Pastors of at least two Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches say they are reconsidering affiliation with the 1,800-church network in light of a decision by CBF leaders to relax, but not totally lift, a ban on hiring LBGTQ people.
CBF relaxes policy on hiring LGBTQ staff, but maintains some restrictions
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will continue to make sexual orientation a consideration in some, but not all, employment decisions with a new hiring policy and implementation plan adopted Feb. 9 by the CBF Governing Board.
CBF moderator says proposed LGBTQ hiring policy meets Fellowship Baptists ‘where they are’
The top elected leader of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship described a review of the organization’s LGBTQ hiring policy to be voted on this week as an attempt to meet various CBF constituencies “where they are” on a highly charged issue on which there is no consensus.
Baptists among nearly 150 groups opposing Johnson Amendment repeal
In advance of Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, 145 organizations called on Congress to reject attempts to weaken a rule that bars churches receiving tax-exempt status from engaging in partisan politics.
Longtime BNG/ABP staffer moving to New Baptist Covenant
Lindsay Bergstrom — a veteran editor and graphic designer who worked nearly two decades mostly behind the scenes in a myriad of roles for Baptist News Global and its predecessor, Associated Baptist Press — is taking her talents elsewhere.
Baptist activist ready to ‘get in the way’ of pipeline construction
Opposition to a proposed interstate fracked natural gas pipeline that would cut through mountain ridge tops and other environmentally intact landscapes from West Virginia through Virginia and North Carolina is entering the stage of civil obedience, according to a Baptist church member arrested during a sit-in at the office of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Feb. 2.
CBF leaders urge passage of clean DREAM Act
A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader urged Congress to pass a law extending protection to undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as children in a telephonic press conference in early February.
CBF prepares for vote on proposed hiring policy
A two-year review of a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship policy banning the employment of gays is wrapping up. The CBF Governing Board plans to receive the final report of the Illumination Project at a meeting Feb. 8-9 at First Baptist Church…
Key witness in Michigan State abuse scandal alleges double standard in evangelical church
The first woman to go public with allegations of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, the former sports medicine doctor at Michigan State University, says the laudatory public reaction to her story would have been different if it had happened at church.
Church seeks information about sexual history of teen rape victim
A Southern Baptist church sued in connection with the rape of a 13-year-old girl at a church camp in Oklahoma is asking a judge for permission to question the victim about her sexual history prior to the attack.
Franklin Graham asserts that Trump could be toppled in a coup
Evangelist Franklin Graham accused enemies of President Donald Trump of using the media to attempt to take over the country by bloodless coup in a recent radio interview.
Baptists protest deportation of church member outside ICE office where he was detained
“When ICE trapped Gilles in Charlotte, they trapped Jesus. When Gilles was throw into prison and denied his medical care, Christ himself was imprisoned and denied treatment, ” said North Carolina pastor Lauren Efird.