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Thursday's Briefing: A Legal Push on Church Politics, and Anglican Provinces Step Back from Same-Sex Rites

By The FaithDaily Desk

Good morning. The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to let churches endorse political candidates, Religion News Service reports. Government lawyers argued that a key part of the Johnson Amendment, which bars nonprofits from taking part in political campaigns, should not apply to churches. They asked the court to overturn a lower court's decision dismissing a lawsuit that challenged the ban.

Two Anglican provinces stepped back from recognising same-sex relationships. The Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales said it will not introduce legislation in April 2027 to permit same-sex weddings in Welsh Anglican churches, calling for further theological reflection first, Anglican Ink reports. In southern Africa, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa's Provincial Synod voted against two motions that would have opened the door to prayers and special liturgies for same-sex couples. Anglican Ink notes the vote came at what is expected to be the final synod of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba as Primate.

Other Anglican governance stories moved the same day, all reported by Anglican Ink. The ACNA College of Bishops deposed Derek Jones from ordained ministry on 23 September, following his conviction on four canonical charges. Questions were raised over oversight at St Helen's Bishopsgate in London after its rector suggested delegated episcopal oversight was tainted by false teaching. Virginia's ACNA bishops urged voters to reject a proposed state constitutional amendment on reproductive freedom.

In a Virginia courtroom, Jeffrey Turner Taylor, the former youth minister at Falls Church Episcopal, pleaded not guilty to several federal sex abuse charges in Alexandria, Anglican Ink reports. The alleged abuse of boys in the 1990s and early 2000s was first exposed by a church-commissioned investigation in 2024.

Elsewhere, Anglican Ink reports Kenya's Anglican archbishop warned that the country is heading in the wrong direction, condemning a worsening economy, rising political violence, and eroding democratic norms ahead of the 2027 election. Anglican Ink also covered a new Vatican interfaith statement, published on 16 September with Pope Leo XIV's approval, that asks Christians to hold together two convictions about the Jewish people and salvation.

Charisma News reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a state visit to the United States, invited 100,000 young Americans to study in China. Charisma News also cites a Lifeway Research survey, reported by The Christian Post, finding that more than half of young Protestant churchgoers believe changing culture can make some biblical truths obsolete.

In commentary, Christianity Today argued that Christians should delete social media, and The Gospel Coalition reviewed a book drawn from Tim Keller's teaching on the stories that shape us. Charisma News, citing the Daily Mail, reported that researchers examining a Turkish rock formation say they have found evidence of a manmade object beneath the surface at a site some hope holds the remains of Noah's Ark.

Zoom out: On a day dominated by Anglican reporting, two provinces on separate continents paused or rejected proposals to recognise same-sex relationships, according to Anglican Ink.

What we're following

Anglican Ink: Christ alone, but not Christians alone? Rome’s new statement on Jews and salvation Read it
Religion News Service: DOJ asks appeals court to allow churches to endorse political candidates Read it
Charisma News: Report: Suspected Site of Noah’s Ark ‘100 Percent Confirmed’ to Be a ‘Manmade Object’ Read it
Christianity Today: Why Christians Should Delete Social Media Read it

Sources

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