By Bob Allen The pastor of a Kentucky Baptist church making national headlines for changing its wedding policy to include same-sex couple admits he is a little surprised by all the attention. “This seems like big news for us, but…
SBC leader opposes legislation to reverse Hobby Lobby ruling
By Bob Allen Southern Baptists’ top public-policy spokesman pledged to oppose a bill on the fast track in the U.S. Senate to override the recent Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case and compel for-profit employers to cover the…
Union University murder case headed to grand jury
By Bob Allen A judge in Jackson, Tenn., ruled July 10 that there is enough evidence against a former Union University student accused of murdering his fiancée and staging her death to look like a suicide to send the case…
Pastor pleads guilty to domestic violence
By Bob Allen An East Texas pastor arrested May 6 after police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home pleaded guilty July 8 to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. ABC affiliate KTRE reported…
Baptist church ordains transgender woman
In what is likely a first, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington ordained Allyson Robinson, who was previously ordained as a man, to the gospel ministry. A transgender woman who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and pastored a church in…
Clergy divided over religious exemption to discrimination ban in upcoming executive order
By Bob Allen Clergy lined up on both sides in letters asking President Obama to both include and remove a religious exemption from his upcoming executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation….
Former assistant pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen A former staff member at a Southern Baptist church in Alabama was arrested June 5 after two individuals came forward claiming they were sexually abused as children. Jay Strickland, 50, a nurse anesthetist, paramedic and a former…
Publisher to correct ‘errors’ in Vines autobiography
By Bob Allen A woman who claims she was victimized by a preacher years later exposed as a sexual predator says a new autobiography by former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines minimizes his and fellow former SBC President Paige…
SACS commission releases statement on Brewton-Parker accreditation woes
By Bob Allen The board of trustees of a regional accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the South voted June 19 to remove the accreditation of Brewton-Parker College for failure to comply with membership standards. Those standards related…
Caner ordered to pay attorney fees
By Bob Allen After losing a copyright infringement lawsuit to prevent the posting of videos alleging contradictions in different versions of his once famous “Jihad to Jesus” testimony, a Georgia Baptist college president now must pay more than $34,000 in…
SNAP leader says police should investigate alleged abuse cover-up by DOM
By Bob Allen An advocate for clergy abuse victims said July 2 that police should investigate whether a Southern Baptist director of missions concealed molestation by the youth minister at a church he previously served as pastor. Mack Allen Davis,…
Judge dismisses Sovereign Grace appeal
By Bob Allen Eleven plaintiffs seeking a day in court to prove that leaders of an evangelical church-planting network conspired to cover up sexual abuse of children were dealt a blow June 26, when a Maryland Court of Special Appeals…