Evangelical author John Piper says an “egalitarian myth” that men and women are defined by their “competencies” rather than gender role is partly to blame for the #MeToo revolt against sexual abuse by powerful men.
Gushee says LGBTQ hiring policy will weaken CBF
A Baptist scholar who famously changed his mind on homosexuality says a new Cooperative Baptist Fellowship policy allowing the possible hiring of LGBTQ Christians for some, but not all, staff positions “may be the worst of all possible options,” distancing the very voices on both ends of the spectrum that CBF leaders were hoping to appease.
Group says Masterpiece Cake case echoes argument made 50 years ago that religious freedom protected racial discrimination
Maurice Bessinger argued unsuccessfully in a 1968 Supreme Court case that the federal law barring discrimination based race, color, religion and national origin violated his freedom of religion under First Amendment “since his religious beliefs compel him to oppose any integration of the races whatever.”
Former Attorney General says Americans with Disabilities Act facing threat
Former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburg said he opposes what he called attempts to undercut landmark legislation he worked to pass guaranteeing people with disabilities equal protection under the law at an event honoring his work March 13 in Washington.
Church treasurer accused of embezzling CP funds
The long-time treasurer of a rural Missouri Baptist church is suspected of skimming funds that were designated for cooperative missions and the pastor’s retirement fund in a series of alleged thefts that authorities say add up to more than $300,000.
Brian McLaren says Baptists ‘doing harm’ to nation and world
Baptists are doing a lot of harm in today’s society, emergent church leader Brian McLaren said in a podcast posted recently on a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship blog.
Victim to church: Sexual assault is not a sin. It’s a crime.
Bible teachings about sin and forgiveness do not give churches the right to pardon a crime, a woman who claims a Tennessee megachurch pastor sexually assaulted her 20 years ago says in new video published March 9 by the New York Times.
Robert Jeffress: Trump’s alleged affair with porn star ‘totally irrelevant’ to his evangelical base
A Southern Baptist adviser to President Donald Trump says it is “absolutely ludicrous” to call Trump’s evangelical supporters hypocrites for standing by the president amid allegations that he had an adulterous relationship with an adult film star.
Haunted by old lawsuit, C.J. Mahaney withdraws from Together for the Gospel confab
The former head of a Reformed, charismatic evangelical ministry is backing out of a biennial preaching conference he helped found, citing renewed controversy over a sexual abuse scandal involving his former church.
Calls mounting for removal of judge who allowed lenient plea deal for church camp rapist
Opposition is mounting against an Oklahoma judge who approved a plea deal allowing a man who raped a 13-year-old girl while volunteering at a Baptist church camp to avoid prison.
Witness in Larry Nassar case calls out evangelicals for ‘double standard’ in sexual abuse
The first woman to speak publicly about sexual assault by former U.S. gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and the last to testify against him in court called out evangelical leaders March 1 for what she says is a double standard when it comes to allegations of child sexual abuse.
God wants humans to use natural gas and oil, not ‘keep it in the ground,’ says EPA chief
The Southern Baptist head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he opposes regulations restricting the mining of non-renewable energy resources because the Bible tells him so.