Tennessee man who opened fire outside his former Jewish school avoids prison by pleading guilty to assault.

The top leader of the Anglican Church in North America faces a church trial over alleged abuse of power and sexual immorality. A board of inquiry said Friday it found probable cause for charges against Archbishop Stephen Wood, who was suspended in November after the allegations surfaced. He denies any misconduct. The church, formed in 2009 by conservatives breaking away from the U.S. Episcopal Church, has about 130,000 members. The board's ruling follows a formal set of charges filed in October. If found guilty, Wood could face censure, suspension or removal.

New footage shows six Israeli hostages celebrating Hanukkah while held captive in Gaza months before they were killed. Israel says all were killed by Hamas last August, shortly before Israeli troops arrived. The videos, published Thursday by a forum representing hostage families, show the hostages under duress, playing cards, and lighting holiday candles. Some of the footage, found in Gaza, likely dates to December 2023, weeks after their abduction during Hamas' October 7 attack. The Israeli army says their bodies were recovered from a tunnel, and autopsies confirm they were shot at close range. Families have praised the hostages' unity and strength.

Eastern Orthodoxy in the U.S. is experiencing a surge in converts, partly due to online content. The Very Rev. Andreas Blom encourages new members to engage in-person once they join Holy Theophany Orthodox Church in Colorado Springs. Some Orthodox content creators, like Jonathan Pageau, emphasize the importance of in-person community even as they take advantage of digital tools. There has been a focus on recent male converts who find Orthodoxy through content online about masculinity. While the internet has expanded Orthodoxy's reach, church leaders are addressing challenges like extremism and the need for experienced spiritual guidance.

Storm Byron has hit Gaza and worsened the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. Heavy rains have flooded tent camps and have left Palestinians in dire conditions on Thursday. Aid groups say Israel hasn't met its ceasefire agreement to allow 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees warns that cold, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions increase illness risks. The Palestinian Civil Defense has reported more than 2,500 distress calls because of storm damage. Senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal has urged for more aid and infrastructure rehabilitation. The ceasefire agreement remains at a critical point with both sides facing obstacles.

From a bird's-eye view high above St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, a stunning photograph shows the estimated 250,000 mourners who gathered f…

Sound baths are meditative experiences where participants lie down and are immersed in sound waves from instruments like gongs, singing bowls and chimes. Increasingly, churches, temples and synagogues are embracing sound baths as a way of connecting with neighbors who may be spiritual but not religious. Faith leaders who offer sound baths are tailoring the practice, which some have viewed as new age, to reflect their own roots and traditions. Sound baths have surged in popularity since the coronavirus pandemic as a way to cope with stress, anxiety and isolation.