Less than a day after issuing an apology to the homosexual community for promoting counseling methods that included reparative therapy that “stigmatized parents,” Exodus International—a Christian ministry that aimed to help people struggling with homosexuality—announced it would close after nearly 40 years of operation.

Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted Wednesday (June 12) to stand with churches and families that drop ties with the Boy Scouts of America over its decision to allow openly gay Scouts, and urged the BSA to remove leaders who supported the change in policy. Members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination also acknowledged the right of churches to remain in Scouting.

The number of churches that were dismissed from Presbyterian Church (USA) last year has increased by fivefold compared to 2011, says a recently released report. According to statistics released Thursday by the Office of the General Assembly for PC(USA), 110 congregations were granted dismissal in 2012 in order to join other denominations.

A new Gallup Poll reveals that over three-quarters of Americans (77%) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20% say religion’s influence is increasing; but 75% of Americans say they think it would be positive for American society if more Americans were religious.

Pastors win a round as the New York City Council approves resolution on houses of worship renting from public schools.

The Boy Scouts of America pass a resolution to allow openly homosexual boys to participate in Scouting, forcing opponents to seek alternative programs for boys

Several dozen business owners have sued the federal government over a provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act that requires many employers to include free coverage of contraceptive services in their employees’ health insurance plans. The business owners contend that, like religious institutions, they should not be forced to pay for services that conflict with their religiously based objections to birth control, sterilization or emergency contraception.On May 23, 2013, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will hear oral arguments in Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius,1 the first such case involving a sizable business to reach the appeals-court level.

The Church of Scotland has voted in favour of allowing openly gay men and women to become ministers, while affirming its “current doctrine and practice in relation to human sexuality”, which stops gay people becoming ministers.

The Internal Revenue Service has come under fire in recent days for targeting conservative organizations during the 2012 political season. Not only did the IRS target conservative political groups, but the heightened scrutiny also included well-known Christian ministries.

A new Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the globe finds that most adherents of the world’s second-largest religion are deeply committed to their faith and want its teachings to shape not only their personal lives but also their societies and politics. At the same time, the survey finds that even in many countries where there is strong backing for sharia, most Muslims favor religious freedom for people of other faiths.