Archaeologists and scientists have confirmed the remains of three individuals buried in the Historical Area of Colonial Williamsburg are early 19th-century ancestors of First Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black congregations in the United States. DNA and bone analysis…
Baptist pastor joins ‘Mission of Hope’ in Malaysia and India this week
For much of April, Scott Stearman will appear more like an international diplomat than a Baptist minister. But that’s not altogether unusual for Stearman, senior pastor at Bayshore Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla., who also serves as the United Nations…
Capital punishment continues America’s history of lynching, panelists say
Capital punishment in the United States continues a system of lynchings used to terrorize and subjugate Black people in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a panel of death penalty abolitionists said during a recent webinar. “The mistake people sometimes…
Fundamentalism and politics are hampering SBC’s moral witness, Leonard says
The Southern Baptist Convention’s continued embrace of fundamentalism and conservative politics is undermining its ability to “moralize to American culture,” church historian Bill Leonard said during a lecture at Baylor University. “How did a once engaging gospel of grace, repentance,…
Alliance of Baptists reports ‘growing pains’ as it focuses on anti-racist mission
The Alliance of Baptists is experiencing financial “growing pains” in response to becoming an anti-racist organization, Co-Director Elijah Zehyoue said. “As we have done this work, we have noticed there have been some changes and we invite you to notice…
Evangelical leaders beg DeSantis and Florida Legislature not to make them criminals for transporting immigrants to church
A bill designed to make criminals of Floridians who provide transportation or shelter to undocumented immigrants is sending shockwaves through religious communities that minister to immigrants, a group of evangelical ministers say. “More than anything, what this legislation is creating…
Are Americans attending church more or less than before the pandemic? It’s complicated
The relationship between Americans and worship attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic is complicated, Pew Research Center found in a new study. The project compiled statistics from five surveys conducted from 2020 to 2022 and found a steady share of U.S….
Baptist church jumps into service as reunion point for Covenant School children and parents
Senior Pastor Nathan Parker said he immediately recommended the sanctuary when police requested space at Woodmont Baptist Church for reunions between parents and survivors of the mass shooting at nearby Covenant School in Nashville. “A sanctuary is a holy place,…
Antisemitic-motivated assaults at record levels
For the third time in five years, the Anti-Defamation League has documented record-high cases of assault, harassment and vandalism targeting Jewish individuals, congregations and institutions. “In 2022, ADL tabulated 3,697 antisemitic incidents throughout the United States. This is a 36%…
Movements expand and contract, Black Lives Matter co-founder says
Social and racial justice activists should envision rubber bands when frustrated, fearful or angry about the “perilous times” currently facing the movements for systemic change in the U.S., Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza said. “What happens with rubber bands?…
Ukrainians join European Baptists to help quake victims in Syria and Turkey
Russian bombs, missiles, artillery shells and gunfire have been unable to prevent Ukrainian Baptists from joining the global effort to help the victims of deadly earthquakes that struck the Middle East last month. “After over a year of war in…
Barna finds pastors are exhausted and isolated, which could be an opportunity for change
Pastors in the United States continue to feel increasingly exhausted, isolated and uncertain of their place in ministry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barna reports in a new study on clergy resilience. Barna said its research “shows that…