After 15 years of litigation, a state judge ruled Sept. 27 that trustees of two Missouri Baptist Convention entities violated their own articles of agreement when they acted unilaterally to choose their own successors instead of those nominated by the MBC.
Church-state experts voice concern about new religious-liberty guidelines
A church-state specialist says Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ 25-page memorandum outlining the scope of religious liberty protections reflects “a decided tilt” toward concerns about the free exercise of religion while giving short shrift to the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
Transitions for the week of 10.13.17
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
A year after assuming leadership, Amanda Tyler reflects on religious liberty group that ‘punches above its weight’
When it comes to advocating for the religious liberty of everyone, silence is not an option, says Amanda Tyler, elected a year ago as executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. “A full throated defense of religious freedom is required here,” she maintains.
Baptist school in spotlight after soda-throwing incident at NBA game
Students at California Baptist University gathered on campus Oct. 9 to send a counter-message to a racially charged viral video they say is giving the private Christian school controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention a bad name.
For second time, federal judge strikes down tax break for clergy
A federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled for the second time as unconstitutional an Internal Revenue Service provision which exempts clergy from paying taxes on portions of their income designated for housing.
Bucking anti-refugee attitudes, small N.C. church opens ‘welcome house’
Refugees are increasingly unwelcome in many places around the world. But anti-refugee hostility wasn’t the challenge a North Carolina Baptist congregation faced in opening a refugee house on its Raleigh property this year.
Las Vegas shooting prompts call for gun control
A coalition of more than 50 national denominations and faith-based organizations urged Congress to reject legislation backed by the National Rifle Association they say will further endanger communities in response to the Oct. 1 mass shooting that killed 58 people…
In marathon tour, American Baptist leaders assess damage of three hurricanes
Representatives of American Baptist Home Mission Societies Communications recently logged more than 6,100 miles of travel in seven days to assess damage and organize responses to three major Atlantic hurricanes that made landfall in the United States over a period…
Transitions for the week of 10.06.17
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
30 years later, SBC leader says Peace Committee was destined to fail
An effort in the 1980s to investigate and resolve conflict in the Southern Baptist Convention was an initial failure that in the long run helped establish the nation’s largest Protestant body as the conservative evangelical denomination it is known as…
Offer prayers for Las Vegas victims. But don’t stop there.
Predictably, the widespread offering of “thoughts and prayers” wafted through social media after a gunman massacred nearly 60 people Sunday night in Las Vegas. In fact, it’s a common refrain of politicians, including President Donald Trump. But people of faith…