FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — A federal judge has ruled that Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's decision to fire a female Hebrew professor was akin to a church's decision to fire its pastor — and therefore outside the purview of the…
CBF receives $1 million from anonymous donor
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has received an anonymous $1 million gift for funding “micro-finance” loans in poor countries and other CBF ministries. Daniel Vestal, the moderate Baptist group's executive coordinator, announced the gift March 20, according to…
Kessler called to head empowering leaders team
RICHMOND — After the executive committee of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board approved the action, executive director John Upton announced that Kenneth Kessler will join the mission board staff as the team leader of the empowering leaders team. In 2004,…
Ethicist describes recipe for global warming skepticism
SAN ANTONIO — Conservative Christians generally have turned a cold shoulder to concerns about global warming, but ethicist David Gushee believes he understands why. “Climate change is among the most heavily reported stories — and in my view, one of…
EDITORIAL: Seeing myself in the Bible
It isn't my practice, and I suspect it isn't your desire, for me to offer in this editorial section a pastoral pontification of some kind. I have ordinarily resisted the temptation to do so. But, during Holy Week, in preparation…
Some Southern Baptists decry timidity on environmental issues
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A group of Southern Baptists has launched a new initiative on the environment, saying that their denomination's past declarations on the issue have been “too timid.” “We believe our current denominational engagement with these issues have often…
SECOND OPINION: Unity at the expense of truth
In his speech at the recent New Baptist Covenant celebration, John Grisham urged his hearers to spend as much time ministering out in the streets as they do in the church. No doubt this is in many ways an admirable…
Human rights faltering in Iran, say experts
WASHINGTON (BP) — Basic human rights, including religious freedom, have deteriorated under Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, witnesses testified in a Capitol Hill hearing. Iranian citizens have suffered “systematic oppression by the regime, … denial to freedom of religion, expression, politics…
A giving life
Iris Brammer loved people. She also loved books and she especially enjoyed bringing people and books together. Maybe such passion helps explain why the public library in Narrows, Va., bears her name. She worked in the Narrows library in Southwest…
Kidnapped Christians forced to ‘reconvert’
(BP) — Hindu extremists in northern India's Himachal Pradesh state kidnapped at least 60 Christian families in late February and pressured them to “reconvert” to Hinduism, despite a new law that prevents forced conversions. Lawmakers in Himachal Pradesh passed a…
OUT LOUD
“A sound theology of creation-care will consider human achievement (building dams, erecting skyscrapers, mining for fossil fuels, etc.) as much a cause for celebration of God's creative purposes as a picnic in a virgin forest.” David Hankins The executive director…
FIRST HAND: Busting the top four food myths
DALLAS (BP) — Have you noticed how complicated food is these days? Trying to select an item in a grocery store or restaurant can prove to be quite a head-scratching experience, especially if you are trying to choose a healthier…