By Bob Allen K.H. Ting, an Anglican bishop prior to China’s Cultural Revolution who led a “post-denominational” re-emergence of Chinese Christianity in the 1970s and 1980s, died Nov. 22 after several years of poor health. Hailed by some as a…
Court revives Obamacare challenge
By Bob Allen The United States Supreme Court revived Liberty University’s lawsuit challenging Obamacare Nov. 26, returning the case to Virginia’s 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for consideration of issues not addressed when the high court upheld most of…
Trial delayed for accused molester
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist music minister charged with molesting five boys in the 1980s turned down a plea bargain Nov. 26 and now is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 28. That depends, however, on the outcome of…
Baptist dies during Gaza war
By Bob Allen Casualties during eight days of fighting between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip included at least one Baptist. Salem Boulos Sweilem, who attended the Gaza Baptist Church in Gaza City, died Nov. 19…
Baptist university reports theft
By Bob Allen A Missouri Baptist University employee has been charged with embezzling about $107,000 since being promoted to the university controller’s position in 2009. St. Louis County prosecutors charged 48-year-old Melinda Okai of O’Fallon, Mo., with theft of more…
Baptists respond to Congo crisis
By Bob Allen Baptists in the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo appealed to the global Baptist community for help in responding to a humanitarian catastrophe caused by fighting between government and rebel forces in the…
Former youth pastor arrested
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist pastor in Oklahoma second-guessed himself after the arrest of his former youth pastor on eight counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Jeff Self, pastor of First Baptist Church in Coalgate, Okla., told CBS…
Hobby Lobby must cover contraceptives
By Bob Allen A federal judge ruled Nov. 19 that the Christian owners of Hobby Lobby cannot be exempted from providing emergency contraceptives in their group health plan on religious grounds. U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton in Oklahoma City denied…
Obama stresses religious liberty in Burma
By Bob Allen President Obama stressed religious freedom in a historic speech Nov. 19 in Burma, a country long beset by military conflict and regarded as one of the world’s worst oppressors of minority faiths. Obama, the first sitting U.S….