The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has announced it is joining an ongoing legal battle over predatory lending practices. The Fellowship said it “is requesting ‘intervenor’ status in a case filed by two industry associations challenging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule…
Panel says Arkansas Supreme Court justices violated ethics by removing pastor/judge from death penalty cases
A state government commission tasked with investigating claims concerning the ethical conduct or disability of judges on Thursday filed formal charges against six members of the Arkansas Supreme Court for their handling of a case involving a Little Rock judge…
Heart surgery sidelines American Baptist leader
American Baptist Churches USA is under interim leadership as General Secretary Lee Spitzer recovers from heart surgery. Spitzer, head of the 1.3 million-member ABCUSA since 2017, underwent aortic valve replacement and triple bypass surgery on Sept. 8. He came from…
Interim IMB president says investigation into handling of abuse allegations will continue
An independent, outside review of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board’s past handling of abuse allegations announced in July by IMB President David Platt will continue after he leaves the post next week, officials confirmed Sept. 20. Platt, who…
Transitions for the week of 9-21-18
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Carolyn Allen, to First Baptist Church, Barnard, Kansas, as pastor. Joseph Anaman, to Community Church, Milton, N.H.,…
Pastor’s traffic stop prompts talk of racial profiling in Kentucky city
Black and white clergy in Louisville, Kentucky, called for a formal review of police policies after a respected ministry colleague was pulled over Saturday night for what some view as the American slang term for racial profiling “driving while black.”…
Millennials could bring faith and hope to American politics, Baptist minister says
Convincing Millennials to join churches is no easy task. Ask any minister. But Brent McDougal, the senior pastor at Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, has assigned himself an arguably even harder task: convincing young adults to bring their…
Dallas CBF pastor stands with black clergy protesting police shooting of African-American man
A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pastor in Dallas criticized white churches for not speaking up alongside blacks demanding justice in the killing of an African-American man in his own apartment by a white police officer. On Sunday George Mason, senior pastor…
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…
Pastor’s Facebook posts offer vital information, pastoral care to Hurricane Florence victims
The pastor of a North Carolina Baptist church who chose to ride out Hurricane Florence kept lines of information open with daily postings on social media.
David Platt steps up schedule to step down at IMB
Southern Baptist Convention leader David Platt is stepping down Sept. 17 as president of the denomination’s International Mission Board to focus on being the pastor of a local church. Platt, 39, announced seven months ago plans to transition out of…
Religion Notes: Nonprofit pushes lullabys, vigils to support immigrant children
A media and culture nonprofit that uses story to help immigrants has launched a multifaceted campaign to support children separated from their parents by Donald Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy.