The chief equity officer at Planned Parenthood is an ordained Christian minister who believes his work is a calling from God. In an exclusive interview with Baptist News Global, George Walker made it clear that he sees his work at Planned…
Only one-fourth of Republican parents say children should be taught the legacy of slavery still affects Black people today — and other findings from a new Pew survey
Parent eruptions at local school board meetings over the past couple of years are based in real and dramatic differences of opinion about what should be taught in America’s public schools, according to new data from Pew Research. For example,…
Most Americans agree democracy is in trouble, but few worry about it
Although fragmented politically, a strong majority of Americans agree democracy is in peril. They also agree their pocketbooks are far more important than the future of the nation’s government. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted this month shows 71%…
Another baker puts a same-sex wedding case in the legal oven, where there’s no recipe from the Supreme Court
Because the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet given lower courts a recipe for what religious freedom rights should be given to wedding vendors, yet another cake baker has a case in the legal oven now. It was a different…
New book gathers essays by women called to ministry across the generations
A new collection of essays by women in ministry illustrates the passion and determination women have mustered in overcoming the barriers they faced in answering their callings. “We wanted to hear the honest stories of a woman’s call to ministry,…
New Saddleback pastor affirms women as preachers, SBC conservatives want constitutional amendment to exclude churches that affirm women as pastors
The battle over women serving as pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention took on new heat this week when the new pastor at Saddleback Church affirmed his belief that both men and women are qualified to preach and when a…
Before you make church property decisions, consider your mission and calling
Congregations must put faith and calling before revenue when contemplating renting, leasing or selling church property in response to declines in giving and attendance, said Dominic Dutra, author of Closing Costs: Reimagining Church Real Estate for Missional Purposes. Church leaders…
Religious leaders from Africa join call for Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty
A coalition of religious leaders in Africa and beyond has proposed a Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty as an urgent response to the devastation of climate change on the continent and the world. The grassroots multi-faith organization known as GreenFaith held…
Samford denies professional group for LGBTQ law school students
Once again, Samford University has denied a request to allow a group for LGBTQ students — this time excluding students in its highly rated Cumberland School of Law. In 2017, the Birmingham school forfeited $3 million a year in institutional…
‘Christian nation’ myth is fundamental to Christian nationalism, speakers warn
One of the scariest things about Christian nationalism — especially for a Black Baptist minister— is its symbiotic relationship with white supremacy expressed through the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation, Christopher McKee Jr. explained to an…
Henry Mugabe and son reportedly killed in crash in Zimbabwe
A key figure in resisting the spillover of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “conservative resurgence” into global missions outposts has been killed in an automobile tragedy in Zimbabwe, according to friends in America. Henry Mugabe along with his son, Munyaradzi Johannes Mugabe,…
Embrace new ways of relating to mental health and spiritual challenges of Gen Z or risk losing them, researcher urges
Religious leaders must learn to embrace new ways of relating to the mental health and spiritual challenges of young people or risk contributing to their continued alienation from faith institutions, the coordinator of a new national study says. Josh Packard…