By Bob Allen As the nation’s most racially diverse Protestant denomination, American Baptists must take the lead in eradicating racism and violence such as the June 17 hate crime that took nine lives at a historic African-American church in Charleston,…
Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage in all 50 states
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court ruled by a thin margin June 26 that the Constitution allows religious objection to same-sex marriage but does not permit the government to deny marriage benefits to gay couples that are available to…
Black, white pastors unite in ‘war’ on fear, racism
By Bob Allen A century-and-a-half after the United States fought a civil war over slavery, two black and two white Baptist pastors in Kentucky say it is time for another war against “fear and racism.” “This war will not employ…
Jeff Haggray to lead American Baptist mission agency
By Bob Allen The former District of Columbia Baptist Convention executive minister and former pastor of Washington’s First Baptist Church has been named executive director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies. According to American Baptist News Service, Jeffrey Haggray, interim…
Rob Nash named interim dean at McAfee
By Bob Allen Mercer University’s James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology announced June 25 the appointment of an interim dean to take over when founding dean Alan Culpepper steps down July 1. Rob Nash, a professor of missions and…
SACS extends probation for Louisiana College
By Bob Allen Louisiana College’s accrediting agency is keeping the private Christian school in Pineville, La., on probation, giving officials more time to address concerns about undue external influence by the Louisiana Baptist Convention. The accrediting commission for the Southern…
Baptist colleges lose Obamacare challenge
By Bob Allen A federal appeals court ruled June 22 that the religious exercise of two Texas Baptist colleges isn’t substantially burdened by a requirement they opt out of contraceptive coverage required under Obamacare. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of…
Union University murder trial postponed
By Bob Allen The trial of a former Union University student charged with murdering his fiancée 16 months ago has been postponed a second time. Charles Pittman, a former Christian ministries major and member of the golf team at the Baptist-affiliate…
Mohler won’t remove slaveholder names from seminary buildings
By Bob Allen The president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s oldest seminary says he agrees with the denomination’s ethicist that it’s time to take down the Confederate flag, but he has no plans to remove the names of slaveholders from…