A Bible Belt mayor, an extramarital affair and a religion-savvy newspaper
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
When the dateline on a news story is Nashville, Tenn., there isn’t always a religion angle.
But almost always?
Yes, that’s a pretty safe statement. At least was the case during the year I spent in that Bible Belt state capital, covering faith and politics for The Associated Press.
In late 2015, I praised The Tennessean’s decision to hire a full-time religion writer — Holly Meyer — after eliminating the position when veteran journalist Bob Smietana left the paper in 2013. In my post two years ago, I proclaimed:
The prodigal Godbeat has come home to Music City!
The USA Today Network publication’s investment in Meyer and religion journalism expertise keeps paying dividends. The most recent example came last week after Nashville Mayor Megan Barry confessed to an extramarital affair.
Way up high in the initial main news story on Barry’s affair, quotes attributed to the mayor hinted strongly at holy ghosts:
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All of my GetReligion columns (February 2018):
Continue reading “A Bible Belt mayor, an extramarital affair and a religion-savvy newspaper”
In heart of Dallas-Fort Worth, two Spanish-speaking congregations merge
‘We are bringing together three churches,’ says an elder of the English-speaking host church. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ARLINGTON, Texas – A Latino grocery store called Supermercado El Rancho (“The Ranch Supermarket”) anchors the shopping center across the street from the Hillcrest Church of Christ. Those with dirty clothes can’t miss the nearby lavandería (“laundromat”). Five years ago, Arlington’s burgeoning Hispanic population inspired Great Cities Missions — … Continue reading In heart of Dallas-Fort Worth, two Spanish-speaking congregations merge
Kentucky church member escapes school shooting — but not the trauma
‘We know that God is our only hope in finding any comfort or peace in a time like now,’ says Pamela Ross, a Benton Church of Christ member. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Are you OK?” “Tell me you’re safe.” “Pamela, please text me back.” At 7:57 a.m. Tuesday, a gunman opened fire at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., a rural community … Continue reading Kentucky church member escapes school shooting — but not the trauma
Tears and fears: Church teen killed by Arkansas police
Loved ones struggle to understand why 17-year-old opened fire during traffic stop. First Place, News Story, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A thin sheet of snow and ice covered the ground outside the Levy Church of Christ this week as hundreds of mourners filed into the auditorium. Charles Smith Jr. — “C.J.” to friends and relatives — … Continue reading Tears and fears: Church teen killed by Arkansas police
Christian universities feeling the pinch as Churches of Christ shrink
Sharp decline seen in number of freshmen who identify with the numerically declining fellowship. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Since today’s college freshmen were infants, roughly 1,200 Churches of Christ in the United States have closed, and the number of men, women and children in the pews nationally has shrunk by 200,000. In the same 18-year period, universities associated with the fellowship … Continue reading Christian universities feeling the pinch as Churches of Christ shrink
The theology behind Oprah’s ‘stirring, spiritual call to arms’ at Golden Globes
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Unless you live in a cave with no television, social media feeds or electricity, you know about Oprah Winfrey’s “stirring, spiritual call to arms” at the Golden Globes.
Winfrey’s speech — tied to the #MeToo movement — “has fans dreaming” of a presidential run by the talk-show icon and Democrats from Hollywood to Iowa “captivated” by the possibility.
Here at GetReligion, editor Terry Mattingly suggested months ago: “Yes, the religious left exists: Can you think of a logical person (Oprah) to serve as its leader?”
Oh, her.
But speaking of religion, have the breathless news reports since Sunday night acknowledged — or mostly ignored — Oprah’s Gospel-meets-New Age religious maven role?
Take a wild guess.
However, a leading Godbeat pro has an extremely insightful story on the surprising theology shared by Oprah and, believe it or not, her potential 2020 adversary, President Donald Trump:
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All of my GetReligion columns (January 2018):
Continue reading “The theology behind Oprah’s ‘stirring, spiritual call to arms’ at Golden Globes”
In 2017, these Christians demonstrated faith, hope and love
Ten stories that inspired me — and hopefully you — over the past year. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle I am blessed. As chief correspondent for The Christian Chronicle, I am privileged to tell the stories of Christians living out their faith — often under difficult or extraordinary circumstances. Over the last 13 years, my travels with the Chronicle have taken me to all 50 states and 11 countries. Among the … Continue reading In 2017, these Christians demonstrated faith, hope and love
God and guns: Texas pastors undergo security training a month after Sutherland Springs massacre
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service PLANO, Texas — Shooting holes in a “paper bad guy” during target practice? That’s easy. Defending a house of worship against a real gunman? That’s a whole different story. As he led a security training on Tuesday (Dec. 5) at a Dallas-area megachurch, Sgt. Mike Gurley warned against thinking that worshippers licensed to carry handguns can offer reliable protection. … Continue reading God and guns: Texas pastors undergo security training a month after Sutherland Springs massacre
Trump + Gillibrand + faith: ‘Why is religion only talked about when reporters profile Republicans?’
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:
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:
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All of my GetReligion columns (December 2017):
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 