Bob Smietana
Bob Smietana is a veteran religion writer and national reporter for Religion News Service.
All Stories by Bob Smietana
American Bible Society to shutter $60 million Faith and Liberty Discovery Center
By Bob Smietana — March 14, 2024
(RNS) — Exhibits at the state-of-the-art center sought to portray the role Scripture played in American history.
In ‘God’s Ghostwriters,’ scholar Candida Moss looks at the hidden hands behind the Bible
By Bob Smietana — March 13, 2024
(RNS)— In her new book, Moss argues that slaves and other lower-status workers played a key role in producing and preserving the Christian Scriptures.
‘Dune 2’ portrays the danger of mixing religion and politics. It doesn’t know the half of it.
By Bob Smietana — March 11, 2024
(RNS) — The sequel to the 2021 'Dune' movie makes religious pawns of Frank Herbert's proud Fremen.
What is happening with the SBC and the Department of Justice?
By Bob Smietana — March 7, 2024
(RNS) — Confusion over the status of a DOJ investigation into the SBC has strained already tense relationships between abuse survivors and the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
For infertile couples, the fate of frozen embryos is deeply personal
By Bob Smietana — March 6, 2024
(RNS) — A recent ruling in Alabama that declared frozen embryos to be children has led to fierce debates in politics and on social media. For families who have leftover embryos, the issues are more personal. And the ruling raised important ethical issues about IVF.
Department of Justice closes investigation into SBC Executive Committee’s handling of abuse
By Bob Smietana — March 6, 2024
(RNS) — The investigation was launched after a major report found Southern Baptist Convention leaders had mistreated abuse survivors and had long sought to stonewall attempts to address abuse.
During Gaza war, evangelicals have become Israel’s best friend
By Bob Smietana and Yonat Shimron — February 28, 2024
(RNS) — As criticism against Israel mounts and pressure for a ceasefire rises, Israeli leaders are working to shore up evangelical support.
Calvin University President Wiebe Boer resigns after misconduct complaint
By Bob Smietana — February 26, 2024
(RNS) — 'The report did not include allegations of sexually explicit communication or physical contact, but the alleged conduct is concerning and inappropriate,' the trustees said in their statement.
Trump promises a revival of Christian power in speech to National Religious Broadcasters
By Bob Smietana — February 23, 2024
(RNS) — In a packed hotel ballroom in Nashville, the former president pledged to bring God back into the public square and restore a country he said has fallen apart since he left the White House.
Matthew Slater, a Super Bowl champ with his eye on higher things, retires from football
By Bob Smietana — February 22, 2024
(RNS) — The player’s longtime coach, Bill Belichick, once referred to him as a ‘perfect player.’ Teammates and opponents alike praised Slater for his leadership skills, which he says were built on his faith.
Heads of SBC mission boards say they will not fund new abuse reform nonprofit
By Bob Smietana — February 21, 2024
(RNS) — Leaders of Send Relief, an SBC-related humanitarian group, say funds earmarked for abuse response have to be used within the SBC.
Southern Baptist leaders expel two churches for allegedly mismanaging abuse
By Bob Smietana — February 20, 2024
(RNS) — The committee also voted out a church in Kentucky for having a woman pastor.
SBC task force plans to start nonprofit to oversee abuse database and reforms
By Bob Smietana — February 19, 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The new nonprofit is designed to get past the SBC Executive Committee’s ongoing financial and legal challenges.
Will the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program crumble?
By Bob Smietana — February 19, 2024
(RNS) — For nearly a century, Southern Baptist churches have banded together to raise funds for mission in the US and around the world, raising more than $20 billion through their Cooperative Program. But the trust that once held the program together is fraying.
Henry Blackaby, author of ‘Experiencing God,’ has died at age 88
By Bob Smietana — February 10, 2024
(RNS) — Blackaby turned his experiences reviving a dying church into a spiritual bestseller.
