By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention leaders have been asked to consider removing a Texas church that supports a local chapter of Planned Parenthood of America. Messengers to the 2013 SBC annual meeting in Houston voted June 11 to refer…
Huckabee questions church tax-exemption
By Bob Allen Former Arkansas governor turned media personality Mike Huckabee asked Southern Baptist pastors to consider whether tax breaks from the government are worth the accompanying restrictions on political speech. The former pastor and president of the Arkansas Baptist…
Rep says SBC leader wrong on Scouts
By Bob Allen A former denominational worker who now represents the Boy Scouts of America said a former Southern Baptist Convention president is mistaken about the BSA’s new policy ending a membership ban on Scouts who are openly gay. Bryant…
SBC decline catching up with mainline
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention is “catching up with the Methodists” in dwindling numbers formerly known as the “mainline decline,” the denomination’s head statistician said June 10. LifeWay Christian Resources recently released figures indicating baptisms reported by churches…
Baptist Scout leader opposes exodus
By Bob Allen The head of Association of Baptists for Scouting says it is neither necessary nor desirable for churches to leave the Boy Scouts of America because the organization no longer excludes youth based on their sexual orientation. A.J….
Blog: Pastor chastises abuse activist
Editor’s note: This story was updated after posting to add comments from First Baptist Church. By Bob Allen A woman who advocates on behalf victims of clergy sex abuse says she was sidelined by her Houston mega-church for planning an…
SBC baptism, membership numbers fall
By Bob Allen Annual baptisms in Southern Baptist churches have declined by 100,000 in the last 12 years, last year dropping to the smallest number in 64 years. LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention released figures June 5…
Baylor receives record gift
By Bob Allen An El Paso businessman has donated $35 million to Baylor University, reportedly the largest gift by a living alumnus in the history of the Baptist-affiliated school in Waco, Texas. The gift by Texas oilman Paul Foster will…
White House holds mental health confab
By Bob Allen President Obama asked the private sector and nonprofit organizations – including houses of worship and other faith-based institutions – to join the government in a national conversation about mental health in the United States during a daylong…