By Bob Allen Religious arguments against same-sex marriage are weakened in society by the breakup of traditional families, a research fellow with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention said at a recent film festival connecting…
Missouri Baptist group endorses law addressing ‘threat’ to religious liberty
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention called on state lawmakers to enact legislation or propose a constitutional amendment to enhance religious liberty and freedom of conscience protections for pastors and churches in a resolution at the group’s annual gathering…
CBF renews partnership with Global Women
By Bob Allen Leaders of Global Women, a woman-to-woman missions organization founded in 2001, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently inked a new partnership agreement for future collaboration. Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator of the 1,800-church CBF, said the new relationship…
Kentucky Baptists elect black president
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention elected its first African-American president Nov. 10 at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Ky. Kevin Smith, teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville and an assistant professor of Christian preaching at…
South Carolina Baptists boot church after pastor performs gay wedding
By Bob Allen The South Carolina Baptist Convention voted Nov. 10 to withdraw fellowship from a church whose pastor married a gay couple with blessing of the church deacons. About 300 messengers at the 195th annual meeting of the state…
Southern Baptists to be host for Bevin’s inaugural worship service
By Bob Allen Kentucky Gov.-elect Matt Bevin will break tradition by holding his inaugural worship service at a Southern Baptist church outside of downtown Frankfort, Ky. Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, confirmed on Twitter Nov….
Supreme Court to hear religious challenge to Obamacare
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Nov. 6 to hear appeals from religious non-profits including Baptist universities and the Southern Baptist Convention’s insurance provider challenging required coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare. The high court combined seven cases to…
BJC essay contest to explore tension between job duties, personal belief
By Bob Allen Should elected officials be able to opt out of certain job duties because of their personal religious beliefs? How far should government go to accommodate elected or appointed government officials who object to issuing marriage licenses to…
Pew survey shows growing religious acceptance of gays
By Bob Allen Nearly all major religious groups have become significantly more accepting of homosexuality in recent years, even those, like evangelicals and Mormons, traditionally opposed to same-sex relationships, according to a new Pew study of religious belief and practice in…