By Bob Allen A nonprofit group advocating church-state separation urged Kentucky officials in an Aug. 22 letter to deny tax incentives for a proposed theme park based on Noah’s Ark, claiming the break would compel taxpayers to support both employment…
Deaths of pastor, wife, ruled murder/suicide
By Bob Allen The deaths of a Baptist pastor and his wife discovered Aug. 20 by their granddaughter in the patio area of their home in Lumberton, N.C., have been ruled a murder-suicide. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office released a…
SBC leader says Gungor trusts science more than the Bible
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention leader said Aug. 22 that a contemporary Christian music artist who recently said he no longer believes in a literal Adam and Eve or Noah’s Ark trusts science more than the Bible. Albert…
Pouring cold water on the ice-bucket challenge
By Bob Allen Abortion opponents are encouraging conservative Christians to chill out before taking the Ice Bucket Challenge plunge. As of Friday, Aug, 22, the ALS Association has received $53.3 million in donations — compared to $2.2 million during the…
Pastor, former journalist leaving Baptists for UCC
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist journalist turned American Baptist pastor is switching churches, and denominations, moving to the United Church of Christ. Kathryn Palen, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Jamestown, R.I., since January 2007, announced recently she…
Former youth pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist church in Alabama pledged to cooperate with police following the arrest of a former youth minister charged with sexually abusing a girl younger than 16 and urged anyone with knowledge about the case to…
CBF partners with BWA to address Ebola crisis
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Aug. 20 it was responding to the Ebola crisis in West Africa in partnership with the Baptist World Alliance, a global Baptist network that accepted the CBF as a member in 2003….
Past CBF moderator moving to UCC church
By Bob Allen Former Cooperative Baptist Fellowship moderator Keith Herron will step down Sept. 21 as pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., to move to a St. Louis church affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Last…
Pastor, ethicist urge Southern Baptists to marry younger
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist pastor and an expert on moral policy issues made national headlines recently by suggesting that parents who encourage their adult children to delay marriage for educational and financial reasons unwittingly send a message that…