By Bob Allen In a press release Jan. 7, the 1.3 million-member Georgia Baptist Convention protested the recent firing of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran for writing a religious book deemed intolerant toward gays. Earlier, the 3,600-church state affiliate of…
Lobbyist’s wife still missing after six months
By Bob Allen Jan. 7 marked the six-month anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of a Missouri Baptist lobbyist’s wife. Lynn Messer, 52, wife of Missouri Family Network leader Kerry Messer, vanished in the middle of the night July 8 from…
Baptist fire chief fired over anti-gay book controversy
By Bob Allen Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has been fired over controversy about a Christian-themed book he wrote criticized as promoting discriminatory attitudes against gays. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced the termination in a press conference Jan. 6, Cochran’s…
Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler remembered as hero in Baptist life
By Bob Allen A memorial service for Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler — former head of the Southern Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union and an early champion of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship who died Jan. 2 after a long illness — is scheduled for…
Baptist pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen An American Baptist pastor in New York state is under arrest on felony charges of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. New York State Police arrested Thomas Wilson, 63, of Watertown, N.Y., on one count of first-degree sexual…
Glorieta lawsuit reassigned to new judge
By Bob Allen A lawsuit challenging LifeWay Christian Resources’s sale of Glorieta Conference Center in 2013 has been reassigned to a new judge. In September U.S. District Judge James Browning in Albuquerque, N.M., upheld most but not all recommendations by…
Missions leader Carolyn Crumpler dies
By Bob Allen Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler, who promoted Southern Baptist missions for 31 years as head of Woman’s Missionary Union before helping to form the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 1991, died Jan. 2 in Cincinnati. Crumpler, 84, was executive director…
Louisiana College updates whistleblower policy
By Bob Allen Louisiana College trustees updated the school’s whistleblower policy — adding protection against retaliation for reports of malfeasance made in good faith but specifying that accusations that are malicious and knowingly false will be punished — at a year-end meeting…
Trial postponed for accused Baptist preacher
By Bob Allen The trial of a Missouri Baptist preacher charged with child sexual abuse has been continued until Jan. 16, according to court documents quoted by a local newspaper. Travis R. Smith, 44, arrested in 2012 on felony charges…