil. “Kendra, may God bless you with enough … Continue reading How Kendra Horn turned Oklahoma’s 5th District blue for the first time in 44 years
Texas GOP dispute pits religious freedom against claims of ‘stealth jihad’
The appointment of a Muslim doctor to a county’s party leadership has fractured the Republicans of Tarrant County. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service FORT WORTH, Texas — Lisa Grimaldi Abdulkareem describes herself as a conservative Republican who believes in freedom and prosperity. “Less bureaucracy, lower taxes and stronger national security — it is simple for me,” said Abdulkareem, the Tarrant County … Continue reading Texas GOP dispute pits religious freedom against claims of ‘stealth jihad’
Christian universities face ‘extremely difficult’ recruiting outlook
Number of freshmen who identify with Churches of Christ hits new low, annual survey finds. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — Brynn Walker always thought she’d attend a large state university. But this fall, the 18-year-old from Fort Smith, Ark., packed up and trekked west on Interstate 40 to enroll at 2,300-student Oklahoma Christian University. “The introvert in me loved the smaller … Continue reading Christian universities face ‘extremely difficult’ recruiting outlook
‘No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible’
The Apostles’ Creed — which President Trump chose not to recite at George H.W. Bush’s state funeral — is not a part of worship for Churches of Christ. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle The Apostles’ what? America’s roughly 1.4 million adherents of Churches of Christ generally proclaim “no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.” As a result, many are unfamiliar with the Apostles’ … Continue reading ‘No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible’
Employee lawsuits against churches are on the rise
Why you need to consider employment practices liability insurance. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Church Finance Today Twenty years ago, employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policies were scarce in the United States. Even a decade ago, most employers didn’t purchase that type of coverage. That has changed. In 2018, it’s estimated that half of all firms with 1,000 or more workers have in place some … Continue reading Employee lawsuits against churches are on the rise
What it means that Nashville has lost its only abortion provider
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Nashville, Tenn. — one of the 25 largest cities in America — has lost its last remaining abortion provider. At least for now.
That seems like a pretty major story.
And indeed, The Tennessean has the basic details on today’s front page:
But the newspaper’s coverage of this stunning development seems overly low-key and matter-of-fact. Ho-hum, in other words.
• • •
All of my GetReligion columns (December 2018):
Continue reading “What it means that Nashville has lost its only abortion provider”
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 