The son of the late theologian and author Francis Schaeffer challenged evangelical supporters of Donald Trump to try to defend the president’s reported foul-mouthed description of Haiti and African nations which he made during a White House meeting with a bipartisan group of senators Jan. 11.
Megachurches must ‘come out of the closet’ on LGBTQ issues, say observers
LGBTQ individuals and movements have become increasingly transparent about their identity and causes. Now, it may be time for the nation’s biggest Christian congregations to follow suit. New data shows that none of America’s 100 largest megachurches report having LGBTQ-affirming policies.
Baptist church fighting deportation of member with dire health concerns
A North Carolina Baptist church claims immigration officials entrapped a long-time church member held for deportation after applying for permission to stay in the United States due to a life-threatening medical condition.
Transitions for the week of 01.12.18
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES John Eklund to Chepachet (R.I.) Union Church, as full-time settled pastor. Katie Kuhl, concluding her tenure as children’s…
#MeToo spotlight turns on Southern Baptist megachurch
A Southern Baptist megachurch in Memphis, Tenn., is standing by a teaching pastor caught in the spotlight of the #MeToo movement exposing histories of sexual abuse by powerful males.
American pastor in Canada doesn’t miss culture wars, church growth pressures
When U.S. pastor Justin Joplin accepted a call to a Baptist church in Canada, he found a Baptist identity free from anxiety over a decline from majority cultural status. That is liberating, he says.
Immigrant advocates unhappy with White House decision to end temporary residency for Salvadorans
Immigrant advocates criticized a decision by the Trump administration to end a program that has allowed about 200,000 people from El Salvador to live and work in the United States for nearly two decades.
Mississippi ‘religious liberty’ bill allowed to stand
The U.S. Supreme Court refused Jan. 8 to hear a challenge to a Mississippi law allowing government workers and businesses to deny services to LGBT persons and couples based on religious beliefs. The nation’s high court declined to hear two…
CBF-sponsored ‘Civil Rides’ to highlight plight of rural poor
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is kicking off a daylong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination April 4 by embarking on a 270-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness of the plight of America’s rural poor. Civil…
Transitions for the week of 01.05.18
A listing of staff changes, anniversaries, retirements and other announcements from across the country.
Perspective, faith are key to successful new year’s resolutions, say ministers
A chorus of voices these days advise Americans against making New Year’s resolutions. But some ministers advise that new goals, especially spiritual ones, be undertaken at a calm, steady pace and in the context of faith.
Both sides claim win in court ruling regarding fired Atlanta fire chief
Both sides claimed victory in a Dec. 20 court ruling that while Atlanta had grounds to fire then-Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran in 2015, a city policy forbidding high-ranking officials from speaking or writing for money unconstitutionally burdened his freedom of…