WASHINGTON (RNS) Enter the “Religion in Early America” exhibit and there are objects you expect to find: Bibles, a hymnal and christening items. But on closer inspection, a broader picture of faith in the Colonial era emerges: a Bible translated into the language of the Wampanoag people, the Torah scroll of the first synagogue in North America and a text written by a slave who wanted to pass on the essentials of his Muslim heritage.  Source: ... Read more about Exhibit showcases the earliest stirrings of American religious diversity | Religion News Service

(RNS) When he founded the car-care ministry at McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church 15 years ago, David McCoy knew he was filling a need in his community. What he didn’t know was just how big a need that was. Car-care ministries like McCoy’s, where church members repair cars for those in need, transcend state borders and religious groups. But, McCoy said, there still aren’t enough of them. After news outlets including USA Today and ... Read more about Car-care ministries a growing niche in midsize cities | Religion News Service

Anne Donahue is a woman who has always wanted to help. She was a good listener, she said; she was told she had a compassionate ear. So, a few years ago, when her Roman Catholic parish, Sacred Heart in Southbury, began a program that sent lay people to minister to those enduring trying emotional times, she signed up. “I have a large family,” said Donahue. “I keep thinking of the fact that some people have nobody and, to me, it is just an overwhelming concept how sad that is. People such as that have to depend on a neighbor or neighbors. It has bothered me.” Donahue is one of an estimated 40... Read more about Ministers lend an ear to those dealing with hardships

If women were protons and men were electrons, the Vatican would be a pretty negatively charged electric field, meaning that men generally own the stage. The female advisory board for the Pontifical Council for Culture wishes to change that, sending an “electric shock” that will open discussion on women’s roles in the Church. “The Church is a male-dominated world, but the [wider] world in which it exists is both male and female,” Consuelo Corradi, vice rector for research and international relations at the LUMSA University of Rome, told Crux. “The global church needs to enter a... Read more about Vatican women's council hopes to be 'electric shock' for global Church

Religion has played an outsized role in U.S. history and politics, but it's one that has often gone unrecognized in U.S. museums. "As a focused subject area, it's been neglected," says Peter Manseau, a scholar and writer installed last year as the first full-time religion curator at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. America's exceptional commitment to religious freedom stems from the diversity of its faith traditions. The rebellious attitudes prevalent in frontier settlements fostered the growth of evangelical... Read more about To Understand How Religion Shapes America, Look To Its Early Days : NPR

Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care and Citizens Caring for Children may have two different missions, but they share common ground in serving Central Oklahoma's foster children.

Looming reductions in child welfare services stand to create a crisis for children in foster care

Source: Groups join for back-to-school drive for foster children | News OK Read more about Groups join for back-to-school drive for foster children | News OK

(The Conversation) On Monday (June 26), Harry James Potter — the world’s most famous wizard — will celebrate his 20th birthday. His many fans will likely mark the occasion by rereading a favorite Harry Potter novel or rewatching one of the blockbuster films. Some may even raise a butterbeer toast in Harry’s honor at one of three Harry Potter-themed amusement parks. But not everyone will be celebrating Harry’s big day. In fact, a vocal group of Christians – ... Read more about What do Christian protests about Harry Potter books teach us? | Religion News Service

Making room for everyone at the Lord’s table is the spirit behind a focused new program in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The Special Projects Program is funding the expansion of basic worship and religious education space in a few uniquely challenged parishes whose churches cannot hold all the people coming for Mass or religious education. The program immediately will address needs in three churches - a parish and two missions in Cedartown, Gainesville and Lilburn. Source: ... Read more about Creative program funds buildings for rapidly growing Georgia parishes

The Church of England “colluded” with and helped to hide the long-term sexual abuse of young men by one of its former bishops, the head of the church said Thursday. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologized to the victims who spoke out and helped bring ex-bishop Peter Ball to justice as the church published a detailed report on how it handled the case. Source: Church of England head says it 'colluded with' sex abuse

Led by a strong desire to help the "stranger among us," an Oklahoma City church has opened a center offering consultation and assistance to immigrants. Source: Immigrant outreach: Church opens special center to aid immigrants | News OK

A group known as A Christian Ministry in the National Parks hosts worship services each summer weekend in more than 25 national parks. BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Utah — The short, black cross is almost an afterthought, wheeled out of a supply closet moments before introductions begin. Its arrival wraps up 20 minutes of guitar practice and nervous chatter, all part of prepping for a weekly worship service. Source: Ministry allows Christians to worship in the wild of national,... Read more about Ministry allows Christians to worship in the wild of national, state parks - News - Wicked Local - Boston, MA

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Several progressive Catholic groups are launching an initiative aimed at giving lay Catholics and clergy across the U.S. a direct say on whether the church should ordain women deacons. Their actions follow the appointment of a panel of experts set up by Pope Francis to consider the controversial question. The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, FutureChurch and Voice of the Faithful have launched ... Read more about Catholic groups launch conversation about female deacons | Religion News Service

Across America, a number of artists are putting the beat back in the Beatitudes.

To the average person, the idea of Christian hip-hop registers somewhere between Crocs sandals and minivans on the scale of “super lame things for white people.”

A person who has never listened to the genre might imagine it to be preachy, overly evangelizing and a little corny. As with most things, however, expectation and reality are two different things.

Source: Rapping... Read more about Rapping for Jesus: Religious hip-hop isn't quite what you think - News - Wicked Local - Boston, MA

Brewster, Mass.:  Our Lady of the Cape Parish is announcing a Catholics Come Home campaign at all masses and community activities to welcome anyone who drifted away from Catholicism for any reason, back to the Church. Our Lady of the Cape Church will host a series of four informal gatherings for inactive Catholics at its parish center located at 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster every Thursday in July at 7 p.m.  The gatherings are free and are designed to create a forum for dialogue around questions concerning matters of faith and the Catholic Church.  The pastor of Our Lady of the... Read more about Our Lady of the Cape Church launches “Catholics Come Home” campaign | Religion News Service

ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) A few days after the Pulse nightclub shootings, in which most of the 49 patrons who were killed were gay and Latino, a local businessman and active Christian layman contributed a guest column to the Orlando Sentinel titled “Christian to LGBTs: We are sorry.” “I believe one source of hope may come from the Christian church, an institution I have loved and been a part of since I was a little boy,” wrote Chris King. “Historically, I see a church that has often gotten it wrong — really wrong — when it comes to serving the needs of the LGBTQ community. Source: ... Read more about Can an evangelical, progressive Democrat succeed in Florida? | Religion News Service