Allegations of sexual abuse and grooming by Chi Alpha, a national campus ministry of the Assemblies of God, expanded significantly Jan. 25 with details alleged in a lawsuit brought by an unnamed minor in Texas. Previously, allegations of sexual abuse…
Franklin Graham denounces jury verdict against Trump as more liberal persecution
Franklin Graham does not believe the woman. In response to the jury verdict awarding E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million from Donald Trump for defaming her by denying he raped her, America’s most famous evangelist stood by his man. Graham tweeted…
SBC agency vows to ‘advocate for the complete end of abortion’ in America
When conservatives gained control of the Southern Baptist Convention and its agencies and seminaries in the late 20th century, a top priority was to convert the Christian Life Commission into an anti-abortion advocacy group. That came true with the first…
Here’s what I’m learning about the ‘nones’
I interact with the “nones” nearly every week, and I’m constantly surprised at how religious they are. In recent years, American religious leaders have been obsessed with classifying, describing, understanding, discussing and evangelizing the “nones,” those people who when asked…
BSK and Wake Forest Divinity announce master’s degree changes
Two seminaries that partner with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship have announced changes to their core curricula that address the changing needs of students seeking theological education. Wake Forest University School of Divinity has completely revamped its master of divinity degree,…
Northern Seminary expands board; NT professor McKnight resigns
As it seeks to rebuild after a tumultuous year of internal controversy, Northern Seminary has added three new board members, bringing the total number of board members to 16 and increasing the diversity on the governing board. Two other new…
SBC’s ‘conservative resurgence’ has brought two decades of baptism declines
The year conservatives consolidated control of the Southern Baptist Convention is the last year a key marker of denominational growth showed an overall upward trend, according to new annual data released by Lifeway Christian Resources. Even a slight rebound in…
Texas Tribune says candidate for Texas House enabled Pressler’s antics with boys and young men
The Southern Baptist Convention’s most notorious sexual predator was enabled by his former law partner, who now is running for the Texas House of Representatives and wants to become speaker of the House, according to a new report in the…
Georgia leader withdraws from consideration for SBC Executive Committee presidency
More than two years after its last president resigned, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee is back to the drawing board in its search for a staff leader. Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told his…
More thoughts on Mary breastfeeding, hierarchy and ‘kin-dom’ versus ‘kingdom’
Peel back the layers of our modern-day debate over the role of women in the church and you’ll find the underlying stumbling block has to do with hierarchy and bodies. BNG ran an Advent series written by Julia Goldie Day…
West Virginia bill would require ‘curing’ transgender people
In a season of extreme legislation against the transgender community, three West Virginia senators seek to up the ante with what has been called the “most draconian” legislation yet proposed against transgender identity. Senate Bill 194, would ban all gender-affirming…
Mike Johnson and Steve Bannon spar over whether it is ‘God’s will’ that Joe Biden is president
The conservative Southern Baptist speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who sought to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, now says it is “God’s will” that Joe Biden is president. That didn’t sit well with another of…