Schumer Appoints Americans United CEO to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Schumer Appoints Americans United CEO to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has appointed Rachel Laser — the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State — to serve on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In a statement released Thursday, Laser said she was “grateful to Sen. Schumer for this opportunity to advocate for religious freedom around the globe.”
  • Union University Expands with Purchase of 36-Acre Seminary Property Outside Memphis
    Union University, a Christian institution affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, has announced plans to acquire the property of a Tennessee seminary as part of a significant expansion effort. According to a statement from the university, Union’s Board of Trustees voted to purchase the current campus of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Cordova.
  • Samaritan’s Purse Aid Plane Hijacked in South Sudan; Suspect Detained
    A plane operated by Samaritan’s Purse was hijacked earlier this week while transporting humanitarian aid to South Sudan. Authorities have detained a suspect, and no serious injuries have been reported. The international Evangelical relief organization confirmed Wednesday that the Cessna Grand Caravan—an aircraft used exclusively for operations in Africa—“was involved in a hijacking incident on Tuesday.”

Lilly Endowment Awards $649M to Strengthen Future Pastors and Christian Storytelling

The Lilly Endowment, now recognized as America’s largest private foundation, announced that it awarded $649 million in grants to 93 religious organizations to help prepare future pastors and elevate narratives about Christian life. More than $416 million of the total was awarded to 45 seminaries in the U.S. and Canada through the Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
  • Defense Department May End Support for Scouting America Amid Ideological Concerns
    The United States military could soon end its historic partnership with Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, according to a draft memo reportedly circulating within the Pentagon. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is preparing to cut formal ties with the youth organization, though the memo has not yet been formally issued. The document allegedly argues that Scouting America has shifted away from its traditional mission.
  • Three in Four Southern Baptist Pastors Give Weekly Gospel Invitations, Study Finds
    Visitors attending a Southern Baptist worship service are likely to hear a pastor issue a Gospel invitation and be asked to respond personally, rather than through digital means, according to new research. 74 percent of Southern Baptist pastors said they provided an opportunity for people to respond to a Gospel invitation during their weekly Sunday morning service every week in 2024.
  • Greg Laurie to Lead Harvest Crusade at Utah Valley University After Charlie Kirk Assassination
    Evangelist Greg Laurie is set to headline a special Harvest Crusade event at Utah Valley University, the site where conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated earlier this year. Organizers expect approximately 10,000 people to attend the event. Titled “Hope for America,” the crusade will take place on Nov. 16 at the same campus where Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during a Turning Point USA gathering.
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  • Moody Bible Institute Sues Chicago School District Over Exclusion From Student Program

    Moody Bible Institute sued the Chicago Board of Education, claiming it was excluded from a student‑teaching program over its faith‑based hiring. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

  • Trinity Christian College to Close After 2025–26, Citing Financial Shortfalls

    Trinity Christian College, a private liberal arts institution in Palos Heights, Illinois, will shut down after the 2025–26 school year because of financial strains. Located on a 100-plus-acre campus about 20 miles southwest of Chicago, the 66-year-old college enrolls just under 1,000 students.

  • Willy Rice Announces SBC Presidential Bid, Citing a Call to “Renewal”

    Pastor Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, has declared that he will allow his name to be placed in nomination for Southern Baptist Convention president at next year’s annual meeting.

  • WEA General Assembly Concludes with Presentation of the “Seoul Declaration”

    The World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly wrapped up Thursday evening after four days focused on Evangelicalism’s key challenges. During the meetings, the Rev. Botrus Mansour was installed as the WEA’s new secretary general, filling the top post after an 18-month vacancy. Emphasizing collaboration, he pledged, “I’m here to serve,” and cast a vision for a WEA characterized by “teamwork” and “unity,” alongside stronger regional alliances.

  • WEA Names Godfrey Yogarajah Chair of New International Council

    During business sessions this week, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) General Assembly elected a new International Council and selected Sri Lankan leader Godfrey Yogarajah as chair. Yogarajah, a nearly 30-year servant within the WEA family, succeeds outgoing Executive Chair the Rev. Goodwill Shana of Zimbabwe.

  • Episcopal Church Reports Fewer Baptisms, Slight Parish Decline, Attendance Still Lagging

    The Episcopal Church released its 2024 Parochial Report last week, indicating continued declines in baptisms and a modest drop in the total number of parishes. While the report omitted a current total membership figure, overall membership stood at about 1.547 million in 2023 compared to around 1.96 million in 2010.

  • Samaritan’s Purse Flies 100,000 Pounds of Aid to Gaza on New 767 Cargo Plane

    Samaritan’s Purse said Saturday it used its newly acquired 767 cargo aircraft to fly more than 100,000 pounds of relief supplies into Gaza. The inaugural mission of the plane transported over 290,000 packets of ready-to-use supplemental food, as well as thousands of solar lights and blankets prioritized for women and children.

  • WEA Launches 14th General Assembly in Seoul with a Vision of “The Gospel for Everyone”

    Opening its 14th General Assembly on Monday morning at Sarang Church, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) set the theme as “The Gospel for Everyone by 2033.” Running Oct. 27–31, the gathering began with WEA Executive Chair the Rev. Goodwill Shana calling Evangelicals to renewed unity and long-range vision as they look toward 2033, the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s resurrection.
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