A North Carolina Baptist church’s ministry to Syrian refugees took a frightening turn Feb. 14 when a 19-month-old son in one of two families sponsored by the congregation suffered critical injuries in an attack by two pit bulls. The toddler,…
Russell Moore affirms effort by Congress to block DC death-with-dignity law
The Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for moral concerns applauded a rare attempt by Republicans in Congress to block a District of Columbia law that would make assisted suicide legal in the heavily Democratic district. Russell Moore, president of the…
Religion students petition Baylor to become sanctuary campus
A group of doctoral students in Baylor University’s religion department recently launched an online petition asking the administration to join the growing “sanctuary campus” movement, appealing to the private Baptist school’s Christian identity. Co-authored by six members of Baylor’s Graduate…
Fox pundit credits God, Franklin Graham, for electing Trump
Fox News personality Todd Starnes attributed Donald Trump’s election to “divine intervention” aided by prayer rallies led by evangelist Franklin Graham in an American Pastor’s Network radio interview Feb. 9. Starnes, a Fox News personality for more than a decade…
BJC leader says churches can influence policy without being a PAC
The head of a Baptist religious liberty watchdog group warned in a Religion News Service op-ed Feb. 9 that removing limits on political activity by tax-exempt charities could harm churches more than help them. Amanda Tyler, executive director of the…
Franklin Graham says God uses ‘extreme vetting,’ welcomes confirmation of attorney general
Evangelist Franklin Graham, on his way to Puerto Rico for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s first Festival of Hope event in 2017, said Wednesday on social media that God uses “extreme vetting” in deciding who gets into heaven. “I’m on…
Banned by LifeWay, hip-hop artist says white evangelicals don’t get black culture
A popular hip-hop artist whose album was dropped by Southern Baptist retailer LifeWay Christian Stores after customer complaints says white evangelicals are trying to reach people in urban contexts without understanding their culture. Amisho Baraka Lewis, a 38-year-old Christian hip-hop…
Baptists withdraw support for Franklin Graham rally in Puerto Rico
Baptists in Puerto Rico have withdrawn support for Franklin Graham’s Feb. 10-12 Festival of Hope evangelistic rally in San Juan in protest of the evangelist’s endorsement of anti-immigration policies espoused by President Donald Trump. The executive minister and the president…
Wiley Drake, city, at odds over homeless shelter
A former Southern Baptist Convention official says he will resist any attempt by city officials to enforce an order to close a homeless shelter located on church property. Citing the First and Fifth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Pastor Wiley…
BWA criticizes Muslim travel ban
A worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations criticized the United States for issuing a blanket travel ban on refugees and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The Baptist World Alliance, with 235 member groups representing over 45 million baptized…
Head of Baptist advocacy group says Johnson Amendment good for churches
The head of a Baptist group dedicated to religious freedom opposed President Trump’s vow to overturn a law that prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates in a statement Feb. 3. “Politicizing churches does them…
Gorsuch’s ‘one-sided’ view on religious freedom worry some, while conservatives express support
Judge Neil M. Gorsuch’s “one-sided view of religious freedom” makes the Supreme Court nominee a dangerous choice, said some religious liberty advocates after President Trump announced his choice to fill a vacancy on the top court Jan. 31.