A federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled for the second time as unconstitutional an Internal Revenue Service provision which exempts clergy from paying taxes on portions of their income designated for housing.
Las Vegas shooting prompts call for gun control
A coalition of more than 50 national denominations and faith-based organizations urged Congress to reject legislation backed by the National Rifle Association they say will further endanger communities in response to the Oct. 1 mass shooting that killed 58 people…
In marathon tour, American Baptist leaders assess damage of three hurricanes
Representatives of American Baptist Home Mission Societies Communications recently logged more than 6,100 miles of travel in seven days to assess damage and organize responses to three major Atlantic hurricanes that made landfall in the United States over a period…
30 years later, SBC leader says Peace Committee was destined to fail
An effort in the 1980s to investigate and resolve conflict in the Southern Baptist Convention was an initial failure that in the long run helped establish the nation’s largest Protestant body as the conservative evangelical denomination it is known as…
Former moderators sign petition urging repeal of CBF hiring ban
Twelve former moderators of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are among more than 500 names attached to an online petition urging current leaders to drop the organization’s 17-year-old ban against hiring LGBT people. The petition — delivered this week to a…
Shots fired at Baptist school
Baptist-affiliated Gardner-Webb University went into lockdown Sept. 27 after gunshots were fired on the campus in Boiling Springs, N.C. No injuries were reported, and university officials told local media the campus returned to its normal schedule on Thursday. As of…
Baptist historian at SBC seminary says Civil War monuments should be taken down
A Southern Baptist seminary professor says it is time for Civil War monuments erected decades after Gettysburg and Appomattox for the purpose of intimidating Southern blacks to come down. “I would advocate for the vast majority of Confederate monuments to…
CBF-trained pastor making LGBT history with Mennonites
A Truett Seminary graduate has become the first openly LGBTQ person to be called as a solo pastor in the Mennonite Church USA. Albuquerque (N.M.) Mennonite Church voted overwhelmingly Sept. 10 to call Erica Lea, currently pastor-in-residence at Calvary Baptist…
Pastor charged with failure to report child abuse
A Baptist pastor in Alabama faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly failing to report suspicion of child sex abuse to legal authorities. Michael Walker, 51, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., was booked into Madison County Jail Sept. 21…
American Baptists raising money to help rebuild in hurricane-struck Puerto Rico
American Baptist Home Mission Societies has announced a goal to raise $1 million within the next three to six months to support the rebuilding of homes and churches in hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico. The national ministries arm of the American Baptist…
ACLU challenges law allowing faith-based child services providers to turn away LGBT parents
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 20 challenging a Michigan law allowing faith-based child placement agencies receiving taxpayer funds to deny services to same-sex couples because of religious objections. The 2105 law is similar to legislation…
Second judge challenges secrecy of drugs used in capital punishment
A second Arkansas judge has ruled the state must reveal more information about drugs used in lethal injections for capital punishment. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce ruled Sept. 19 that officials must disclose the labels on its new supply…