Legislation that would require posting the Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom has gone largely unnoticed nationally, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, its leaders said recently. Senate Bill 1515 “hasn’t…
These Christians are praying for an end to the death penalty
Death penalty abolitionists are turning to organized prayer in the national movement to end state and federal capital punishment. The approach began with a virtual gathering of faith and social justice leaders May 4 — the National Day of Prayer…
‘God’s plant’ has cured kids, now the new frontier is psychedelics
The six Stanley brothers were taught that marijuana was bad news, both at church and at Colorado Springs Christian School. But after pot helped their cancer-stricken cousin Ron, the brothers entered the medical marijuana business to work with “God’s plant.”…
Tamela Mann praises Jesus as she turns out the hits
Even when history was on the line, Tamela Mann was determined not to cry. In this instance, history began with a phone call from her husband, David. “David, who is also my manager, called and said, ‘You’ve broken the record;…
Fuller family establishes social justice chair at Garland School of Social Work
Charlie and Cindy Fuller of Woodway, Texas, along with their family, have committed $1.5 million to Baylor University to establish an endowed chair for social justice in the Garland School of Social Work. The gift will qualify for matching support…
Ministry jobs and more
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…
To understand pluralism, think of a potluck
Promoting diversity in American culture and democracy is like hosting a potluck gathering, author and interfaith activist Eboo Patel said. “Maybe there’s something about a potluck that just brings out the best in pluralism,” Patel, founder and president of Interfaith…
Cedarville University reckons with abuse allegations — again
After a woman stabbed a man on campus early this year, claiming he threatened her life, Cedarville University has been grappling with concern on campus about broader issues of sexual harassment and violence. In February, a female student at Cedarville…
Momentum is building to stop an execution in Oklahoma
Legislative and religious momentum is building to spare the life of a condemned Oklahoma inmate and to seek a moratorium — if not an outright ban — on the state’s capital punishment system. Lawmakers and a former parole and pardons…
Allow female pastors today and expect gay clergy tomorrow, Mike Law warns
Allowing women to serve in churches with the title “pastor” is a slippery slope that will lead to acceptance of gay, lesbian and transgender pastors next, according to a Virginia pastor calling for an amendment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s…
Paige Patterson praises independent Baptists for focus on evangelism
Paige Patterson has written an online post extolling the virtues of independent Baptists and praising them for “keeping the main thing the main thing.” That “main thing,” the former Southern Baptist Convention seminary president said, is evangelism. Patterson’s May 3…
19th century Baptist influence in Northeast India continues
The Christianity introduced to Northeast India by Baptist missionaries in the 19th century inspired advances in education, communication and ethnic cohesion but also left descendants coping with fundamentalism and patriarchy that persist today, experts on faith in the region said…