Think what you will about the raging culture wars, but that’s not the major driver of public opinion today any more than it was when Bill Clinton first ran for president in 1992. That’s when Clinton campaign analyst James Carville…
Does the Johnson Amendment have any teeth left?
Donald Trump failed to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment as he promised evangelical Christian supporters, but a current case may demonstrate whether the no-politicking policy for tax-exempt organizations has any teeth left. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 law that…
SBC presidential candidate wants ERLC leader fired for joining 75 other pro-life leaders in urging compassion for women who have abortions
A pastor campaigning to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention has called for the interim leader of an SBC ethics agency to be fired because he signed onto a letter urging compassion for women who have abortions. Tom Ascol,…
No formal name change proposed for SBC, and entities report back on use of NDAs in annual Book of Reports
Proposals to change the name of the Southern Baptist Convention to Great Commission Baptists get a thumbs-up from the SBC’s Executive Committee but a formal name change will not be recommended to SBC messengers gathered in Anaheim, Calif., for the…
Assessing the damage Twitter has done to American Christianity
When historians look back to assess the decline of American Christianity in the first half of the 21st century, they will no doubt finger Twitter as a point of no return. If you are among the 77% of Americans who…
In reelection year, Texas governor proposes statewide voucher program for private schools
All 5 million schoolchildren in Texas should be eligible to attend private or charter schools using government funds, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced May 9. Abbott’s public advocacy for a plan even his conservative allies have opposed drew an immediate…
As report of SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force nears, Southern Baptists are just beginning to count the cost of this work
What will be the final cost of the Southern Baptist Convention’s investigation into allegations of mishandling sexual abuse claims? There are, of course, costs in terms of reputation and witness, but also financial costs that could take years to fully…
First review of SBC sexual abuse report begins today
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Sexual Abuse Task Force will receive a detailed report from the outside firm hired to investigate allegations against the SBC Executive Committee on Sunday, May 15. If a previously agreed protocol is followed, that means the…
Panel of medical professionals skewers Texas and Alabama actions against transgender health care; separate study finds most children who transition stick with their choice
The opinion of the Texas attorney general and a new Alabama law — both seeking to criminalize health care for transgender youth — are based on either blatant lies for political purpose or the use of outdated and discredited evidence,…
Kristin Du Mez explains white evangelicals and abortion on NPR show; Ed Young preaches Mother’s Day sermon on abortion
When the National Public Radio program “Consider This” wanted to know about evangelical Christian response to the impending evisceration of Roe v. Wade, they turned to one of the most prominent evangelical scholars on history and gender, Kristin Kobes Du…
Disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll is back on the speaking circuit, and he’s sharing a virtual platform with Matt Chandler
Disgraced and combative pastor Mark Driscoll is back on the speaking circuit, and he’s about to share a stage with the high-profile Baptist pastor who presumably has been cleaning up the reputation of the Acts 29 Network Driscoll helped found…
Candidate forum explores the views of three very conservative SBC presidential nominees
While sharing in affirmation of the “conservative resurgence” of the late 20th century, three men vying to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention expressed different current priorities during a first-of-its-kind candidate forum May 4. The event at First Baptist…