Church of England Synod Confirms End of Same-Sex Blessing Proposal

Church of England Synod Confirms End of Same-Sex Blessing Proposal

The Church of England’s General Synod has formally decided not to proceed with the introduction of stand-alone blessing services for same-sex couples, bringing to an end a lengthy and closely watched internal debate.
  • Alabama Bill Would Make Disrupting Worship Services a Felony
    Lawmakers in Alabama are weighing legislation that would elevate the disruption of church services to a felony offense carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. The Alabama House of Representatives is expected to take up House Bill 363, a proposal that would classify certain acts of interference during worship as a Class C felony under state law.
  • “Every Ending Is a New Beginning”: Departing HPUMC Senior Minister Urges Congregation
    In his final sermon as senior minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Rasmussen compared life’s trials to waves washing away a sandcastle, urging a choice between despair and perseverance. Rasmussen announced last November that he would transition into an emeritus role.

Josh Powell to Be Nominated for Southern Baptist Convention President

South Carolina pastor Josh Powell is expected to be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, according to a report from Baptist Press. The 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 9–10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
  • DOJ Probes Anti-ICE Activists’ Disruption of Sunday Worship at Minnesota Church
    The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation after activists disrupted a Sunday worship service at a Southern Baptist congregation in St. Paul, Minnesota. The incident occurred at Cities Church, where demonstrators affiliated with the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota entered the sanctuary during a service.
  • Nearly 8 in 10 Pastors Say Their Churches Will Endure the Next Decade
    A new study from Lifeway Research finds that 94% of pastors say they believe their churches will remain active a decade from now, while 4% disagree and 2% say they are unsure. Among pastors who expect their churches to endure, fewer than four in five—78%—say they strongly agree their congregation has at least another decade ahead, indicating underlying concerns even among the hopeful.
  • Hillsong Confirms Early Talks on Potential Hills Campus Development, Says No Plans Finalized
    Hillsong Church has confirmed it is in preliminary talks about the possible future development of its Hills Campus, stressing that no final decisions or construction timeline have been set. In a statement posted on the church’s website Saturday, Hillsong acknowledged recent media attention surrounding planning approvals tied to the campus property. 
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  • Indiana Church Launches $1 Million Campaign to Build Homeless Shelter

    Impact Ministries, a young church plant in Indiana, has announced plans to raise $1 million to construct a new homeless shelter aimed at serving vulnerable individuals and families in its local community. The fundraising campaign began earlier this week in response to urgent needs in the area. The church is located in Boonville and currently has a congregation of nearly 50 people.

  • ChinaAid Warns of Escalating Religious Persecution at Wenzhou Church

    A watchdog group is urging international attention as Chinese authorities reportedly move to dismantle or destroy a major church in Wenzhou, China. Hundreds of armed police were deployed Monday to surround Yayang Christian Church after authorities allegedly dispersed or detained local Christians and barred bystanders from filming events near the site.

  • New York Judge Tosses Challenge to Abyssinian Baptist Church Pastor Election

    A New York Supreme Court justice has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to overturn the election of the Rev. Kevin R. Johnson as senior pastor of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, concluding that the claims did not warrant judicial intervention. In a decision dated Dec. 22, 2025, Justice James G. Clynes ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate fraud or misconduct in the church’s June 21–23, 2024, election process.

  • Australia’s Church Attendance Rebounds to 89% of 2001 Levels, 1.35 Million Attend Weekly

    Australia’s churches are experiencing a steady but incomplete rebound in weekly attendance following the COVID-19 lockdowns, according to new nationwide research. The data come from the first-ever Church Pulse Check Panel, a new initiative designed to provide a long-term, consistent measure of congregational health as churches navigate ongoing cultural, social and spiritual change across the country.

  • Chaplains Group Launches New Anglican Denomination Amid Ongoing ACNA Legal Dispute

    A chaplaincy body embroiled in a legal conflict with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has announced the formation of a new Christian denomination, the Anglican Reformed Catholic Church (ARCC). Leaders of the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (JAFC) confirmed that bishops affiliated with the organization recently established the ARCC, which has been formally incorporated in Alabama as a nonprofit entity.

  • Maine Church Sues UMC Over Alleged Property Takeover

    A congregation in coastal Maine has filed a lawsuit against a regional body of the United Methodist Church, accusing the denomination of attempting to seize control of church property despite the congregation’s claim of independence. Broad Cove Church of Cushing, which describes itself as a non-denominational congregation, filed a complaint earlier this month against the UMC New England Annual Conference

  • Massive Police Operation Targets Christians in China’s Zhejiang Province

    A sweeping security operation involving more than 1,000 police officers, SWAT teams and paramilitary forces reportedly targeted Christian congregations in eastern China, resulting in hundreds of detentions, according to a new report from a religious freedom watchdog. Local residents told ChinaAid that law enforcement personnel drawn from multiple districts across Zhejiang province, including Hangzhou and Pingyang, were deployed to Yayang Town.

  • R.C. Sproul–Founded St. Andrew’s Chapel Votes to Leave PCA After Two-Year Affiliation

    St. Andrew’s Chapel, the Florida congregation established by the late theologian R.C. Sproul, has voted to leave the Presbyterian Church in America, ending a brief two-year affiliation with the denomination. The Sanford-based church, which counts more than 1,100 members and had become one of the PCA’s largest congregations, approved the move during a Sunday vote, with 669 members supporting withdrawal.
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