Religious groups

Church of the Eagle and the Condor can now drink ayahuasca legally in the U.S.

May 7, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used by Indigenous cultures in the Amazon and Orinoco. It is now often used to help treat depression, PTSD, trauma, and other mental illnesses and to promote spiritual and emotional development. The Church of the Eagle and the Condor is officially the first non-Christian church in the U.S to obtain legal protections to use it as a sacrament.

Church of the Eagle and the Condor can now drink ayahuasca legally in the U.S. Read more

United Methodist Church lifts bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings

May 1, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Delegates overwhelmingly approved the changes, 692 to 51, during the United Methodist Church’s General Conference. Shortly after the vote, spontaneous celebrations erupted on the conference center floor. Hundreds of people began cheering and singing. One of the hymn lyrics distinguishable in the crowd was, “You are a child, you are a child of God.” The UMC is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the U.S., with over five million members and 29,000 churches.

United Methodist Church lifts bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings Read more

Pope Francis approves blessing same-sex couples in “major step forward”

December 18, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The Rev. James Martin, a prominent American advocate for LGBTQ+ Catholics, hailed the decision. “The Vatican’s new declaration ‘Fiducia supplicans’ is major step forward in the church’s ministry to LGBTQ people and recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships,” he posted on X.

Pope Francis approves blessing same-sex couples in “major step forward” Read more

The Vatican says transgender people can be baptized

November 9, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The Vatican, which leads the Catholic Church, has said that transgender people and people in same-sex relationships can be baptized and serve as witnesses at weddings, and trans people can also be godparents as well.

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Pope Francis gives women right to vote in bishops’ meeting for first time

May 1, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that gathers the world’s bishops together for periodic meetings, following decades of demands by women to have the right to vote.

Pope Francis gives women right to vote in bishops’ meeting for first time Read more

Mormon church endorses U.S. federal marriage equality bill

November 16, 2022 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The 17-million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now supports a bill that codifies the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in any state by other states and the federal government.

Mormon church endorses U.S. federal marriage equality bill Read more

$500 million divestment from fossil fuel companies announced by global faith institutions

July 28, 2022 | By Brendan Hoffman | Change Milestones, Change Milestones by Kindling

The thirty-five institutions include Anglican, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, and Quaker organizations and represent over $1.2 billion in combined assets.

$500 million divestment from fossil fuel companies announced by global faith institutions Read more

35 faith institutions from seven countries announce multimillion-dollar fossil fuel divestment

July 19, 2022 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The group, organized by the World Council of Churches, Operation Noah, Laudato Si’ Movement, Green Anglicans, and GreenFaith, has more than $1.2 billion in combined assets under management.

35 faith institutions from seven countries announce multimillion-dollar fossil fuel divestment Read more

Saint Marys Cathedral, Natchez, United States

Christian leaders call for climate action, issue unprecedented joint statement

September 9, 2021 | By Peter Schulte | Change Milestones

In a statement, the heads of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion appealed to COP26 delegates to take action “for the sake of the earth which God has given us.”

Christian leaders call for climate action, issue unprecedented joint statement Read more

The United Church of Christ becomes the first mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S. to ordain an openly gay clergyperson

May 3, 1972 | By Peter Schulte | Change Milestones, Past Progress

The Rev. Dr. William R. Johnson was the first openly gay person ordained in the United States and perhaps the first worldwide in a mainline Protestant denomination. His ordination took place on June 25, 1972 at the Community UCC in San Carlos, California, authorized by the Golden Gate Association of the Northern California/Nevada Conference UCC.

The United Church of Christ becomes the first mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S. to ordain an openly gay clergyperson Read more

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