Samford University has won a 12-year battle for control of a million-dollar property once home to a now-banned fraternity on campus. The latest development in the saga of the Lambda Chi Alpha house came almost 12 years to the day…
New speaker of the House releases select January 6 footage to allow Christians and conservatives to change the narrative
Days after House speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Christian who says he is guided by the Bible, started releasing security camera footage from the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, Trump supporters…
Journalist’s book explores ‘crack-up of the American evangelical church’
After covering the “crack-up” of the Republican Party in American Carnage, award-winning journalist Tim Alberta explores “the crack-up of the American evangelical church” in The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism. Four years…
In Botswana, a booming economy lures U.S.-educated pastors home
The tiny nation of Botswana — with 2.6 million people — is arguably the U.S.’s most reliable diplomatic and military friend in Africa. Now, a booming economy driven by diamond, copper and rare earth minerals is attracting U.S.-educated Baptist, Pentecostal…
Supreme Court declines to reinstate Florida ban on drag shows
“Pro-family” groups that hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would defend a Florida law banning drag shows were disappointed by a decision announced a week before Thanksgiving that leaves the law unenforceable while a legal battle continues over its constitutionality. The…
Immigration advocates deplore House Republicans’ effort to tie Ukraine aid to severe border measures
Immigration rights advocates are pleading with Congress to reject any foreign aid legislation that includes permanent and severe reductions to asylum access for migrants. The appeal was issued as Senate Republicans seek to make border security issues a key condition…
Even as Biden supports their interest in Israel, white evangelicals disapprove of his job performance
White evangelical Christians — the core supporters of Donald Trump — overwhelmingly disapprove of the job President Joe Biden is doing, but also strongly disapprove of his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas, which many Democrats complain has…
As SBC moves toward second vote on Law Amendment, debate continues on just what it means
Just how restrictive will the Southern Baptist Convention become if messengers to next summer’s SBC annual meeting approve a second reading of a proposed constitutional amendment against women in ministry? It depends on who’s doing the explaining. One of the…
Hawks and Felton to lead CBF advocacy efforts
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is expanding its advocacy work with the addition of two new staff members announced Nov. 30. Jennifer Hawks, associate general counsel for Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., has been named CBF’s director…
30 years ago, RFRA passed with support from a broad coalition unimaginable today
It’s difficult to imagine in today’s bitterly divided America the political, religious and civic alliance that helped pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, said Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. “This coalition was…
Even on January 6, family was important to Mike Pence
Family is so important to Mike Pence that his wife and daughter were by his side the entire day of January 6, as insurrectionists sought to take his life at the U.S. Capitol. “Not very many people know my wife,…
Transitions for the week of 12-1-23
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. The next posting of Transitions will be 12-29-23. STAFF CHANGES Amantha L. Barbee, to PneuMatrix and the Center for…