By Bob Allen Directors of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America adopted a statement March 28 urging “diplomacy over bombs” in the United States’ relations with Iran. “The people of the United States have been living in a state…
Southeastern Seminary rallies support for gay-marriage ban
By Bob Allen Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary devoted a special chapel service March 28 to rally support for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in North Carolina. Richard Land Keynote speaker Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s…
CBF missions coordinator resigns
By Bob Allen Six years after leaving Shorter College to become top missions administrator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Rob Nash is returning to the classroom at McAfee School of Theology, leaders of the Atlanta-based organization said March 29. Rob…
Baptists, Easter Seals join to make first 5 years ‘count’ for at-risk kids
By Bob Allen The National Baptist Convention, USA, and Easter Seals are teaming up in April to raise awareness about children under 5 at risk of autism, developmental delays and disabilities. National Baptists, the nation’s oldest and largest historically African-American…
New religious-freedom council picks criticized
By Bob Allen Two new commissioners appointed to an independent panel that advises the State Department on international religious freedom violations are drawing criticism for holding views described as out of the mainstream. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) picked…
Gaddy says Santorum hits ‘new low’ in using faith as political wedge
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister and interfaith leader accused Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum of using religion to polarize voters. Interfaith Alliance head Welton Gaddy called Santorum’s introduction by a Louisiana preacher who encouraged those who don’t share his…
Offering plates took hit in 2010, according to new report
By Bob Allen Membership trends remained stable in American denominations, but offerings were down $1.2 billion from a year ago, according to the National Council of Churches’ 2012 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. The drop in giving is nearly…
Ricks Institute principal elected president of Liberian Baptists
By Bob Allen A former war refugee who returned to his native Liberia in 2005 to run a K-12 boarding school has been elected president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. Olu Menjay Olu Menjay, principal of Ricks…
Gift endows Truett dean’s chair
By Bob Allen An endowed dean’s chair has been established at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, thanks to a gift in excess of $3 million from the estate of former ExxonMobil executive Charles DeLancey. Baylor officials said the…
Planner defends sexuality conference
By Bob Allen A lead planner of an upcoming Baptist sexuality conference says the event has nothing to do with disagreement among Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leadership about the CBF’s policy against hiring gays. David Gushee David Gushee, director of Mercer…
NAACP delegation meets with Franklin Graham
By Bob Allen Nineteen black religious leaders visited the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., March 20 to meet with evangelist Franklin Graham. The visit by the NAACP delegation came three weeks after Graham, president and CEO of…
Baptist youth minister charged with sexual assault
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist youth minister was arrested March 19 on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Gary Welch Gary Welch, 42, minister of students at Northside Baptist Church in Corsicana, Texas, was arraigned and held…