By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for moral concerns voiced support for the Sept. 23 ouster of a California congregation found guilty of affirming homosexuality, and disputed the argument that conservative Christians already embrace a “third way”…
Southern Baptists oust ‘Third Way’ church
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention has kicked out a California church that voted in May to agree to disagree about whether the Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is always a sin. Acting on behalf of the convention between…
SBC leader says Honeycutt’s ‘holy war’ sermon was destined to fail
By Bob Allen A current Southern Baptist Convention leader says looking back 30 years after Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Roy Honeycutt’s famous “Holy War Sermon,” the moderate Baptist leader’s call to arms seems destined to fail. Among other things,…
Judge says Ten Commandments monument near Oklahoma capitol can stay
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister suing for removal of a Ten Commandments monument at the Oklahoma state capitol won’t get his day in court, a district judge said Sept. 19. Bruce Prescott, former executive director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists…
Kentucky Baptist ‘lostness’ tour hits Louisville
By Bob Allen Strip clubs, run-down neighborhoods and a Sikh temple were among landmarks on a recent “lostness” bus tour of Louisville, Ky., sponsored by Kentucky Baptists. EngageKY, a Kentucky Baptist Convention program to build awareness about needs for church…
Church treasurer charged with theft
By Bob Allen A Georgia woman is under arrest after allegedly stealing more than $93,000 from a Southern Baptist church where she worked. Gwendolyn Hawthorne, 61, of Marietta, Ga., was arrested Sept. 18 on a warrant alleging that she took…
Florida Baptists debate alcohol use
By Bob Allen Describing moderate drinking as a non-issue became an issue for a Southern Baptist pastor in Florida — and for the Baptist state newspaper editor who got more than he bargained for by publishing a story he hoped would…
Culture writer Jonathan Merritt says SBC warning against ‘third way’
By Bob Allen A Religion News Service columnist and son of a former Southern Baptist Convention president says a Baptist state convention’s expulsion of a California church is a warning to other congregations considering the affirmation of lesbians and gays….
Former youth minister faces abuse charges
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist youth minister arrested Aug. 20 in Texas on a warrant has returned to Alabama to face charges of sexual abuse. Charles “Kyle” Adcock, 31, appeared Sept. 12 in Colbert County District Court in…
ERLC head says Baptists should reclaim separation of church and state
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for religious liberty says conservative Christians should reclaim the phrase “separation of church and state” in order to avoid government overreach in matters of faith. Russell Moore, president of the SBC…
Mideast Christians appeal for action
By Bob Allen Christian minorities are in danger of being eradicated in the Middle East, leaders of evangelical and Protestant denominations in Syria and Lebanon said in a joint statement Aug. 29. Leaders of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical…
Church seeks dismissal in abuse lawsuit
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist church in Alabama asked a federal judge Sept. 9 to dismiss a lawsuit alleging liability for child sex crimes committed by a former minister. Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, Ala., filed a…