It hasn’t been a good week for Southern Baptist Convention entities defending themselves against lawsuits. Court filings in the two most prominent such cases have accused SBC leadership of intentionally misleading the court and, in one case, committing perjury. The…
Mercer gets $9.6 million grant to address public school teacher retention and diversification
Mercer University’s Tift College of Education is embarking on a partnership with five Georgia school districts to strengthen teacher recruitment and workforce diversification through a $9.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In announcing the project, the Macon,…
New leader of Neighborhood Economics connects his work to his Baptist upbringing
Leroy Barber, co-founder and president of the Voices Project and former director of Innovation for the Greater Northwest area of the United Methodist Church, has joined Neighborhood Economics as its new executive director. Neighborhood Economics is an organization dedicated “to…
Thom Rainer launches new emphasis on evangelism
Thom Rainer is widely known as the former head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Lifeway Christian Resources, but now he is set to open a new chapter as he launches both a new company and a new book, I Am…
With court’s blessing, Texas pastor touches, prays over inmate as he is executed
The Texas Baptist pastor who found himself at the center of a Supreme Court case on religious liberty for Death Row inmates was able to fulfill that inmate’s wishes as he was put to death by the State of Texas…
Time is running out for DACA, and immigration advocates say it’s immoral for Congress not to act
The need for Congress to end its decades-long failure to address immigration reform took on immediate urgency Oct. 5 when the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals deemed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy illegal. For Dreamers who have lived…
Workshop seeks to educate voters on dangers of white supremacy and Christian nationalism
A group of leading social justice activists, faith groups and religious leaders will host an Oct. 9 workshop to counter the growing threats of white supremacy and Christian nationalism by educating and inspiring voters. The virtual event, “Liberate Democracy: Vote…
Advocacy group names 20 ‘false prophets’ of Christian nationalism
A group battling Christian nationalism has released a list of 20 “false prophets” it claims “routinely hijack faith for political purposes.” The new effort by Faithful America doesn’t deal in generalisms but names names. The list is published online at AmericanFalseProphets.org,…
Transitions for the week of 10-7-22
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Kyle Bailey, to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., as associate minister of missions. Rick Bailey, to Murfreesboro…
A year’s delay due to COVID didn’t dampen the 150th anniversary at First Baptist Church on Fifth
Waiting an extra year because of COVID-19 to mark its 150th anniversary has not stopped First Baptist Church on Fifth from celebrating its history through continued ministry in Winston-Salem, N.C. Nor has the church been resting on its laurels after…
Nathan Porter called a generation of Baptists to serve Christ and love the poor
A prince of a guy who loved challenging youth to consider a call to ministry and, on the other hand, someone who was the conscience of many Southern Baptists on poverty and race relations. That’s how friends are remembering Nathan…
Atlanta Baptist pastor prays an imprecatory Psalm against Republican candidate’s foes
A Southern Baptist pastor in Atlanta prayed an imprecatory Psalm against opponents of a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Oct. 4, according to an exclusive report by Brian Kaylor of Word&Way. Although media were turned away from the “prayer…