By Bob Allen A 37-year-old Southern Baptist youth minister is under arrest in Sasche, Texas, on charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Derek Hutter, minister to students at South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, Texas,…
Broad Baptist coalition asks Houston mayor to withdraw subpoenas for sermons
By Bob Allen Moderate and conservative Baptists set aside differences in an Oct. 15 letter opposing subpoenas ordering five Houston pastors to turn over sermons as evidence in a lawsuit seeking repeal of the city’s non-discrimination ordinance. Top leaders of…
LGBT leaders open to dialogue with SBC
By Bob Allen Two weeks ahead of a major Southern Baptist Convention discussion about homosexuality and the future of marriage, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists is collecting signatures for an online petition requesting a place at the table….
Baptist leaders oppose subpoenaing of pastors
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister who leads a national interfaith organization voiced concern about the subpoenaing of church sermons in a lawsuit challenging Houston’s non-discrimination ordinance. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, said in an Oct. 15 letter…
Faith leaders support economic opportunity for Americans with disabilities
By Bob Allen While restrooms, buildings and parking lots are more accessible for people with disabilities than a generation ago, their employment opportunities are just as limited as they were when President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities…
Pastor urges compassion for Ebola victim’s family
By Bob Allen Whatever the public thinks about the West African man who brought Ebola to the United States, a Baptist pastor who has been ministering to his family says people should remember that he caught the disease that killed…
Pro-gay Baptists welcome same-sex marriage in N.C.
By Bob Allen A 97-church group that advocates LGBT inclusion in Baptist churches welcomed last week’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in North Carolina. “I am overjoyed to see another state remove the barriers to our member congregations being able to…
Kentucky Baptist Convention poised to dismiss Crescent Hill
By Bob Allen A Kentucky Baptist Convention committee voted Oct. 9 to sever ties with Crescent Hill Baptist Church over the historic Louisville congregation’s welcoming and affirming stance toward gays. According to a news release, the decision by a credentials…
Maryland high court denies abuse lawsuit appeal
By Bob Allen Maryland’s highest court of appeal declined Sept. 22 to review what has been described as largest evangelical sex-abuse case to date, leaving intact lower-court decisions dismissing the class-action lawsuit on legal technicalities. The Court of Appeals, the…