BNG columnist Terry Austin, 72, died unexpectedly Sept. 22, according to a statement from the family. Raised the son of a Southern Baptist pastor in Colorado, Austin went on to become a Baptist minister himself, serving in both congregational ministry…
Chi Alpha campus ministry leaders indicted in Texas
Two leaders of an Assemblies of God campus ministry network have been indicted in Texas on charges of indecency with a child and trafficking of persons. One of the indicted, Chris Hundl, previously led a chapter of Chi Alpha World…
Samford students mark one-year anniversary with another silent protest for LGBTQ inclusion
One year after Samford University made headlines for its exclusion of LGBTQ-affirming campus ministries, a group of about 100 students, alumni and community supporters held another silent protest outside a campuswide assembly. The Sept. 19 protest outside Wright Center during…
North Carolina children’s home trustees release scathing report on longtime president’s misuse of funds
Note: This article was updated on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 21, to add comment from Michael Blackwell. The longtime president of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has retired after trustees presented a scathing report on his use of a “discretionary…
Baylor settles sexual assault lawsuit
Baylor University has settled a yearslong lawsuit brought by 15 women who say they were sexually assaulted on or near campus — allegations that brought down a university president and football coach. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Notice…
Al Mohler vs. Andy Stanley: What’s really going on?
The ultra-conservative Calvinist complementarian crowd has been seeking evidence to convict Andy Stanley of “liberalism” for years, and now they think they’ve found the smoking gun. Except their “evidence” would only hold up if the jury were made up of…
In biblical truth-telling, we need to mind the gap between clergy and laity
It doesn’t surprise me that new research shows white mainline Protestant clergy are more supportive of LGBTQ rights, abortion rights and racial justice than their congregations. I’ve been there, done that and have the scars to prove it. From my…
The SBC’s far-far right believes all members of a Cooperation Group should agree with their views
Some Southern Baptist Convention pastors who are urging final adoption of a constitutional amendment prohibiting females from being called “pastor” are upset because the SBC has appointed a cooperation committee where not all members agree exactly with their views. That…
SBC Executive Committee eliminates 20% of staff due to budget crisis
The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee eliminated 20% of its staff Sept. 13 but has not indicated what positions or people were affected. An announcement was made through Baptist Press, the in-house news service that is run by Executive Committee…
At AWAB lecture, Susan Shaw lays out 10 lies Christians tell about queer people
“The church has no problem telling lies if it works to advance their political ambitions, and we see now the extent of Christian nationalist desire for a theocracy rooted in white supremacist, patriarchal values which have nothing to do with…
Two other venues also have declined to host Promise Keepers events
Belmont University is not alone in declining to host fall events planned by Promise Keepers. The Nashville university with Baptist roots made headlines in June when it withdrew an invitation for the evangelical men’s ministry to stage an event on…
McRaney to file appeal and keep his case against NAMB alive
Will McRaney will file an appeal asking for a federal court’s review of a single judge’s dismissal of his defamation case against the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board. He and his wife, Sandy, announced the decision via a…