Marci Wilson-Boggs grew up in a church that promoted the King James Version as the only valid biblical translation and in which liturgical seasons, like Advent, were rarely if ever mentioned. “I was raised Independent Baptist,” the Nashville resident said….
Remaining BTSR assets granted to two new initiatives in Virginia
The final distribution of assets from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will help launch a new Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation and a Baptist House of Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. As previously reported, Union Presbyterian Seminary…
Fire destroys historic home of Middle Collegiate Church in New York
A six-alarm fire destroyed the historic building of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City on Saturday, Dec. 5. The church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America, has several Baptist connections through staff…
Holidays 2020 may evoke a darker shade of grief and isolation, panelists say
The COVID-19 pandemic has imbued grieving and isolation with deeper, darker shades during the 2020 holiday season, a panel of experts said during a Dec. 3 webinar hosted by Baptist News Global. The pain of suffering loss or, for LGBTQ…
Is attacking a candidate’s sermon different than attacking a candidate’s speeches?
Attacking a political candidate for something said in a speech is different than attacking a candidate for something preached in a sermon, according to Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Tyler and BJC Director of…
Southern Baptist leaders amplify Trump’s lies about election fraud
Prominent Southern Baptist leaders were among those taking to social media Dec. 2 to affirm and defend Donald Trump’s 46-minute video in which he repeated blatantly false accusations that the 2020 election was rigged against him and should be overturned….
Trump wants to bring back firing squads, Trump supporters want to execute opponents, while support for death penalty continues to decline
While American support for the death penalty continues to decline, the Trump administration in its waning days seeks to return electrocution and firing squads as means of capital punishment. And several supporters of Donald Trump’s failed re-election bid this week…
Panel urges Southern Seminary to make amends for past racial sins
Panelists at a Dec. 2 virtual forum on “Race and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary” agreed the Louisville, Ky., school’s entanglements with slavery and racism demand a stronger response than the school has put forward. However, participants in the West…
More churches defined as racially diverse but that doesn’t lead to racial justice work
Evidence that American churches have become more racially diverse doesn’t mean they have become increasingly active in promoting racial justice causes, according to a new sociological study. “We do see this slow-but-steady rise in the percentage of congregations in the…
Transitions for the week of 12-4-20
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Andy Bowlin, concluding his tenure as minister of youth and children at Union Cross Baptist Church, Kernersville, N.C….
Often, faith and work collide for African immigrants in the U.S.
In November 2016, when he set out on a trip to the United States from his country of Nigeria, Ferdinand Okeke took with him a Bible. It represented more than an item for him; it was an article of faith….
Asia Pacific region leads the globe in increasing restriction of religious faith
Government restrictions of religion are increasing around the world, with the Asia Pacific region leading the way, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. And while the report identified China and Myanmar, as leaders in official efforts…