A funny thing happened after the theologically conservative Global Methodist Church officially launched on May 1: Dozens of United Methodists took to social media to voice their reasons for staying with the denomination that the GMC’s parent body has denounced…
Three transgender ministers tell their stories and offer counsel to churches
Being transgender and Christian doesn’t have to create distress, trans minister Donnie Anderson said during a webinar held to familiarize churches with that segment of the LGBTQ community. “I hope young people today, and other people as well, will never…
Panel of medical professionals skewers Texas and Alabama actions against transgender health care; separate study finds most children who transition stick with their choice
The opinion of the Texas attorney general and a new Alabama law — both seeking to criminalize health care for transgender youth — are based on either blatant lies for political purpose or the use of outdated and discredited evidence,…
Kristin Du Mez explains white evangelicals and abortion on NPR show; Ed Young preaches Mother’s Day sermon on abortion
When the National Public Radio program “Consider This” wanted to know about evangelical Christian response to the impending evisceration of Roe v. Wade, they turned to one of the most prominent evangelical scholars on history and gender, Kristin Kobes Du…
Mother and son finish each other’s words as co-authors
It’s been said that there’s nothing stronger than a mother and son bond, and if that’s the case, then author Karen Kingsbury and son Tyler Russell live up to the mantra. Although their bond as mother and son is undeniably…
In North Carolina and Texas, Baptist ministers are running for school board seats
Two Baptist ministers have waded into the hyper-combative arena of public education by seeking school board seats in an era of unprecedented hostility, in some places bordering on violence, aimed at district leaders and educators. Both men — Jonathan Grant…
There is freedom beyond substitutionary atonement, Alliance of Baptists panelists say
Moving past belief in penal substitutionary atonement can positively impact Christians’ spiritual, emotional and mental health, according to participants in panel discussions presented during the 2022 virtual gathering of the Alliance of Baptists. The theme of the April 22-24 meeting,…
Disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll is back on the speaking circuit, and he’s sharing a virtual platform with Matt Chandler
Disgraced and combative pastor Mark Driscoll is back on the speaking circuit, and he’s about to share a stage with the high-profile Baptist pastor who presumably has been cleaning up the reputation of the Acts 29 Network Driscoll helped found…
Candidate forum explores the views of three very conservative SBC presidential nominees
While sharing in affirmation of the “conservative resurgence” of the late 20th century, three men vying to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention expressed different current priorities during a first-of-its-kind candidate forum May 4. The event at First Baptist…
Transitions for the week of 5-6-22
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Caleb Bittler, to New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as senior pastor, effective June 1. Currently he is…
Church religious education took more of a hit than worship during pandemic
Much has been written about the challenges churches faced in maintaining corporate worship during the pandemic, but little has been reported on the changes brought about in religious education. Yet a new national study from Hartford Institute for Religion Research…
Evangelical leaders descend on Capitol to advocate for immigration reform now
About 200 evangelical leaders, including many megachurch pastors from around the country, descended on Washington, D.C., May 3 for two days of intense lobbying of Congress on the issue of immigration reform. The faith-based blitz was coordinated by the National…