A North Carolina county has argued that its legal battle with former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear’s The Summit Church over a proposed campus expansion centers on the limits of federal court authority rather than allegations of religious discrimination.
A New Mexico megachurch pastor has publicly backed two Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, renewing debate over federal rules restricting political campaign involvement by tax-exempt religious organizations. Steve Smothermon, pastor of Legacy Church, has reportedly urged members of his congregation to support Republican congressional candidates.
Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in the United States for the seventh consecutive year in an annual ranking by Americans United for Life (AUL), which also recognized Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill for her legal efforts challenging federal abortion pill regulations. The advocacy organization released its 2027 Life List on Wednesday, evaluating all 50 states according to laws addressing “all bioethical issues from conception to natural death, not just abortion.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected allegations that his government is persecuting Christians, defending religious freedom in Ukraine and criticizing American political commentator Tucker Carlson for making claims about a country he suggested Carlson had never visited. Zelensky addressed the accusations during a Saturday interview with Tony Perkins on “This Week on Capitol Hill.”
More than half of Protestant pastors in the United States say economic conditions are negatively affecting their congregations, as church donations continue to lag behind inflation, according to a new Lifeway Research survey. The annual study found that 54% of pastors believe the economy is hurting their churches, compared with 36% who reported no impact and 8% who described its effects as positive.
A new federal school choice initiative is being hailed as the “greatest evangelism opportunity since the Billy Graham crusades,” with supporters expecting it to expand access to Christian education for millions of American children beginning in 2027. The Ohio-based Center for Christian Virtue has established the Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization to provide financial assistance to families seeking Christian schooling.
The United Methodist Church (UMC) will convene its 2028 General Conference at two locations simultaneously for the first time in the denomination’s history, bringing together delegates in the United States and Africa for its highest legislative assembly. The UMC Commission on the General Conference announced Tuesday that Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Harare, Zimbabwe, will jointly host the gathering.
Christian persecution has worsened in more than half of 18 countries surveyed by a Catholic watchdog, raising concerns about the future of Christian communities in the Middle East. The Middle East has emerged as an area of particular concern, where prolonged instability threatens Christianity’s presence in its historic birthplace.
Multisite churches are expanding rapidly across the United States, attracting nearly one in 10 Protestant churchgoers, but their growth is increasingly outpacing the development of qualified leaders, according to a new national study. The report identified more than 1,800 multisite churches operating over 6,000 campuses nationwide, highlighting the growing influence of congregations that maintain multiple worship locations under a unified organizational structure.
New York Times bestselling author and BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey has drawn mixed reactions from Christians after questioning whether believers should embrace Halloween festivities and consume horror-themed entertainment. During the Oct. 19 episode of her “Relatable” podcast, Stuckey addressed the different ways Christians approach Halloween, acknowledging that the subject involves personal convictions and differing interpretations of Christian freedom.
A federal appeals court has handed a legal victory to churches, synagogues and other religious organizations challenging the Trump administration’s decision to permit immigration enforcement operations at places of worship. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a lower court’s decision rejecting the religious groups’ request for a preliminary injunction.
A North Carolina county has argued that its legal battle with former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear’s The Summit Church over a proposed campus expansion centers on the limits of federal court authority rather than allegations of religious discrimination.
A New Mexico megachurch pastor has publicly backed two Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, renewing debate over federal rules restricting political campaign involvement by tax-exempt religious organizations. Steve Smothermon, pastor of Legacy Church, has reportedly urged members of his congregation to support Republican congressional candidates.
Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in the United States for the seventh consecutive year in an annual ranking by Americans United for Life (AUL), which also recognized Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill for her legal efforts challenging federal abortion pill regulations. The advocacy organization released its 2027 Life List on Wednesday, evaluating all 50 states according to laws addressing “all bioethical issues from conception to natural death, not just abortion.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected allegations that his government is persecuting Christians, defending religious freedom in Ukraine and criticizing American political commentator Tucker Carlson for making claims about a country he suggested Carlson had never visited. Zelensky addressed the accusations during a Saturday interview with Tony Perkins on “This Week on Capitol Hill.”
More than half of Protestant pastors in the United States say economic conditions are negatively affecting their congregations, as church donations continue to lag behind inflation, according to a new Lifeway Research survey. The annual study found that 54% of pastors believe the economy is hurting their churches, compared with 36% who reported no impact and 8% who described its effects as positive.