A 5,000-word interview with Donald Trump published April 30 in TIME magazine does not mention the words “church,” “religion,” “faith” or “religious liberty” anywhere. The sweeping article focuses on what Trump plans to do if sent back to the White…
Virginia church with historic ties to SBC will vote on leaving due to Law Amendment
A Virginia church with deep historical ties to the Southern Baptist Convention will vote May 19 on a proposal to sever ties with the SBC due to the denomination’s intolerance for women serving as pastors. For decades, First Baptist Church…
Rising Hope tells the story of overcoming adversity in Mississippi Delta
A new documentary about the triumph of courage over despair in the Mississippi Delta is winning critical acclaim and proving no situation is too daunting to change, said Jason Coker, president of Together for Hope and a leading character in…
Speaker offers primer on LGBTQ words and how parents may affirm their kids
Parents can support the emotional and physical well-being of LGBTQ children by accepting the language and concepts they use to express their emerging gender identities, according to Hannah Edwards. Edwards — executive director of Transforming Families, a Minnesota-based, peer-led support…
UMC gives first approval to restructuring plan
The United Methodist Church is one step closer to restructuring its worldwide body to give greater latitude to each region to shape its faith and traditions. Delegates to the thrice-delayed General Conference voted 586 to 164 for an amendment to…
Reminder: This week’s BNG webinar features Christa Brown, sexual abuse reform advocate
Christa Brown will be the guest on BNG’s next “change-making conversations” webinar on Wednesday, May 1, at 11 a.m. Central time. She will dialogue with BNG Executive Director Mark Wingfield. Brown is a frequent BNG columnist and author of the…
Coalition proposes bipartisan blueprint for immigration reform
A coalition of business, religious and activist groups has released a comprehensive blueprint for immigration reform it hopes will spur Congress to improve border security while preserving the safety and dignity of migrants. The group of center-right organizations unveiled a…
Oklahoma plans to execute a man who didn’t commit a murder
Death penalty opponents are bracing for the anticipated execution of an Oklahoma man who even the state acknowledges did not kill anyone. Tremane Wood has been on Oklahoma’s Death Row since 2004 for participating in a robbery-turned-homicide in which the…
Transitions for the week of 4-26-24
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Valerie Burton, to Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala., as senior pastor. She comes from Baptist Church of…
Most independent voters don’t believe presidential election will change their lives
In an election year where everyone already seems to have a firm opinion, independent voters stand out as different, according to a new national survey from Navigator. When asked how much thought they’ve given to who they’ll vote for in…
There’s now half a dozen pastors vying to be SBC president
This summer’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting already was going to be one for the history books, and now there’s another reason for that distinction: A record six candidates have now announced their intention to run for the presidency of…
Wissam al-Saliby named president of 21Wilberforce Global Freedom Center
Wissam al-Saliby has been appointed president of the 21Wilberforce Global Freedom Center, following the center’s founder and now president emeritus, Randel Everett. Al-Saliby is an expert in international religious freedom and human rights who brings years of experience in advocating…