religion

Sacramento Area Congregations Together (Sac ACT) is providing English workbooks so the migrants can learn the language. The group also gives out quarters so they can do laundry.

Communities of faith welcome migrants caught in polarized immigration debate

7:46pm August 02, 2023

by Jason DeRose

When migrants from Latin America were flown from Texas and dropped off in Sacramento with nowhere to go, a group of congregations came together to care for them.

Queue Listen Now

Professor Lisa Miller has dedicated most of her career to the study of neuroscience and spirituality.

This Ivy League researcher says spirituality is good for our mental health

5:31pm July 30, 2023

by Rachel Martin

A Columbia University professor says spiritual beliefs can decrease our rates of anxiety and depression. I needed to understand how she came to these conclusions.

Rev. Kimberly Scott is the newly-installed pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles. She decided to stay in the church, believing a change for greater LGBTQ acceptance is coming.

Congregations leave United Methodist Church over defiance of LGBTQ bans

6:24pm July 25, 2023

by Jason DeRose

The largest mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S. is shrinking due to disputes over LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriage. About 20% of United Methodist congregations have left in recent years.

Queue Listen Now

Jon Ward says it got to a point where he didn't like being in an environment where everyone thought the same thing.

He walked away from his evangelical roots to escape feeling suffocated

9:44am June 26, 2023

by Rachel Martin

The evangelical movement was Jon Ward's church, his family, his community, his music, and his identity. And then he broke away.

Queue Listen Now

A national initiative called Faith for Pride wants religious groups and houses of worship that support LGBTQ rights to show up at Pride events this month.

Why you might notice more religious groups at Pride celebrations this year

10:19am June 07, 2023

by Jason DeRose

Some people of faith are organizing a pushback against the wave of anti-LGBTQ rights legislation making its way through state houses this year. They're calling it Faith for Pride.

Queue Listen Now

The Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church and Michael Hahn pose for a photo at the church in Stokesdale, N.C.

Religion

Some worshippers switching congregations amid United Methodist split over LGBTQ issues

4:57pm May 25, 2023

by Peter Smith and Holly Meyer, Associated Press

Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people. There are stark differences over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.

Just 16% of Americans surveyed said religion is the most important thing in their lives, according to a new report by the Public Religion Research Institute.

The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is shrinking

5:16pm May 16, 2023

by Jason DeRose

The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is on the decline. That's according to a new report from the Public Religion Research Institute.

Queue Listen Now

New guidance from the Department of Education says a school may take reasonable measures to ensure students aren't pressured to join in their teachers' or coaches' prayers.

The Department of Education updates guidance on public school prayer

5:14pm May 16, 2023

by Jason DeRose

The new guidance comes a little less than a year after the U.S. Supreme court loosened rules for teachers and staff praying while on the job.

Childhood friends. From left to right, Valeria Lemos, Daniel Molina Acosta, Paula Rueda, Paula Molina Acosta; bottom row, Carmen Molina Acosta, Veronica Lemos

Holidays are about tradition. What happens when everything starts to change?

10:49am December 25, 2022

by Carmen Molina Acosta

Carmen Molina Acosta shares a personal perspective on what the celebration of the Novena de Aguinaldos means for her Colombian community and how it has changed over the years.

Queue Listen Now

Religion

LGBTQ-friendly church OK with getting Southern Baptist boot

4:56pm September 27, 2022

by Associated Press and Peter Smith

College Park Baptist Church found itself in the news last week when the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee voted to remove it from its rolls because of its “open affirmation, approval and endorsement of homosexual behavior." That action came 23 years after the congregation itself voted to leave the SBC, but according to the Executive Committee, it had remained on its rolls until now.