Note: This article was updated at 1 p.m. Eastern time June 21 to include additional charges filed against Luke Cunningham. Luke Cunningham, a former youth pastor at four Texas churches, was arrested June 19 by United States marshals in…
Trial date set for former professor charged in FBI probe
The federal case involving former Southwestern Seminary provost and evangelism professor Matthew Queen has been set for trial on Dec. 9. On May 21, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had charged Queen with obstruction of justice through falsifying…
Arkansas pastor resigns after months of dissension over mishandling child sexual abuse cases
After a months-long saga of media coverage, internal infighting and an exodus of members and deacons, Pastor Steven Smith of Immanuel Baptist Church of Little Rock, Ark. tendered his resignation via a letter to his congregation last night. As previously…
Jesus Christ is under attack
In a recent editorial for Baptist Press, professors Malcolm Yarnell and Steve McKinion presented a candid assessment of the theological landscape within their midst: “We believe the greatest challenge facing Southern Baptists today comes not from confusion over church offices…
Some traditionalist bishops revolt after Vatican allows ‘blessing’ same-sex couples
Pope Francis may have authorized non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, but not everyone in the Catholic hierarchy is going along. Traditionalist bishops, particularly in Africa and Asia, already are revolting and defying the pope’s supposedly unquestionable authority. In a recent…
Vatican’s new stance on blessing same-sex couples draws praise and ire
This week’s bombshell announcement from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that Catholic priests may now use their discretion to bless individuals in same-sex relationships and others in “irregular situations” has sparked intense debate and varied reactions…
Vatican declaration approved by Pope Francis allows priests to bless same-sex couples, but not marriages
Less than a week before Christmas, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a theological declaration approved by the pope allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. The document, titled Fiducia supplicans, outlines “the pastoral meaning of…
GOP abortion laws are wildly out of step with many evangelicals’ convictions
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, 21 Republican-led states have passed restrictions and/or outright bans on women receiving elective abortions. The most stringent of these laws may be found in the state of Texas, whose state legislature…
Forget Alvin Bragg; Trump should really fear losing his evangelical base
More than his recent and unprecedented indictment, Donald Trump should be fearful of losing his evangelical base to another candidate willing to toe the line on evangelical orthodoxy on social policies. At least, that’s what pundits, politicians and pollsters are…