By Jeff Brumley There are plenty of Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist churches in Dayton, Ohio, where parents could have an infant child baptized. But one local couple wanted Rodney Kennedy to baptize their 7-month-old son, even though they knew…
From ABP to BNG, Baptist journalists remember past, embrace future
By Jeff Brumley The toxic denominational atmosphere that gave birth to Associated Baptist Press a quarter century ago is fading into the mists of history. However, its modern descendent — Baptist News Global — still faces daunting modern challenges. Both the bested…
A busy, productive two days at NABF Annual Gathering
By Jeff Brumley It was a busy two days for those who attended the Annual Gathering of the North American Baptist Fellowship April 16-17 in Vancouver. In those 48 hours, NABF members elected leadership, heard presentations on trends affecting North…
Prayer, community antidotes to fear, Baptist leaders say
By Jeff Brumley No doubt, there’s plenty to be afraid of these days: ISIS, police brutality, a nuclear Iran, the divisive gay marriage debate, the rise of secularism and the declining American church. And don’t forget zombies. All of those…
Pastors must help lead way to racial reconciliation, stop police violence, Baptist leaders say
By Jeff Brumley Death after death in town after town, from Ferguson, Mo., to North Charleston, S.C., has some folks wondering what it will take to end racially motivated police brutality and other forms of injustice in the U.S. A…
Like pope, recent Baylor symposium called Armenian massacre ‘genocide’
By Jeff Brumley Pope Francis I is continuing to catch a lot of flak from Turkey for his use of the term “genocide” in describing the Ottoman empire’s slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915. But the pontiff isn’t alone…
More than body cameras needed to stop police violence, Baptist clergy say
By Jeff Brumley Body cameras for police, it seems, are what the nation needs to ensure justice in the wake of last Saturday’s officer-involved shooting death of Walter Scott in North Charleston, S.C. Christianity Today published a story Wednesday citing numerous…
Smooth pastoral succession takes creativity and planning, Baptist leaders say
By Vicki Brown God’s grace made pastoral succession work atBroadview Baptist Church in Abilene, congregational leaders say. The church took a step of faith when Senior Pastor David Cason began to mull retirement. How would they find someone to match…
Baptist missions must continue to adapt to continuing shifts in world religions, Baylor prof says
By Jeff Brumley New research into the continuing growth and shift of world religions predicts Christianity will remain the globe’s dominant faith while Islam continues to surge and gain ground. Chris van Gorder, associate professor of world religions at Baylor…