By Ken Camp Government should let religion “flourish or flounder on its own,” not promote it or prohibit liberty of conscience, a religious freedom advocate told a chapel assembly at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. In spite of their diversity…
Christian revisionists do injustice to American founders, law professor says
By Ken Camp and Daniel Wallace Contemporary Americans who cite isolated quotes by the nation’s founders to buttress arguments in favor of a Christian nation or a secular society without religious influences misinterpret history and do injustice to those who…
Follow God’s call, not ‘belittling voices,’ Paynter tells women ministers
By Ken Camp Women ministers need to recognize their calling as a seed God has planted in their lives, the first female executive of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship told an organization of women in ministry March 24. Suzii Paynter urged…
Baptist youth inspire giving to Africa, India water projects
By Ken Camp One high school student’s dream prompted a church to raise more than $94,000 for a ministry that provides clean water sources to people in developing nations. About five years ago, Katie Honeycutt, a sophomore in the youth…
Lay claim to ‘audacious freedom,’ divinity school students urged
By Ken Camp Baptist church historian Bill Leonard challenged students at Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity School to carry out their calling by claiming, reclaiming, discovering or recovering “the audacious freedom we call gospel.” Jesus announced the coming of God’s…
Osteen illustrates nondenominationalizing of U.S. religion, says church historian
By Ken Camp Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church in Houston offer a high-profile case study in the “nondenominationalizing” of 21st century evangelical American religion, says church historian Bill Leonard. Osteen manages to be “modern and postmodern, traditional and…
Court overturns Texas ban on gay marriage
By Ken Camp A federal judge overturned Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage Feb. 26, saying it denies gay couples equal protection under the law. The judge’s preliminary injunction prohibits the state from enforcing a 2003 law against same-sex unions and…
Unequally yoked? Christians increasingly navigate interfaith marriage
By Ken Camp Not that long ago, many Baptist youth ministers warned students about the dangers of interdenominational dating. After all, it could lead to marrying a Methodist, and would a child from that home be sprinkled or immersed? Today,…
For interfaith couples considering marriage — talk early
By Ken Camp Ministers who provide premarital pastoral counseling to interfaith couples should help them think seriously about their faith and the faith of a future spouse, a Baptist pastor with experience in interfaith dialogue suggests. “I’ve found it best…
Union University names Texas educator as new president
By Ken Camp Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, president of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, since 2009, has been named president of Union University, a Baptist school in Jackson, Tenn., effective June 1. Union University’s board of trustees unanimously…
Texas minister helps bring abuser in Kenya to justice
By Ken Camp When Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, commissioned Chris Pillsbury to serve in Kenya a year and a half ago, he expected to help women market fair-trade handcrafts, work with a humanitarian medical program and maybe start a…
Singing faith: Hymns both praise and teach
By Ken Camp Last summer’s controversy over removal of the contemporary hymn “In Christ Alone” from a new Presbyterian hymnal over doctrinal differences on how to understand the atonement illustrates the importance of church music not only to celebrate but…