Today

A new Pentagon office for soldiers' faith, and a bishop's farewell

By The FaithDaily Desk

Good morning. The most far-reaching item came from the United States military. Religion News Service reported that a memo had announced the establishment of an Office of Religious Affairs, which it said would "oversee research, technology, and analytical tools to support and assess spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness, and spiritual resilience" of soldiers. Charisma News reported the same move, attributing the announcement to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and saying he described the office as giving military chaplains an advocate at the highest level. The two accounts agree on the fact of the office; they frame its purpose in the terms each outlet used.

Religion News Service also reported that Bishop Mariann Budde announced she will resign, while remaining in post during what the outlet called a lengthy replacement process. In an interview with Religion News Service, Budde said she intended to "do all that I can to both lead well in this period and to ensure that there's as much wind in the sails of the future leader and the diocese going forward as is humanly possible."

A cluster of Anglican news came from Anglican Ink. It reported that the College of Bishops had unanimously consented to the candidacy of the Rev. Canon Dr. Kris McDaniel for Suffragan Bishop, allowing C4SO to proceed to an election at its Diocesan Convention on November 7, alongside a statement from McDaniel concerning 2015 comments on Eucharistic discipline. The same outlet carried a GAFCON statement correcting what it called inaccurate reports in The Tablet about its General Secretary, the Rt Revd Paul Donison, and the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo of the Anglican Communion Office. Anglican Ink also reported the installation of new canons at Manchester Cathedral, and a reflection from the Diocese of Northern Indiana on its vote not to pursue reunification with the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

In other reporting, Charisma News covered a Wisconsin man jailed after police said he set fire to a crucifix inside Pilgrim Lutheran Church in West Bend, citing TMJ4, and a study finding sheeppox virus DNA in the parchment of the 1,000-year-old York Gospels. Religion News Service noted that Apologetics, Inc. had announced a 2027 debate on the resurrection. The Lutheran Witness published an October issue on justification by faith, and The Gospel Coalition released a live conversation with Nancy Guthrie and Jen Wilkin on endurance in faith.

Zoom out: Much of Thursday's reporting concerned how churches and public bodies order their leadership and correct their own records.

What we're following

Anglican Ink: Statement from Kris McDaniel of C4SO over 2015 Eucharistic discipline comments Read it
Religion News Service: Here’s what to know about Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs Read it
Charisma News: Pete Hegseth Makes Major Faith Move With New Office of Religious Affairs Read it
Lutheran Witness: Lutheran Witness: October 2026 Read it

Sources

Statement from Kris McDaniel of C4SO over 2015 Eucharistic discipline comments Anglican Ink
Here’s what to know about Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs Religion News Service
Pete Hegseth Makes Major Faith Move With New Office of Religious Affairs Charisma News
Lutheran Witness: October 2026 Lutheran Witness
Every Health Care System Sometimes Says No Christianity Today
The Deep Dish Live: Endurance in the Faith (with Nancy Guthrie and Jen Wilkin) The Gospel Coalition
Bishop of Manchester installs wife as honorary cathedral canon Anglican Ink
GAFCON Statement Concerning Inaccurate Reports in The Tablet Anglican Ink
Statement: Inaccuracies – The Tablet Anglican Ink
Bishop Mariann Budde to resign, will remain in post during lengthy replacement process Religion News Service
Why We Voted “No”: A Reflection on the Process of Reunification Between the Diocese of Northern Indiana and the Diocese of Indianapolis Anglican Ink
Apologetics Inc. announces ‘The Great Debate 2027: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?’ Religion News Service
Crucifix Goes Up in Flames Inside Church in Disturbing Incident Charisma News
Scientists Find Ancient Virus DNA Hidden in 1,000-Year-Old Gospel Charisma News

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