By Bob Allen A Maryland jury has found 56-year-old Nathaniel Morales guilty of five counts of sex crimes he committed in the 1980s and early 1990s at a prominent Washington-area evangelical church. Leaders allegedly knew about abuse allegations but did…
Christian radio causes people to hate Christianity, claims SBC official
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist official is standing by a recent comment about Christian talk radio that prompted a network head to request publicly that he apologize or at least explain. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention…
Trial shines light on alleged abuse cover-up
By Bob Allen A longtime pastor at a D.C.-area evangelical church testified in court May 13 that he did not report crimes alleged in 1992 against a man standing trial this week on charges of sexual abuse, according to a…
SBC official says gender an issue of spiritual warfare
By Bob Allen Rightly applied, male headship and wifely submission is good for women, Southern Baptists’ top spokesman for moral concerns said at a recent conference on “complementary” differences between the sexes. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious…
Council for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood names new president
By Bob Allen A group formed nearly 30 years ago to combat feminism in the evangelical church has named its eighth and youngest president. The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood announced May 12 the selection of Owen Strachan to…
Faith leaders support hike in minimum wage
By Bob Allen Paying a full-time worker $290 a week in today’s economy is immoral, faith leaders said in a recent letter urging Congress to raise the minimum wage. “The call to raise the minimum wage is about more than…
Governor says gay marriage hampers birth rate
By Bob Allen Lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear filed a legal brief May 7 claiming the commonwealth has an economic interest in banning gay marriage because it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. The governor…
Murder, possible kidnapping, rock Georgia congregation
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister who leads a multi-denominational church in central Georgia says the congregation is in shock and uncertain about what to expect next in the wake of a murder and possible kidnapping mystery involving two of…
La. Supreme Court dismisses Louisiana College suit
By Bob Allen The Supreme Court of Louisiana has upheld lower court rulings that judges cannot resolve a lawsuit alleging academic freedom violations at a Baptist school without delving into issues of theology and church governance, an unconstitutional violation of…
Gaddy retiring as head of Interfaith Alliance
By Bob Allen Welton Gaddy, an ordained Baptist minister and pastor for preaching and worship at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, La., announced May 8 he will retire as president of the Interfaith Alliance at the end of 2014. Since…
American Baptists defend clergy housing allowance
By Bob Allen American Baptist Churches USA joined other faith groups in a friend-of-the-court brief filed last month urging the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the ministerial housing allowance as a constitutional accommodation of religion. The brief…
Pastor arrested after domestic dispute
By Bob Allen A well-known Texas Baptist pastor was charged with misdemeanor assault after police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home Tuesday morning. Andy Pittman, 43, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas, was taken…