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.
God wants humans to use natural gas and oil, not ‘keep it in the ground,’ says EPA chief
The Southern Baptist head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he opposes regulations restricting the mining of non-renewable energy resources because the Bible tells him so.
Billy Graham lying in honor at Capitol raises church/state questions for some
Asked in a 2011 by Christianity Today magazine about his greatest regret, evangelist Billy Graham famously said, “I would have steered clear of politics.” That regret now haunts him in death in form of a debate about whether or not his body should have laid in honor at the U.S. Capitol.
Christians often give something up for Lent. Why not white supremacy?
LaTonya McIver Penny wasn’t satisfied with surrendering chocolate or coffee or Facebook for Lent. Instead, the African-American pastor of a Baptist church in North Carolina decided to give up white supremacy this year.
Global Baptist peace gathering rescheduled for 2019
The sixth Global Baptist Peace Conference, scheduled July 15-20, 2019 — to be held in Cali, Colombia — will double as the annual summer conference for Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America-Bautistas por la Paz.
Transitions for the week of 03.02.18
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
Demand protection for Dreamers, group urges in launching call-in day
Leaders of several Baptist organizations are asking constituents to call, email or write members of Congress March 1 demanding legal protection for undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children.
Virginia Baptist group will no longer forward money to CBF, citing partial lifting of ban on LGBTQ employees
The Baptist General Association of Virginia will no longer forward contributions from its affiliated congregations to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship because of a new CBF practice allowing the hiring of LGBTQ Christians to some, but not all, ministry positions.