For the second time in two days, a prominent Black pastor has publicly quit the Southern Baptist Convention over its seminary presidents’ campaign against Critical Race Theory. “I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: ‘We out,’” said Charlie Dates,…
Letter to the Editor: How can BFM be ‘incompatible’ with a thought process?
Read our latest Letter to the Editor from Randall Fields of San Antonio, Texas. Your comments are always welcome. Learn how to submit a Letter to the Editor.
In border migrant camps, it’s a cold and lonely Christmas — but there is hope for the new year
The little girl playing in a migrant camp in Mexico broke into a big smile when asked what she wants for Christmas. “A pair of skates,” 9-year-old Jennifer of El Salvador said through an interpreter during a Zoom call on…
Judson College needs $1.5 million or will be forced to close in January
An Alabama Baptist college that is the last remaining all-women college in the state needs to raise $1.5 million in gifts and pledges in order to remain open for the spring semester, its president told alumnae and donors Dec. 15….
The Greatest Commandment: Hearing one thing from the pulpit and saying another thing in the parking lot
This column continues a BNG opinion series explaining Critical Race Theory. Growing up with a children’s minister mother, who is intentional to ensure her preached theology is the same as her lived theology, granted me a holistic picture of spiritual…
Houston pastor quits Southwestern and SBC over seminary presidents’ statement on race
Another prominent Black Baptist pastor has challenged the six Southern Baptist Convention seminary presidents for their critique of Critical Race Theory, saying as a result he is abandoning doctoral studies at one of the seminaries and disassociating with the SBC…
What should it cost a denomination to control governance of a university?
How much money should a denominational body have to give to a university in return for the ability to control that university’s governance? Turns out, not much in many cases. As state, regional and national denominational bodies have faced declining…
Together for Hope partnership steps up the drive for hunger relief in Mississippi
Together for Hope is venturing full force into the realm of proposing legislation and lobbying to finance an expansive anti-hunger initiative in Mississippi. “I’ve never participated in a grassroots campaign quite like this,” said Jason Coker, national director of Together…
Transitions for the week of 12-18-20
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Bruce Burfield, to First Baptist Church, Lindsborg, Kansas, as pastor. Sean Dunker-Bendigo, concluding his tenure as pastor…
‘Cultural humility’ fosters a lifelong self-examination of racism
The work of identifying racist attitudes and behaviors is not only uncomfortable, but also never-ending, said Kerri Fisher, a lecturer and diversity educator at Baylor University. Recognizing white privilege and oppressive social systems isn’t enough to sustain “cultural humility,” said…
Supreme Court declines to consider Indiana case on rights of same-sex parents
An effort by Indiana officials to deny parental rights to same-sex couples was turned away by the United States Supreme Court Dec. 14. Without comment, the high court denied certiorari in the case Box v. Henderson, which means the court…
Visionaries seek new creation from United Methodist chaos
In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in the fledgling United States of America at a gathering that became known as the Christmas Conference. This year, The United Methodist Church, descendant of that first denomination, faces a Christmas of…