Courageous martyr, colonial aggressor, neither or both? The recent death of John Allen Chau, a 26-year-old American missionary killed while trying to preach the gospel to a remote tribe in India, has ignited a debate about the wisdom of – or even the need for – evangelizing indigenous peoples ignorant of or hostile to Christianity.
Transitions for the week of 11-30-18
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Tim Boone, to First Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn., as interim minister for congregational life. Tracie Quarles Daniels,…
Southern Baptist agency warns ‘eugenics is real’ in Supreme Court brief about Down syndrome and abortion
The Southern Baptist Convention’s public-policy arm is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a state’s right to outlaw abortions involving a fetus with Down syndrome.
Baptist theologian embarking on new mission field – interfaith work
Loving your neighbor as yourself is not just about loving your Christian neighbor as yourself, says Robert Sellers, outgoing chairman of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Survey says teetotalers slowly losing ground in Protestant churches
About one third of Baptists admit to drinking alcohol, according to a LifeWay Research report released Nov. 27. Earlier this month Baptist Press published an article asking whether consensus might be shifting away from the teetotaling message preached by Southern…
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…
Church seeks to intervene in lawsuit over IRS tax exemption
A Baptist church in the nation’s capital is requesting a day in court before a federal court rules in a lawsuit by an atheist group that lost its tax-exempt status for failing to file a form not required for churches…
Second Baptist state convention in Texas celebrates 20 years
The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, formed in 1998 by churches opposed to moderate leadership of the SBC-affiliated Baptist General Convention of Texas, celebrated the milestone at the group’s recent annual meeting in Houston.
Editor warns Southern Baptists are losing the war on weed
A Baptist state newspaper editor declared legalized pot a winner in the recent midterm elections in an editorial calling 2018 “a banner year for the advancement and normalization of marijuana.”
‘Thoughts and prayers’ not enough to end gun violence, religious leaders say
It’s all too easy to fall into despair, give up or become cynical about the epidemic of gun violence gripping the nation. Latasha Hobbs of Jacksonville, Florida, says don’t do it. Don’t give in. “Our country is hurting. We have…
Attorney named in Pressler lawsuit under investigation for fraud
The attorney representing a man alleging sexual abuse by former Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler is seeking a delay in court proceedings after police raided one of the parties named in a lawsuit originally filed in 2017. The Houston Chronicle…
More BFFs are officiating weddings, but look for ministers to make a comeback
Millennials and other religiously unaffiliated Americans are more and more eschewing clergy involvement in their weddings, but some ministers say that may not be a bad thing.