Religious groups came through the COVID-19 pandemic with relatively higher levels of trust than most other institutions yet also fostered suspicion with a majority of Americans for spreading misinformation about vaccines and putting profits ahead of the well-being of local…
Religion researcher Scott Thumma will be guest on December BNG webinar
One of the nation’s foremost experts on interpreting American religion will be the guest on Baptist New Global’s next webinar. Scott Thumma, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University, will join BNG Executive Director Mark…
Texas Baptists ‘affirm’ women while making gender an article of faith
The Baptist General Convention of Texas has “affirmed” women as contributors to God’s work while also adopting a new faith statement that — mixed in with core historic Baptist beliefs — says “gender is a gift from God who creates…
Panel proclaims the power of today’s Black church to engage younger adults
A panel of African American Christian leaders expressed optimism that the Black church is emerging from the COVID-19 and a concurrent civil rights crisis as a robust social justice movement increasingly trusted by rising generations. “We’ve seen a lot of…
In a reversal of a current trend, a Baptist seminary creates a Methodist House of Studies
In an era when many non-Baptist seminaries are creating specific space for Baptist ministers in training, a Baptist seminary is creating space for Wesleyan minsters in training. Baylor University announced Nov. 18 the endowment of a new academic chair that…
Some African immigrants see their hopes of a better life in the U.S. dashed by new immigration plan
Among the African community, mixed reactions have continued to trail debate in the United States Congress of the Build Back Better bill. The concern is about a lesser-noticed provision about immigration. Reports show that $100 billion is earmarked for immigration…
Biden administration rolls back Trump-era discrimination waivers in foster care
Civil rights and separation of church and state groups are thrilled, but conservative evangelicals are dismayed that the Biden administration announced Nov. 18 the reversal of a Trump-era policy that allowed discrimination against foster parents because of their sexual orientation….
Upton announces retirement from Virginia Baptist post after 20 transformative years
After two decades of leadership, John Upton has announced he intends to retire as executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia July 31, 2022. Since his election to the post in 2001, the landscape of Baptist state conventions…
‘Following the Star’ Advent devotionals begin Nov. 28
The free daily Advent and Christmastide devotionals produced by Passport will begin online Nov. 28. “Following the Star features Scripture, prayer and meditative thoughts accompanied by gentle music. This year’s writers are Paris Ball, Dave McNeely, Jon Brown, Holle Tubbs,…
Baptist-led petition drive urges U.S. Congress to stop stalling on crisis in Myanmar
Former Burmese refugee Van Lian Kio said he has been tormented by the flood of social media reports, news accounts and images of brutal military repression of fellow Baptists and other religious minorities in his native country, now known as…
International religious freedom group decries Biden administration letting Nigeria escape Countries of Particular Concern list
The nation’s top bipartisan watchdog for international religious freedom praised one addition by the U.S. State Department to its 2021 list of Countries of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations but expressed astonishment that another country was dropped from the…
Baylor’s Black Gospel Archive and Listening Center now open to the public
Black Gospel music is a foundational ingredient in every popular music genre in America, and with the opening last week of Baylor University’s Black Gospel Archive and Listening Center, music that has long been accessible only to music scholars and…