The Republican Party in the nation’s most populous state controlled by that party has a new platform that invokes the name of God 17 times, calls for special privilege for Christians and demands that Christian prayers, Bible reading and the…
Author explores contradiction of evangelical support for prison ministry and tough-on-crime laws at same time
It’s hardly surprising that evangelicals have a passion for jail and prison ministries in order to bring comfort and conversion to the incarcerated, historian Aaron Griffith noted during a recent webinar hosted by the Equal Justice USA Evangelical Network. But…
One year later, awareness of Juneteenth is growing
Over the past two years, the word “Juneteenth” has been one of the most-searched terms on the Baptist News Global website. That quest for understanding coincides with a sudden growing awareness of this milestone day in civil rights history, fueled…
Churches in Russian-occupied sections of Ukraine face desperate conditions
Baptist churches in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine face increasingly desperate humanitarian conditions while responding with increasingly creative physical and spiritual outreach efforts, the European Baptist Federation said in its most recent warzone communique. The situation report was released just days…
Transitions for the week of 6-17-22
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Kristofer Anderson, to Buechel Park Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., as interim music director. Mike Anderson, to Springwood Baptist…
Many voices call for prosecution of mob who lynched and burned Christian student in Nigeria
Four weeks after the brutal mob murder of Deborah Samuel, a 22-year-old Nigerian Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, reactions to her killing and the demand for the prosecution of her killers have not ceased. On May 12,…
Religious Liberty Council elects two BJC board members
Members of the Religious Liberty Council on June 15 elected two candidates to serve as representatives on the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty board of directors and re-elected three already serving on the board. The council, which is one…
Still no external review of North American Mission Board finances
For at least two years, critics of the current leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board have been seeking some way to crack open the mission board’s books, where they believe fraud is being hidden. This week,…
Attempt to dismantle SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission fails
In yet another setback to the most conservative wing of the Southern Baptist Convention, an attempt to disband the denomination’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission failed June 15. This vote was the culmination of a years-long campaign against the ERLC…
Brian Foreman named CBF’s coordinator of congregational ministries
North Carolina educator Brian Foreman has been named coordinator of congregational ministries for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He was chosen for the newly created position by an eight-member search committee, then affirmed in the role by the CBF Governing Board….
Most Americans hang out with people who are a lot like them
A majority of Americans associate most closely with people who look, think, vote and worship like them, according to new research by Public Religion Research Institute. “Across demographic groups, Americans’ core friendship networks tend to be dominated by people of…
Breaking news: It will be a four-way race for SBC president
Just hours before the nomination of candidates for the position of president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a fourth candidate emerged. Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga., will join Florida pastor Tom Ascol, Texas pastor…