Surely there’s someone out there who doesn’t like Adelle M. Banks.

I just haven’t found that person yet.

A rare soul beloved by colleagues and competitors alike, Banks is a veteran religion journalist who recently celebrated 25 years (that’s an eternity in journalism circles!) with Religion News Service.

“Adelle is one of the sharpest, most thoughtful colleagues on the religion beat,” said Sarah Pulliam Bailey, religion writer for the Washington Post and a former RNS national correspondent. “I know that when I'm reading a story by her, it's going to be smart, timely and well reported. Once upon a time, she would copy edit my stories, and I was ever grateful for her eagle eyes.”

Bob Smietana, editor-in-chief of RNS, described her this way: “You won’t find a better reporter or a better person on the religion beat than Adelle Banks. Throughout her career … she’s reported on religion, spirituality and matters of faith with a steady hand, a skeptical eye and a sense of empathy and understanding about how religion shapes our neighbor’s lives and the world around us. People trust Adelle because she gets the facts rights and always sees to the heart of a story. It’s a privilege to be on the same team as Adelle.”

Here’s something that even Banks’ most loyal readers might not realize: She loves to sing!

She has lended her voice to choirs (think Mozart, in particular) and choruses since the fifth grade. Both in her early years working for newspapers in upstate New York and in her time with RNS in Washington, D.C., she joined local singing groups.

“I currently sing everything from classical music to spirituals in a community chorale and as an occasional soloist in my congregation,” Banks told me. “However, when I cover a worship service, I usually don’t sing because I consider myself to be an observer rather than a participant.”

But on those occasions, she still taps her feet.

In the “Inside the Godbeat: Behind the Bylines” section of this week’s column, look for more of my interview with Banks and her reflections on her career journey.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Keeping the Faith: Via the Columbia Journalism Review, this is a really interesting discussion that asks, “How can journalists’ personal understanding of faith strengthen their reporting?” Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, talks to The Atlantic’s McCay Coppins, who is Mormon; Columbia University religion and journalism professor Ari Goldman, who is Jewish; and Religion News Service writer Aysha Khan, who is Muslim.

That question might be particularly relevant as the New York Times launches a search for a new national correspondent who will cover faith and values and be based outside of New York City or Washington, D.C. Two names (among many) that would be on my list of candidates: The Atlantic’s Emma Green, a native of Nashville, Tenn., and the Washington Post’s Sarah Pulliam Bailey, who calls Indiana home.

2. God and a Glock: On Sunday’s front page, the Dallas Morning News’ Allie Morris delved into Texas churchgoers training to fight off attackers with guns. Those practicing their skills aim fake bullets at real people. “If you haven’t shot somebody in the face, how do you know you can?” trainer Jack Mills explains. Interest in church security has spiked since two worshipers were killed Dec. 29 at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. Shameless plug: I wrote about a recent panel featuring the West Freeway minister and the preacher of another church that experienced a deadly shooting.

Continue reading “This veteran religion journalist likes to sing spirituals — but not when she's working” by Bobby Ross, Jr., at Religion Unplugged.