Religion News Service | Press Releases

9 May

Twelve Finalists Selected for 35th Annual National Lumen Christi (‘Light of Christ’) Award Honoring Service and Commitment to Ministry

Each Finalist Receives $5,000 Grant from Catholic Extension; Recipient to Receive $50,000 Grant for Ministry and Diocese CHICAGO – May 9, 2012 – Catholic Extension today announced that it has selected 12 finalists for its 35th Annual Lumen Christi (“Light of Christ”) Award. The Lumen Christi Awa... More

8 May

Religious Institute Statement on The United Methodist Church Decision: “Sexual and gender oppression can no longer be portrayed as virtuous and morally defensible”

Submitted by J. Michael Cobb

Contact: J. Michael Cobb 203-222-0055 cobb@religiousinstitute.org May 8, 2012—The Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization dedicated to sexual health, education and justice, has issued a statement regarding The United Methodist Church’s decision General Conference not to remove the do... More

8 May

Gettysburg Seminary’s Religion & Media Blog Features Mark Vitalis Hoffman

Submitted by John Spangler

Gettysburg Seminary continues a Spring 2012 Bog Tour on the topic of religion and media, which features faculty member and Biblical scholar Mark Vitalis Hoffman as the touring blogger in the second of the two week tour. Hoffman, who leads among Gettysburg Seminary’s early adopters of technology... More

8 May

Hospice Physician Shares Life Lessons from Dying

Submitted by Nancy Sayles

(May 7, 2012, Silverthorne, CO) A “perfect storm” is brewing for the approximately 79 million members of the baby boom generation, according to Colorado physician Karen Wyatt. With advancing age, these individuals face not only concern over Medicare and Social Security, but cope with the pa... More

8 May

Dalai Lama Appoints Ven. Nicholas Vreeland as Abbot of Rato Monastery in India — First Time Westerner Becomes Head of a Tibetan Monastery

Submitted by Josh Baran

New York City -- The Tibet Center is proud to announce that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has appointed its Director, the Venerable Nicholas (“Nicky”) Vreeland, as the new Abbot of Rato Monastery, which is based in India. This is a historic moment; this is the first time that a Westerner has been a... More

4 May

McCormick Names Dr. Reggie Williams Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics

Submitted by Michele Edwards

Chicago, Illinois, May 4, 2012--The Board of Trustees of McCormick Theological Seminary has approved the appointment of Dr. Reggie Williams as Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics. He will join the McCormick faculty in July and will begin teaching during the fall term. Previously Dr. Wil... More

3 May

United Methodists Soundly Defeat Divestment Move at General Conference

Submitted by The Rev. Alex Joyner

TAMPA, May 2, 2012 -- This afternoon, by a margin of two-to-one, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church defeated a move to divest from three U.S. companies doing business with Israel in the occupied Palestinian Territories. The Rev. Alex Joyner, spokesperson for United Methodists f... More

3 May

Presbyterian Network Commends United Methodist Church on Boycott Vote

Submitted by Rev. Jeff DeYoe

NEW YORK - May 3, 2012 - This week at the quadrennial General Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), delegates boldly voted 558 to 367 to boycott Israeli settlements goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Chur... More

3 May

Journalists, editors eligible for $5,000 scholarships for religion courses

Submitted by Amy Schiska

Study Islam, Religion and Politics, War, Theology—on us! (Columbia, Mo.) — RELIGION | NEWSWRITERS invites journalists in the to apply to its Lilly Scholarships in Religion Program. The scholarships give full-time journalists up to $5,000 to take any college religion courses at any accredited ins... More

3 May

Kairos Prison Ministry International Accredited by National Financial Accountability Organization

Submitted by Tom Kemner

WINTER PARK, FL – The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) announces the accreditation of Kairos Prison Ministry International of Winter Park, FL. ECFA accreditation is based on the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™, including financial accountability, transpare... More