"#America has no #chiefrabbi, but it is a testament to the international recognition #AngelaBuchdahl commands that a foreign-born terrorist would be under the impression that she is the person who fills this role.

For the past decade, #Buchdahl has served as #seniorrabbi at #CentralSynagogue in Midtown #Manhattan, one of the largest #Reform #congregations in the world, serving more than 3,000 households. The first woman to hold this position in the 175-year history of the #congregation, Buchdahl is also the first #AsianAmerican to be ordained as a #rabbi and among a select group of distinguished #US #rabbis to have been invited to light #Hanukkah candles at the #WhiteHouse.

Forget about "chief rabbi of America," this child of an inter-#religious and #interracial marriage hardly seemed rabbi material at all, as noted in her recently released #memoir "Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging" (Viking)."

https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2025-12-22/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-the-daughter-of-a-korean-buddhist-became-one-of-americas-most-distinguished-rabbis/0000019b-4157-d3cf-a1bf-4d7f30df0000

United Methodist clergy take a shepherding approach to encouraging racial awareness and racial justice activism in their congregations. Clergy may also be personally invested in racial justice separate from their congregations. Read more from Anna Holleman, Erin F. Johnston, and Kelsey Mischke in our forthcoming special issue on religion and politics in American congregations.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00380237.2025.2514009
#sociology #religion #Methodist #congregations #racialJustice

#Churches fight to stay open as attendance and relevance dwindles - “In the late 1940s, nearly 80% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue, mosque or temple, according to Gallup. Today, just 45% say the same, the analytics company noted, and only 32% say that they worship God in a house of prayer once a week.” #Religion #Christianity #congregations

https://abcnews.go.com/US/churches-fight-stay-open-attendance-dwindles/story?id=116905100

Churches fight to stay open as attendance dwindles

Houses of worship around the country are adopting varying strategies to survive.

ABC News
Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Urges Pastors To Mobilize Churches for Trump

With election day just three months away, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk pulled no punches in his keynote speech to pastors gathered for a recent political training conference in a Dallas suburb. His message: Pastors need to vote for former President Donald Trump, become activists an

Religion Unplugged
United Methodists will again debate LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings

The United Methodist Church is holding its first General Conference since the pandemic in Charlotte and will consider whether to change policies on several LGBTQ issues.

WFAE
Statutory Changes Allow Suit for Sex Abuse Against Jehovah's Witnesses Congregations

In C.P. v. Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses , (NJ App., Nov. 15, 2023), a New Jersey appellate court affirmed a trial court's denial of...

Methodist Church OKs split of 261 Georgia congregations after LGBTQ+ divide

The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to allow 261 congregations to break from the denomination amid a schism over theological differences and the role of LGBTQ+ people in the church.

NBC News
Pastors engage congregations on Issue 1 as Election Day approaches - Ohio Capital Journal

With the general election Tuesday, advocates and opponents of state Issue 1 are making their last pleas to the public. On Nov. 7, voters will have …

ohiocapitaljournal.com - Susan Tebben
Essay | Houses of Worship Shouldn’t Mirror the Class Divide

Well-educated and well-to-do Americans are more likely to attend religious services, but there are ways to make congregations more diverse and democratic.

WSJ