Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Pastor quits Gaithersburg congregation, church-planting group over abuse claims against his father
P.J. Smyth, lead pastor of Monument Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and a founder of the church-planting Advance Movement, left both groups Thursday after an independent report found Mr. Smyth had concealed knowledge of "sadomasochistic physical abuse" practiced decades ago by his father, Anglican leader John Smyth. Published December 10, 2021
China’s surveillance tech is a global threat to religious freedom, former U.S. envoy Brownback says
Sam Brownback, the former U.S. envoy for international religious freedom during the Trump administration, said Wednesday that China's use of high-tech tools to repress its religious minorities will lead to more authoritarian crackdowns around the globe. Published December 9, 2021
Michigan diocese requires LGBTQ Catholics to repent before receiving sacraments
A diocese in Michigan says Roman Catholics living in same-sex relationships or publicly identifying as transgender must repent before being baptized or receiving Communion. Published December 9, 2021
58% of Americans back religious exemptions to government-imposed vaccine mandates, survey finds
One out of 10 Americans say their religious beliefs prohibit COVID-19 vaccinations, but 58% support religious exemptions to government mandates for vaccines, according to a new survey released Thursday. Published December 9, 2021
Nigeria should go back on State Dept.’s religious freedom watchlist, coalition urges
Nigeria should be redesignated as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) for its treatment of Christians and other religious groups, an interfaith coalition of 47 groups and individuals says in a letter to President Biden. Published December 8, 2021
Plumber who found cash at Joel Osteen’s Houston Church to get $20,000 reward
The Houston plumber who found a stash of cash in the wall of a bathroom at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church will have a very merry Christmas indeed. Published December 7, 2021
Iowa to pay Christian groups $2 million to settle discrimination complaints
An Iowa board said Monday the state will pay almost $2 million to settle two federal lawsuits alleging "viewpoint discrimination" by the University of Iowa against evangelical student groups that required their leaders to adhere to Christian beliefs. Published December 7, 2021
‘Don’t be afraid, God is in control,’ says evangelist Greg Laurie
The Rev. Greg Laurie, an evangelical pastor noted for his daily radio broadcasts and stadium-filling outreach meetings, knows what it's like to face sorrow during the holiday season. Published December 7, 2021
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: World needs ‘kosher hate’ of evil
Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, known for "hot takes" on numerous issues, says the answer to global problems of racism, including antisemitism, is a healthy dose of "kosher hate." Published December 7, 2021
U.S. commission dings Facebook in report calling for social media to fight religious hate speech
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has admonished Facebook for not doing enough to protect Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar from hate speech. Published December 3, 2021
2 D.C.-area seminaries get $1M grants
Two D.C.-area seminaries have each received a $1 million grant to help them train future pastoral leaders. Published December 3, 2021
Christian children’s home sues Biden administration over rollback of Trump-era religious protections
A Christian children's home Thursday sued the Biden administration after the Department of Health and Human Services reversed religious-freedom exemptions granted during the Trump administration. Published December 2, 2021
Janice Dean, whose advocacy helped oust N.Y. Gov. Cuomo, struggles with forgiveness
Janice Dean, the Fox News Channel senior meteorologist, said Thursday she finds it "very tough" to forgive disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose role in sending COVID-19 patients back to nursing homes she claims cost the lives of her in-laws during the pandemic in 2020. Published December 2, 2021
Advocacy group accuses Salvation Army of ‘covering up’ embrace of critical race theory
An advocacy group organized in February to "combat critical race theory" said it will continue its battle of words with The Salvation Army, promising to fire a barrage of social media advertisements asking the charity to say America isn't racist. Published December 1, 2021
Former Southern Baptist head Merritt quits seminary role after report of racist joke
The Rev. James Merritt, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, withdrew as a visiting professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest after accusations surfaced that he told a "racist joke" in private board meetings. Published November 30, 2021
Christian cable network founder Marcus Lamb dies at 64
Marcus Lamb, founder of Daystar TV, died Tuesday, the evangelical Christian network announced on Twitter. He was 64. Published November 30, 2021
Salvation Army pulls anti-racism document after donor blowback
The Salvation Army said Monday it has withdrawn a discussion guide on racism that was intended for its church members but that an advocacy group claimed was given to donors as a call to "repent" for being White. Published November 29, 2021
Washington-area Christian radio outlet named ‘religious station of the year’
WGTS-FM, a nonprofit Christian radio station in the Washington area, won the Marconi Award for "Religious Station of the Year" from the National Association of Broadcasters. Published November 26, 2021
Jewish group focuses on social issues for Hanukkah messages
Members of Conservative Jewish synagogues in North America will see something different on social media this Hanukkah: Messages touting four co-religionists whose social activism might evoke memories of the original Hebrew campaigners who rid ancient Israel of pagan influences. Published November 24, 2021
Winsome Sears says she, Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin pray for wisdom
Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears says she and Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin "start our meetings in prayer," acknowledging a need for guidance beyond the realms of politics and government. Published November 24, 2021
