Staff writer
Pope tells US bishops to rethink their approach to sex abuse scandal
The bishops are meeting for a spiritual retreat directed by the Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa.

GAFCON chair slams CofE transgender guidance as 'false teaching'
Okoh said calls for 'dialogue' masked the continuing spread of 'false teaching'.

Methodist ANC chaplain faces protests over leaked recording of crude comments about women ministers
Rev Dr Vukile Mehana was recorded discussing the robing of men by women with Methodist church member Raymond Sibanga.

Samaritan's Purse to open Ebola treatment centre in DRC
Now in its seventh month, the outbreak has been described as the second worst ever.

Africa is now the most dangerous region for Catholic missionaries
During 2018 40 missionaries were killed throughout the world, up from 23 the previous year.

Methodist fund managers take Ted Baker to task over harassment allegations
Kelvin stepped down when allegations against him surfaced of 'forced hugging' and 'ear kissing'.

Justin Bieber alludes to Christian faith in new face tattoo
Justin Bieber has added to his extensive collection of tattoos with a new facial inking that alludes to his Christian faith.

New York's third gender birth certificates come into effect
New York City residents who do not identify as male or female can now opt for a third gender on their birth certificates.

Holy Rumpus: New partnership for CMS pioneer mission programme
Holy Rumpus will offer the CMS Certificate in Pioneer Mission and is for people looking to develop their understanding and practice of pioneering mission.

Catholic Church in NSW loses 'Ellis defence' against child abuse claims
Victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy in New South Wales are now able to sue the Church after the abolition of the state's notorious 'Ellis defence'.

Persecution of Christians is 'set to rise' in 2019
Release said its partners support the view that persecution is rising and have warned the trend will continue into 2019.

Romney blasts Trump in stinging editorial: President has 'not risen to the mantle of his office'
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has launched an excoriating attack on President Donald Trump in an opinion piece for the Washington Post.

Bishop of Lichfield makes discipleship, vocation and evangelism the priority for 2019
Bishop Michael Ipgrave admitted it was tempting to curl up and hibernate in the dead of winter, but he challenged the faithful to instead move out of their comfort zones to share the Good News of Christ.
Pope Francis appeals for peace and unity in New Year's message
Pope Francis has expressed his regret over a lack of unity around the world in his first message of the new year.

Community is 'joy and blessing', says Archbishop of Canterbury in call for national unity
The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged Britain to overcome the 'divisions' of recent years in a New Year sermon.
Egypt's new agency to fight sectarian violence welcomed by Church leader
The agency was formed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following repeated attacks by Islamist extremists on the country's churches and minority Christian community.