A church choir sang, Marine band members played and the president of the United States pressed a button to light the first National Christmas Tree under the gaze of thousands of onlookers. For 100 years, the tree has represented a symbol of civil religion as Americans mark the Christmas season. Yesterday (Nov. 30), President Joe Biden did the honors just as President Calvin Coolidge did at that first lighting, and contemporary gospel singer Yolanda Adams sang for the crowds gathered on the Ellipse in the shadow of the White House.

“Spirit in the Dark,” which opened Nov. 18, is the first special exhibition to focus specifically on religion since the museum opened in 2016. Photos and artifacts are accompanied by quotes of famous African American singers, clergy and writers from the pages of Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest (later known as Black World), all publications of the Johnson Publishing Company that, from its founding in 1942, sought to capture African American culture.

'It seems to have picked up some steam within the last couple of years, particularly since the George Floyd murder,' said a spirituals expert about churches offering royalties.

‘I think the one thing that surprised me more than anything was the list,’ said Slade of a recently revealed list of convicted abusers.

Overall, evangelical churches reported experiencing the least disruption to their educational programs, while mainline churches reported the most, followed by Catholic and Orthodox congregations.

Pastors are advocating for vaccines but misinformation has driven some evangelical hesitancy about getting COVID-19 shots, Moore told Washington Post Live.