Christian Century staff
Orthodox leaders hold historic council
For the first time in 1,200 years, and after 55 years of preparatory conversations, the Holy and Great Council of the Eastern Orthodox churches met—though without representatives of four churches, ...
Presbyterians elect new leaders, skip fossil fuel divestment
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was marked by several firsts: it elected a black man for the 1.6-million-member denomination’s top leadership role, chose comoderators for ...
Manas Buthelezi, South African theologian, dies at 81
Manas Buthelezi, a Lutheran bishop in South Africa and one of the great African theologians of the 20th century, died April 20 at age 81.
...Daniel Berrigan, anti-war priest, dies at 94
Daniel Berrigan, a Jesuit priest and herald of the Catholic social justice movement, died April 30 at age 94.
...James M. Robinson, Gnosticism and Gospel scholar, dies at 91
James M. Robinson, a prominent scholar of the Gospel source known as “Q” and of Gnosticism, died March 22 at age 91.
...Virgilio Elizondo, 'father of U.S. Latino religious thought,' dies at age 80
Virgilio Elizondo, 80, a Mexican-American Catholic priest and theologian described as “the father of U.S. Latino religious thought,” died March 14 in San Antonio.
...Stephen H. Webb, theologian and author, dies at 54
Stephen H. Webb, theologian and author, perhaps best known for his work on animal rights, died March 5 at age 54 in Brownsburg, Indiana. He died by suicide, the county coroner said.
...With new pastor in place, Emanuel AME continues on its 'mission of hope'
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, has welcomed a new pastor as the congregation’s work for justice continues.
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Cornish Rogers, professor of ecumenism and former Century editor, dies at 86
Cornish R. Rogers, a professor and a former editor of the Christian Century, died February 5 at age 86.
...Pope and patriarch enter 'shared labor'
After two years of secret talks aimed at healing ties broken during the Great Schism of 1054, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, met in Cuba.
...Max Stackhouse, influential theologian and ethicist, dies at 80
Max L. Stackhouse, an influential theologian and social ethicist, died at the age of 80 at his home in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on January 30.
...Professor suspended for saying Christians, Muslims 'worship the same God'
A Wheaton College professor has been placed on leave because, in explaining why she wanted to show solidarity with Muslims by wearing an Islamic headscarf, she wrote that Muslims and Christians wo...
David C. Steinmetz, Reformation historian, dies at 79
David C. Steinmetz, a leading historian of the Reformation, died November 26 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina....
René Girard, scholar of religion and violence, dies at 91
René Girard, a French scholar best known for his work on desire, violence, and religion, died November 4 at age 91.
...Heather Cook, former Episcopal bishop, receives prison sentence for DUI death
Heather Cook, 59, former Episcopal bishop suffragan of Maryland, received a seven-year prison sentence on October 27 for charges related to driving while intoxicated and killing a cyclist.
...James Nelson, groundbreaking ethics and sexuality scholar, dies at 85
James B. Nelson, an author and scholar of Christian ethics in the United Church of Christ, died October 15 in Tucson, Arizona, at age 85.
...Edward T. Chambers, faith-based organizer, dies at 85: People
Edward T. Chambers, longtime executive director of the Industrial Areas Foundation, died on April 26 in Kilcoe, Ireland. He was 85 and had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, according to the IAF.
...Disciples leaders join call for changes to Indiana’s religious freedom law
Leaders of the Indianapolis-based Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) spoke out against Indiana’s religious freedom law, saying it could lead to discrimination against gays and others, and they ...
Lyle Schaller, leading church consultant, dies at age 91
Lyle E. Schaller, a leading church consultant, died March 18 at age 91.
...Surprise gift largest ever for Pittsburgh seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) received a surprise gift of $20.25 million.
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