DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — A radical encounter with a homeless beggar huddled in the shadow of power confronted Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove with the Matthew 25 claims of Jesus and a realization he could never change the world being “president for Jesus.”…
Encountering the Palestinians and their plight
By David Gushee This is third in a series of columns reflecting on a summertime trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Last time I discussed powerful evidence that Israel remains a society traumatized by the epochal evil of the…
RIGHT or WRONG: Prisoner organ donation
An Oregon death-row inmate has offered to donate his organs after his execution. So far, his offer has been rejected. What are the legal and ethical barriers for such a donation? No real legal barrier exists. The state has refused…
American Muslims hopeful about life in the U.S.
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, an extensive new survey of Muslims finds them as optimistic as other Americans, even as large minorities of Christian Americans question Muslims' loyalty to the United States. The survey, released by the…
Traditional divinity program aids ministry in nontraditional contexts
Students who serve in nontraditional ministry settings — whether a postmodern congregation, a cowboy church or something in-between — benefit from the foundation provided in a traditional seminary curriculum, some educators and ministry practitioners insist. Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary…
Seminaries adapt to changing religious landscape
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) — Six years after starting as a pilot project, Central Baptist Theological Seminary's center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., recently became fully accredited to award the master of divinity degree and diploma in theology. Students take a major portion…
FAITH DIGEST
Americans want religious presidents. A majority of Americans (56 percent) say it's important for a candidate to have strong beliefs, even if those beliefs differ from their own, according to the poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in partnership…
Missional education seeks to train church leaders contextally
Call it a buzz word, a euphemism for the emergent movement or a description of profound shifts in ecclesiology — the term "missional" is entrenched in the vocabulary of 21st century Christianity. Although the concept is subject to wide-ranging and…
New Meredith president believes in strong role for women’s college
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — Two weeks after Jo Allen took office as the eighth president of Meredith College, the shrinking pool of women’s colleges blew drier as Peace College across town decided to admit males to stem its enrollment drop….