By Jeff Brumley The value and purpose of church membership is becoming an increasingly hot topic in Baptist and other congregations these days. And that’s “hot” as in controversial and heated, not popular. And it’s one that occasionally pits older…
Deal, disaster response director with ‘a chaplain’s heart,’ leaving CBF
By Jeff Brumley Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma were stunned in the immediate hours after a monster tornado tore through Moore, Okla., on May 20, 2013, killing 24 people. And they were overwhelmed trying to assess damage…
For these Baptists, VBS transforms congregations and communities
By Jeff Brumley and Olivia Williams Two Waco, Texas, Baptist congregations learned firsthand this summer that vacation Bible school can be a catalyst for bringing down cultural and racial barriers in a community. That lesson puts them in the company of…
Interim pastoring has evolved into skilled calling, Baptists say
By Jeff Brumley The modern interim pastor is radically different from his or her predecessors, ministers and congregational coaches say. It’s increasingly rare for an interim to be a mere placeholder between full-time pastors in a church. And relatively few…
Baptist churches learn that serving schools yields big rewards
By Vicki Brown and Jeff Brumley Serving Clark Elementary School helps the roughly 40 members of Woodlawn Avenue Baptist Church in Wichita, Kan., realize they have a purpose, a contribution to make to their community. For members at First Baptist…
The pastor’s dilemma: To friend or not to friend
By Jeff Brumley A Baptist pastor and columnist recently wrote that becoming friends with members of his church was bumping up against his seminary training. “The standard and dominant view is that the office of pastor has clearly defined boundaries…
Hispanic faith could revive the rest of the church, say speakers
By Jeff Brumley and Kalie Lowrie Hispanic Baptists and other Christians have so much to offer the American church and society that they must avoid the pitfalls of secularism and consumerism, Latino religious leaders say. That was part of the message…
Social workers struggle to talk religion and spirituality, study says
By Jeff Brumley Licensed clinical social worker Christen Argueta often delved into clients’ religious and spiritual views when she worked for a nonprofit counseling agency for children and families. The Houston-based counselor said it was important to do so because…
Debates on racism, gay rights take toll on pastors
By Jeff Brumley Stressful times for the nation, it turns out, translate into especially stressful times for pastors. That fact was the focus of Tuesday’s Baptist News Global column — titled “A humble plea: Go easy on your pastor” — by Corey…
Networking two continents: For Ruben Ortiz, it means bridge-building
Ruben Ortiz experiences deep fulfillment from his calling as a bridge builder between the church in Latin America and the United States. But it comes at a price. “Sometimes it’s difficult — all of the driving is causing me back…
Black church fires evoke both fear and faith in Baptist communities
By Jeff Brumley Baptist and other Christians are reaching out to the victims of the many African-American church fires reported during the past couple of weeks, ministers say. And it doesn’t matter whether or not arson has been identified as…
Been there, done that: Some Baptist ministers have already officiated at same-sex marriages
By Jeff Brumley Same-sex weddings are the stuff headlines are made of these days — especially when Baptist ministers are embracing the ceremonies ruled legal in every state by the Supreme Court last Friday. The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., recently featured Jason…