Two weeks into his new job, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives already has made the list. Although it’s a list he might not want to be on. Mike Johnson is one of 12 “false prophets” highlighted this…
Lloyd Elder, Southern Baptist statesman
Southern Baptist statesman Lloyd Elder died Nov. 3 at age 90. Elder was the last “moderate” leader of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, forced out in 1991 by trustees elected through the “conservative resurgence” that had begun in 1979….
Coalition of Baptist leaders will file amicus brief challenging NAMB’s view of First Amendment
Will McRaney’s legal case against the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board will take a dramatic turn this week as a group of state Baptist convention leaders, former NAMB employees and former denominational officials submit an amicus brief alleging NAMB…
SBC ethics agency opposes EEOC guidance on what constitutes workplace harassment
The Southern Baptist Convention wants to allow workplace discrimination related to abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity views. The convention’s Ethics and Religious Commission has written the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to object to proposed new guidance on workplace harassment that…
Opposing book bans is a spiritual act, interfaith group says
People of faith must stand up against the proliferation of book-banning campaigns or face the inevitable erosion of religious liberties, according to library and reading advocate Tracie Hall. “This is a moment we cannot take lying down. We cannot have…
Louisville church reflects on turning white Jesus into brown Jesus
Highland Baptist Church in Louisville transformed its stained-glass Jesus from white to brown to accurately reflect his ethnicity, to continue the congregation’s ongoing reparations work and to push back against Christian nationalism. “We wanted to correct the misrepresentation of Christ…
Guidestone shares FBI warning of new financial scams targeting seniors
An FBI warning about new financial scams prompted Guidestone Financial Resources to alert its clients about scammers infiltrating personal financial accounts by impersonating representatives from technology firms, banks or government agencies. “This Phantom Hacker scam is an evolution of more…
Department of Education levies $37.7 million fine against Grand Canyon University for lying
A private university once affiliated with Baptists in Arizona has been fined the largest sum ever levied against a school by the U.S. Department of Education. The DOE and its office of Federal Student Aid said the $37.7 million fine against Grand…
Kanakuk Kamps sues ACE American Insurance Co. amid sexual abuse lawsuit
Kanakuk Kamps is suing ACE American Insurance Co. for “breach of contract and fiduciary duty” and “bad faith refusal” to defend the company in the lawsuit brought against Kanakuk by Logan Yandell last November. Kanakuk alleges ACE withheld pertinent information…
Transitions for the week of 11-3-23
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Bradley Beals, to Warrenton (Va.) Baptist Church, as senior pastor. He has been serving as transitional pastor there….
Kinzinger’s journey: From religious fundamentalism to political fundamentalism’s foe
Adam Kinzinger learned all about religious fundamentalism growing up at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal, Ill., and other independent fundamental Baptist congregations that practiced separation from the world, prohibited worldly pleasures and provided plentiful rules that freed true believers “from…
Study finds Americans’ understanding of ‘family’ is changing
What does the idea of “family” mean anymore? According to a new national research, Americans’ ideas of marriage and family are changing and people have mixed feelings about how that will affect the future. Pew Research Center released a new…