• ELCA to maintain conscience protections for opponents of same-sex marriage

  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has decided not to remove conscience protections for members who oppose same-sex marriage.

  

• James River Church reportedly cuts ties with Assemblies of God, but no official confirmation yet

  James River Church, a prominent megachurch based in Springfield, Missouri, has reportedly ended its official affiliation with the Assemblies of God.

  

• Trial begins for man accused of killing Houston pastor in road rage shooting

  After nearly three years of waiting, the family of Pastor Ronald K. Mouton may finally see the justice they’ve long been hoping for. This week, the man accused of shooting and killing the beloved Houston church leader during a road rage incident in 2022 is facing trial.

  

• ‘Conclave’ Sees 283% surge in viewership following Pope Francis’s death

  In the wake of Pope Francis’s passing, viewership of the film Conclave—a dramatic depiction of the papal election process—spiked dramatically. According to streaming analytics firm Luminate, the movie saw a 283% increase in daily watch time on April 21, the day after the pontiff's death.

  

• Chinese christians sentenced to prison for bible distribution through house church

  In a case underscoring growing restrictions on religious expression in China, nine Christians have been sentenced to prison terms and issued steep fines for distributing Bibles through a house church not registered with the state.