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Moderator Carmen Lansdowne shares prayers from across the church to the communities affected by the current wildfires in Western Canada.

United Methodist Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel said fellow church members were among more than 40 killed by attackers suspected to be Fulani herders.

[Washington National Cathedral] Washington National Cathedral has unveiled a new online virtual tour of the world’s sixth-largest Gothic Cathedral, allowing visitors to soar through the architectural masterpiece and examine its art and iconography in stunning detail. The project, developed by a team from CoStar Group — a global leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, online marketplaces and 3D digital twin technology — is built from 8 billion data points that were collected with aerial drone footage and Matterport (a CoStar Group brand) technology, which is familiar to many Americans who have toured potential homes for sale.  The result is a stunning visual experience that captures the building’s intricate details down to the centimeter level. CoStar Group engineers say it is one of the largest, most complex digital models ever made using Matterport technology; using the cathedral as a test case, the building’s sheer size and complexity pushed the technology to its limits.  The new virtual tour allows visitors from anywhere in the world to interact with some of the cathedral’s most beloved features, including the soaring vaulted ceiling and a piece of moon rock embedded in the iconic Space Window, and to wander the landscaped gardens on the cathedral exterior.  “One of our highest priorities is creating a best-in-class experience for the thousands of visitors who walk through our doors, and now thanks to the CoStar Group team, anyone can experience the majesty of this building from anywhere in the world,” said the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the cathedral. “The CoStar Group team poured thousands of hours into this project, and the result is nothing short of remarkable.”  Over the course of 2024, CoStar Group teams spent three full days shooting aerial drone footage on the cathedral’s interior and exterior — which required special permission from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration in Washington’s highly restricted airspace. Working with Sonia Coman, the cathedral’s director of digital engagement, crews plotted 2,750 separate Matterport points inside the cathedral, allowing visitors to make their own journey through the vast interior. Informational tags were added to enable visitors to learn about featured cathedral highlights.  The drone footage and Matterport data were stitched together to create a truly immersive digital experience. Engineers developed new Matterport tools to allow online visitors to enter and exit the cathedral, explore rooms inside the newly renovated Virginia Mae Center, and meander through cathedral gardens.   For Andy Florance, founder and chief executive officer of CoStar Group, the project allowed the CoStar Group team to push the limits of technology — skills and tools that can now be deployed on the company’s other projects.  “Washington National Cathedral is not only one of the most iconic and architecturally complex landmarks in the United States — it’s also a testament to history, artistry, and craftsmanship. Capturing the cathedral using CoStar Group’s most advanced imaging and 3D technologies was both a technical challenge and an honor,” said Florance, a former chair of the cathedral chapter (governing board). “This project exemplifies how our innovation in digital modeling can serve both cultural preservation and the future of real estate visualization.”  With the desire to expand the technology, the CoStar Group team, led by Gian Lorenzo Ferretti, a senior architectural photographer and Dave Gedney, a senior cinematographer, stitched the Matterport and drone footage together using animation tools, which created an exact “digital twin” of the cathedral. The experience allows users to see the cathedral rise from the ground far faster than the 83 years (1907-1990) that it took to construct the building. Engineers said the results allow users to digest “massive data presented in a viewable format.”  The project is also a key part of ensuring the cathedral’s long-term physical viability. Similar LiDar technology was used to help rebuild the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris after a devastating 2019 fire, and the highly precise digital scan of the National Cathedral can be deployed to help rebuild, if ever needed. 

The post General Synod Daily Recap: Thursday, June 5, 2025 appeared first on Reformed Church in America.

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe announced June 5 that he had reached an accord with former California Bishop Marc Andrus to resolve the disciplinary complaint against him, which alleged he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with another adult. Under the accord, which was approved by the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, Andrus will remain suspended from ordained ministry until Rowe is “satisfied that he has demonstrated sufficient amendment of life to permit his return,” Rowe said in a letter to the church on the matter. Andrus also will undergo professional psychological evaluation and engage in “counseling and spiritual work” related to the matter. The Title IV canons outline disciplinary processes for all Episcopal clergy. Cases against bishops have drawn increased scrutiny across the church in recent years as some Episcopalians, including some bishops, have warned of a perception that bishops are not held to the same standards as other clergy. The complaint against Andrus was revealed by church leaders in October 2024, the month before Rowe took office as The Episcopal Church’s denominational leader. The church, in announcing that Andrus’ ministry had been restricted, provided few details about the complaint or the complainant. The restriction on Andrus’ ministry was imposed by the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, former bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. Gray-Reeves had been involved in reviewing several disciplinary cases against bishops as the designate of then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Rowe’s predecessor. Most steps in the Title IV disciplinary process remain confidential, though the presiding bishop or his designate has broad discretion under the canons to make some information public if it is deemed “pastorally appropriate” to do so. The canons also state that notices of accords shall be made public. The presiding bishop’s letter said the complainant alleged Andrus engaged in inappropriate communication “over a series of years”; the claim was investigated by a professional with Title IV experience. The accord also provides for appropriate care for the pastoral and therapeutic needs of the complainant. Andrus, one of The Episcopal Church’s most prominent voices on issues of the environment and climate change, led his San Francisco-based diocese for 18 years before retiring from the diocesan post in July 2024. His successor, the Rt. Rev. Austin Rios, was consecrated bishop coadjutor in May 2024 and succeeded Andrus two months later. “In keeping with the canons, I consulted with the complainant during the process of creating the accord,” Rowe said in his letter. “In this matter, as in all Title IV matters, we are guided by the theological foundation of Canon 1 of Title IV, which calls us to healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life, and reconciliation. Please join me in praying for those gifts of the Spirit for everyone affected by this process.” Rios also released a statement to the diocese. “I realize this matter remains painful for many in our diocesan community,” he said. “I will continue to be present with our clergy and congregations in the days ahead. Please join me in praying for healing for all those affected, and for our life together as people rooted in Christ’s mercy and mission.” – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

The Anglican Church of Canada is inviting applications until July 18, 2025, from individuals interested in serving as volunteer members on a new national advisory committee.

The post Call for applications: Ecumenical and Interfaith Advisory Committee appeared first on The Anglican Church of Canada.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 6/5/25)—American Baptist Churches USA is pleased to announce the availability of Clergy Disaster Relief Grants. These grants are designed to provide pastoral support during times of crisis caused by natural or human-made disasters. The purpose of this grant is to assist clergy who have experienced personal hardship as a result […]

The post ABCUSA Announces Clergy Disaster Relief Grant appeared first on ABCUSA.

Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today condemns the Trump administration’s proclamation that establishes a new travel ban for individuals from 19 countries. The ban includes sweeping travel restrictions for 12 countries, and partial restrictions for 7 other countries. The proclamation bans people, based on their nationality, from traveling to the United States with few narrow exceptions. The administration justifies this latest ... Read More

A 5 June webinar, “Accompaniment, solidarity, and joint action for justice and peace,” organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, starkly illustrated the how crucial it is to carry the voices and share the stories from Palestine and Israel. 

The U.S. House of Representatives just passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act intended to deliver the President’s domestic agenda. Among the provisions is a 10-year moratorium on states from regulating artificial intelligence. It reads: “…no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce, during the...