Taking a Stand
Earlier this month, a church in Washington, D.C. was awarded trademark rights for “Proud Boys,” the extremist group that vandalized their property the night of a pro-Trump rally in 2020. The historic court ruling on February 3 means the far-right organization is prohibited from selling merchandise carrying its name or symbols without permission from the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"For the first time in our nation's history, a Black institution owns property of a white supremacist group,” Rev. William H. Lamar IV said in a statement on the church website calling for folks to “stand with us and against hate.”
Emergency Training
Reagan National Airport’s Senior Chaplain is sharing a few details about disaster training put to the test the night of a deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. On January 29, Rev. Nace Lanier reported for duty after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac, killing 67 people.
"We have trained and prepared for an incident through the years," Lanier wrote in an email to RNS. "Working with the staff and communicating with the Emergency coordinators allowed us to quickly set up a location that was safe, quiet, and as comfortable as possible for the friends and family.”
A psychiatrist is tackling the taboo of discussing mental health in faith circles. Last month, Dr. Atasha Jordan spoke at a panel discussion at Christ Community Church in Philadelphia. The roundtable event—aimed at raising awareness of how communities can support those struggling with mental health—was a collaboration between the American Psychiatric Association, the church, and the Christian Mental Health Initiative (CMHI). Under Dr. Jordan’s leadership, CMHI has provided free mental health first aid training to churches.
Houses of Faith & Immigration
Leaders of faith communities across the country are speaking out against raids on houses of worship conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last month, the White House reported 962 criminal arrests made by the federal agency were recorded on January 29.
Since then, Vice President JP Vance made headlines for accusations against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for resettling "illegal immigrants.” New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan responded to the blast, calling the VP’s comments “scurrilous” and “nasty.”
In Georgia, a coalition of Quaker groups is suing the Department of Homeland Security for its decision to reverse policies that once prevented ICE from raiding "sensitive locations” such as schools and sanctuaries. The lawsuit was filed the day after an arrest at Iglesia Fuente de Vida in Dekalb County.
In New York, folks turned out—and spoke out—during a rally at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowrey on Thursday, February 6. Located in the East Village, the sanctuary became a gathering place for a community concerned by the recent changes to immigration policies in the United States.
“I am here representing the millions of undocumented immigrants that are the building blocks of this country, that are now being terrorized day after day,” one participant shared. “Our community is deciding to go to work and pay their rent or stay home to avoid deportation.”
Faith Properties
Hebrew Union College is slated to sell its Greenwich Village building to New York University for $75 million. HUC’s transition out of its West 4th Street location and into a “landmark building” at an undisclosed location is expected in 2027—the exact dates unknown.
“As we plan our path forward, we are positioning the institution to better serve our students, faculty, staff, and community,” HUC President Andrew Rehfeld said in a statement last month. “Our goal is for our physical spaces to be inviting and inspiring, reflecting the majesty and sacred purpose of our work.”
On Tuesday, February 5, the NYPD released footage of a suspect breaking into a Brooklyn synagogue and wandering into various rooms. The intruder is believed to have stolen $15,000 from multiple donation boxes at the Congregation Agudath Sholom last month, according to police.
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