Recent church staff changes, anniversaries, ordinations and deaths within the moderate and progressive Baptist network.
Southern Baptist megachurch denies liability in sex abuse lawsuit
Matt Chandler’s Village Church denied any wrongdoing in its response to a $1 million lawsuit stemming from the alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl at a church camp in 2012.
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Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States.
Paige Patterson claims First Amendment defense in abuse lawsuit
Former Southern Baptist statesman Paige Patterson claimed a religious liberty defense, while denying the bulk of allegations in a lawsuit over his handling of sex abuse claims, in an answer filed Aug. 26 in federal court.
Judge calls for hate-crime probe in monument defacement
An Arkansas judge and Baptist minister is asking that the chopping down of a tree planted in honor of victims of a 1919 race massacre be investigated as a hate crime.
Baptist church calls transgender pastor
Members of an Ohio congregation are inviting members of their community to a Sept. 8 worship service officially welcoming one of the few openly transgender Baptist ministers as their new pastor.
Robert Jeffress says Trump doesn’t have ‘messiah complex’
A spiritual adviser to Donald Trump deflected criticism of the president’s self-designation as “the chosen one” in a radio interview Aug. 21, assuring listeners that the 45th president of the United States does not think he is like a god.
Angela Project ceremony aims to repair, not repeat, America’s history of racism
Repairing America’s racial divide will require more than feeling remorse for sins in the past, the president of a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky, told an audience of mixed races from various faith traditions gathered to reflect on the 400th anniversary of slavery in the United States.
Ministry jobs and more
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…
Franklin Graham says required teaching of LGBT history is ‘an affront to God’
Saying public schools have no right to teach something “that is an affront to God,” evangelist Franklin Graham urged parents in states that require LGQTQ-inclusive teaching to either homeschool their children or enroll them in private schools during a radio interview Aug. 15.
Inspired by the women of scripture, Baptist minister champions reproductive rights
Some female theologians argue women should abandon the Bible because its language and depictions of women are oppressive. While Baptist minister Katey Zeh certainly sees that oppression in those pages, she isn’t ready to give up on scripture.
U.S. Baptist leaders urge protection for pastors who testified about religious freedom in Burma
Fear that two pastors who testified at last month’s State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom might face arrest on their return to Myanmar prompted letters of concern from Baptist leaders in the United States.