A West Coast church is attracting science- and adventure-loving students with a new program that prepares them for careers as commercial drone pilots. For the congregation the ministry is about answering the challenge that all churches face in a time of declining attendance and revenues — assessing congregational talents and interests, seeking where God is already at work in the community, and and taking chances on new approaches to ministry.
Church treasurer accused of embezzling CP funds
The long-time treasurer of a rural Missouri Baptist church is suspected of skimming funds that were designated for cooperative missions and the pastor’s retirement fund in a series of alleged thefts that authorities say add up to more than $300,000.
Brian McLaren says Baptists ‘doing harm’ to nation and world
Baptists are doing a lot of harm in today’s society, emergent church leader Brian McLaren said in a podcast posted recently on a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship blog.
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.
Victim to church: Sexual assault is not a sin. It’s a crime.
Bible teachings about sin and forgiveness do not give churches the right to pardon a crime, a woman who claims a Tennessee megachurch pastor sexually assaulted her 20 years ago says in new video published March 9 by the New York Times.
Tragedies like 9-11, Sandy Hook define online devotional effort
Law enforcement agencies, secular and faith-based relief groups, and media are known to instantly pivot and mobilize when tragedy strikes. And while those responses are usually the most visible, there are others who refocus and retool their efforts to comfort thousands during difficult times: the editors and writers of daily and seasonal devotions.
Robert Jeffress: Trump’s alleged affair with porn star ‘totally irrelevant’ to his evangelical base
A Southern Baptist adviser to President Donald Trump says it is “absolutely ludicrous” to call Trump’s evangelical supporters hypocrites for standing by the president amid allegations that he had an adulterous relationship with an adult film star.
Haunted by old lawsuit, C.J. Mahaney withdraws from Together for the Gospel confab
The former head of a Reformed, charismatic evangelical ministry is backing out of a biennial preaching conference he helped found, citing renewed controversy over a sexual abuse scandal involving his former church.
Transitions for the week of 03.09.18
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
Calls mounting for removal of judge who allowed lenient plea deal for church camp rapist
Opposition is mounting against an Oklahoma judge who approved a plea deal allowing a man who raped a 13-year-old girl while volunteering at a Baptist church camp to avoid prison.
Witness in Larry Nassar case calls out evangelicals for ‘double standard’ in sexual abuse
The first woman to speak publicly about sexual assault by former U.S. gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and the last to testify against him in court called out evangelical leaders March 1 for what she says is a double standard when it comes to allegations of child sexual abuse.
Virtual reality baptisms and 3-D biblical experiences: the church of the future?
Imagine a church building where the sanctuary morphs into biblical locations, where worshipers confront the burning bush at the same time it’s preached about, and where converts can be baptized without being physically present. That’s not the church of the future. For one pastor, that’s the church of now.