By Ken Camp With the formation of Texas Baptist Women in Ministry, Texas joins nine other states in creating an organization to encourage women who serve in Baptist churches and advocate for expanded ministry opportunities for women. More than two…
Baptist board in Texas declares gender assignment ‘immutable’
By Ken Camp Biology, not psychology, determines gender identity, according to the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board. At its Feb. 23-24 meeting in Dallas, the board approved without any dissenting votes a resolution on transgender issues, declaring the…
Todd Still named Truett Seminary dean
By Ken Camp New Testament scholar Todd Still has been named dean of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, effective June 1. Still, 49, will become the fifth dean of the Waco, Texas, seminary, where he has served on the faculty…
Proposed religious freedom amendment in Texas raises concerns
By Ken Camp Baptists helped craft the Religious Freedom Restoration Act at the national level and secured its passage at the state level in Texas. But some Texas Baptists are leery of language in a proposed RFRA-based state constitutional amendment. The efforts…
Openness to Cuba is nothing new to these Baptists
By Ken Camp The world focused on Cuba in recent days, gauging the impact of restored diplomatic relations with the United States after more than 50 years. But for a volunteer team from Texas, a trek to Cuba was business as…
Veteran Baptist communicator Orville Scott dies
By Ken Camp Orville Lindsey Scott, whose service as a Baptist communicator spanned four decades, died Jan. 12 in Grand Saline, Texas, at age 80. Funeral arrangements are pending with Eubank Funeral Home in Canton, Texas. Scott was born July…
Pastor credits God for transforming once-seedy neighborhood
By Ken Camp Elmo Johnson rejects any personal credit for transforming Houston’s 4th Ward since he arrived as pastor of Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church 30 years ago. But he’s eager to give God the glory. “The Lord has done some…
State engineer orders Glorieta to cease pumping water
By Ken Camp After a site visit to Glorieta Conference Center, New Mexico’s state engineer ordered the camp — which Southern Baptists’ LifeWay Christian Resources sold to an independent Christian camping organization — to cease pumping water into its pond…
In the path of lava flows, Baptists provide comfort to Hawaiian volcano victims
By Ken Camp A Texas Baptist Men crisis response team journeyed recently to Hawaii’s Big Island to provide what they call “compassion care” — what some others term “psychological first aid” — to children and families in the expected path of a…