A coalition of anti-death penalty groups has united to end capital punishment state by state and just as U.S. executions are surging. The alliance of more than 50 organizations was launched earlier this month to coordinate nationwide abolition efforts led…
Texas midterms take a twist as another pastor enters the race
A single day of cascading campaign announcements threw a prominent Baptist pastor into a race for the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 8. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, filed to run for Texas’ 30th Congressional…
82-year-old woman’s faith led her to fight against gun violence
When asked why she joined the fight against gun violence, Paula Hawthorn’s answer was simple: “Because God told me to.” A staunch Episcopalian who doesn’t tend to speak or hear directly from God on a regular basis, the 82-year-old retired…
5 Baptist schools among Lilly grant recipients
Five Baptist-affiliated schools have received grants of $7 million to $10 apiece from the Lilly Endowment through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The Baptist-related schools are among 45 recipients in the latest round of large-scale collaboration grants from Lilly. Launched in…
BSK gets new Baugh grant for Institute for Black Church Studies
The Institute for Black Church Studies at BSK Seminary has received a new round of funding from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation that will continue and expand the work begun in 2021. The new $100,000 grant for 2026 follows…
Ministry jobs
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…
Bishop Budde writes about courage
Many came to know Bishop Mariann Budde when she gave a passionate plea to President Donald Trump at the presidential prayer inauguration: “May I ask you to have mercy.” Budde serves as bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Washington, D.C….
Trial delayed for former Texas youth pastor
The trial for a former youth pastor at four Texas churches has been reset to April 20, 2026, granting both the prosecution and defense more time to prepare for what is expected to be a contentious case. Luke Cunningham, 43,…
Judge dismisses seminary from Roe lawsuit
A federal judge has permanently dismissed Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from the long-running defamation lawsuit filed by Jane Roe, while leaving the door open for a jury trial against former seminary President Paige Patterson in the summer 2026. This lawsuit,…
New class-action suit filed to stop Commandments in Texas
A group of 18 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families filed a class action lawsuit Dec. 2 to stop displays of the Ten Commandments in all Texas public school districts not already subject to an injunction. Already, two federal judges in Texas have…
Laws shield taxpayer-funded crisis pregnancy centers from oversight
Half a century after Christian abortion opponents founded the first crisis pregnancy centers, the centers receive hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. But a powerful legal group is working to shield them from taxpayer oversight. Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian…
InterVarsity: Members of Gen Z are remaking missions
Members of Gen Z are committed to missions but insist on changes to old models before they sign on, says a survey from InterVarsity as the campus ministry prepares for this year’s Urbana Student Missions Conference Dec. 28-31 in Phoenix….