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Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Episcopal Church Membership Falls Below 1.5 Million Amid Decades-Long Decline

The Episcopal Church continued to experience declining membership in 2025, with its total number of members falling by nearly half a million over the past decade, according to newly released denominational statistics.

UK Church Fights Restrictions on Street Preaching About Hell and Salvation
An evangelical church in Essex, England, has taken legal action against restrictions imposed by local authorities on its public ministry, including a ban on amplified street preaching.
Christian Therapists Challenge Nebraska City’s Conversion Therapy Ban Over Free Speech Rights
Two Christian counselors have taken legal action against the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, arguing that a local ordinance restricting certain therapy discussions about sexual orientation.
Highland Park UMC Moves Toward Leaving Denomination With Vote Set for Oct. 25
Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Texas is preparing for a membership vote later this month that could end its longstanding affiliation with the denomination.

Iran Executes Over 2,000 People in One Year, Up 29%, Rights Group Reports

Iran Executes Over 2,000 People in One Year, Up 29%, Rights Group Reports

Iran carried out more than 2,000 executions over 12 months, marking a 29% increase from the previous year, according to a new human rights report documenting a sharp rise in the country’s use of capital punishment. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) released its findings, warning of growing concerns over the number of executions.

Franklin Graham Meets Vietnamese Minister as Government Pledges Greater Religious Freedom
The Rev. Franklin Graham hosted a delegation of senior Vietnamese officials and church leaders in North Carolina last week for discussions on religious freedom in the Southeast Asian nation. The delegation included Nguyen Dinh Khang, Vietnam’s minister of ethnic and religious affairs and a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee.
More Than 9 in 10 Protestant Pastors Reject Political Endorsements From the Pulpit Despite IRS Stance
An overwhelming majority of Protestant pastors in the United States say they have no intention of endorsing political candidates during church services ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, even if such endorsements would not jeopardize their churches’ tax-exempt status, found that 93% would refrain from publicly supporting candidates from the pulpit.
Bible Education Group Secures Settlement, Apology in Washington School District Religious Discrimination Case
A Washington state school district has reached a settlement with a Christian organization that provides off-campus Bible instruction to public school students, agreeing to apologize, revise its policies and pay $275,000 in legal fees following a dispute over religious discrimination. Everett Public Schools committed to providing religious liberty training.

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