Sixty-two years ago this spring, Martin Luther King Jr. famously preached in chapel at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. The date was April 19, 1961. What is less remembered is that King also spoke that day in a…
Faith-based leaders discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of Biden’s proposed border policies
U.S. faith-based organizations will be called upon to add or boost volunteer and fundraising efforts for immigrants once new White House immigration policies go into effect, human rights activists said during a recent briefing with journalists. The Jan. 20 conference…
U.S. churches more likely to have adult and youth education programs than interfaith or ecumenical work
Adult and youth education programs were among the most resilient in U.S. congregations during the two decades leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, while interfaith and ecumenical engagement diminished significantly during that span, according to a new report released by…
Here’s Johnny! Embattled SBC pastor back in the pulpit and will headline a men’s conference
Johnny Hunt, who last summer was forced from his role as executive vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board over sexual abuse allegations, was back in the pulpit last Sunday. Not only did Hunt preach at…
Dan Hobbs, early leader of ABP and CBF, dies at 95
Dan S. Hobbs, an early trustee of Baptist News Global — then known as Associated Baptist Press — died in Tulsa, Okla., Jan 12 at age 95. Hobbs also was an early leader in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and in…
‘Public safety ecosystems’ could help replace nation’s broken criminal justice system, evangelical leaders say
American churches are ideally positioned to help replace a broken criminal justice system with one that empowers communities to heal the trauma that fosters violent crime, according to panelists on a Jan. 17 webinar. The online conversation hosted by Equal…
Reparations should begin with recognition of human dignity, Delbanco says in 50th annual Jefferson Lecture
Reparations for America’s history of slavery must begin with recognition of human dignity, according to Andrew Delbanco, Alexander Hamilton Professor of American Studies at Columbia University. Delbanco delivered this year’s Jefferson Lecture sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities,…
Church of England won’t allow same-sex marriage but may allow a liturgical blessing of civil unions
The Church of England will not allow same-sex marriage, despite renewed debate and calls for change in the state church. Bishops met Jan. 17 to finalize a recommendation after five years of debate on the issue that already has ripped…
Transitions for the week of 1-20-23
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Carlton Allen, to First Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C., as interim pastor, effective Feb. 1. Steve Battaglia, to New…
Class-action suit against Department of Education alleging discrimination in Title IX exemptions dismissed
A challenge of the U.S. Department of Education granting religious exemptions to faith-based schools that allow them to discriminate while receiving federal funding has been dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge. Judge Ann Aiken of the U.S. District Court…
Supreme Court will hear former postal employee’s appeal that he shouldn’t have to work on Sundays because he’s a Christian
After denying three similar requests in recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a case that challenges a 1977 court ruling defining what constitutes an “undue hardship” for an employer faced with a religious accommodation request….
New survey: Republicans and white evangelicals are outliers in fear of immigrants invading U.S.
The gap between Americans on immigration is steadily widening as conservatives increasingly embrace anti-immigrant attitudes that include a belief that migrants are invading the United States to displace white citizens, according to new research by Public Religion Research Institute. The…