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[Episcopal News Service] The disciplinary hearing in two Title IV cases against former Florida Bishop John Howard has been delayed to an unspecified future date, according to an updated scheduling order detailing the next steps in the cases over the coming four months. Howard’s cases previously had been scheduled for a hearing April 30-May 2. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe had hoped negotiations with Howard would produce an accord to resolve the matters without a hearing, though those negotiations have yet to produce any public agreement in the cases, which involve allegations of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and financial improprieties. While accord talks continue, both sides must now follow the new timeline through mid-August for filing documentation and conducting witness depositions in preparation for a hearing. New dates for a hearing “shall be scheduled in a future order,” the hearing panel said. Howard served the Jacksonville-based Diocese of Florida for 20 years until his retirement in October 2023, after reaching the church’s mandatory clergy retirement age of 72. One of the two cases filed under the church’s Title IV canons alleges that the diocese, under Howard’s leadership, engaged in a pattern of discrimination against LGBTQ+ clergy and aspirants to ordained ministry, as well as their supporters. Howard, while affirming his conservative theological beliefs, has denied the claims of discrimination. The second case is unrelated and centers on three financial matters. Howard is accused of improperly benefiting from a home loan provided by his Jacksonville-based diocese that the diocese eventually forgave, and he is accused of spending money from a bishop’s discretionary account on home improvements. The case also details concerns about the transparency and propriety of an arrangement between Howard, an anonymous donor and an independent diocesan foundation to boost the bishop’s salary while also fulfilling corresponding pension obligations in the years before his retirement. Howard, in his written responses to these allegations, affirmed many of the underlying facts but denied all wrongdoing. Rowe issued a statement in February explaining that he hoped to reach an accord, or disciplinary agreement, with Howard “that promotes healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation, in accordance with the values that guide the Title IV process.” Such an agreement to resolve the matter, in consultation with the complainants, would be subject to approval by the church’s Disciplinary Board for Bishops. The presiding bishop continues to hope for an accord, and his office will provide updates when possible, according to a church spokesperson. Title IV of The Episcopal Church’s canons sets out standards of conduct for all ordained people in the church and provides a process for addressing misconduct allegations. Most complaints against bishops do not result in extensive Title IV proceedings; when they do, most details typically remain confidential unless public disclosure is required at the hearing panel stage. Hearing panels are made up of members of the larger Disciplinary Board for Bishops. On April 7, the hearing panel in Howard’s cases met with attorneys for both sides to discuss a new scheduling order in the case. The panel ordered both sides to produce relevant documents by May 30 and complete depositions by July 25. The church’s attorney must identify expert witnesses by July 8, and Howard’s attorneys have until July 21 to name their expert witnesses. Deadlines to name rebuttal witness extend into August, and expert depositions must be complete by Aug. 18. – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

Feeling sidelined by Gen Z’s spiritual spotlight? Damilola Makinde invites millennials to rediscover their purpose in the quiet revival

Church leaders and Christians in Africa are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, 21 April.

Easter Monday is a popular holiday in Rome, a day Italians head out to the countryside or the beaches with picnic baskets weighed down with pasta bakes, piles of seasonal vegetables, prosecco, and Easter cake.

The Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) recently marked a milestone in its journey of faith and intellectual engagement by celebrating its 25th anniversary. On April 24, 2025, the occasion was graced with a thought-provoking address by the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). […]

The post Reformed Christianity in the 21st Century: A Gift or a Challenge? appeared first on WCRC.

The earth trembled beneath their feet—but while buildings swayed in Thailand, they crumbled in Myanmar. In the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck Southeast Asia in late March, two neighboring countries—Thailand and Myanmar—have been left grappling with its impact. Yet the contrast between their realities couldn’t be more stark. Northern Thailand, including cities like […]

The post “Shaken to the Core”: As Thailand Recovers, Myanmar Faces a Crisis Within a Crisis appeared first on WCRC.

Church of the Brethren leaders are sending a letter expressing condolence to the Catholic Church on the death of Pope Francis. The letter is signed by Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley and general secretary David Steele, and is being sent to the Vatican and to denominational ecumenical partners that are based in the Catholic tradition.

A congregation in Germany is a thriving, diverse church community that welcomes people of all faith traditions, including many who are new to the country.

Easter is not one day in a year, but a whole season of gazing into the mouth of an empty tomb believing against all odds, and even in our fear, that the rolled-away stone opens a door of promise to a broken world.

The post What does Easter mean to you? appeared first on The Anglican Church of Canada.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 4/24/25)—International Ministries (IM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Shenton has been named Area Director for East and South Asia. Her appointment is the culmination of a months-long global search for a successor to Rev. Benjamin Chan, who retired at the end of August 2024 after serving 32 […]

The post International Ministries Announces New Area Director for East and South Asia appeared first on ABCUSA.