Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
Gun massacre at Baptist church leaves small Texas town — and the nation — reeling
A typical small-town Southern Baptist church in Texas became the scene of the fifth-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history Nov. 5, when a gunman interrupted Sunday morning worship with gunshots from a military-style rifle, killing at least 26 people and wounding dozens more.
Tennessee Baptists unfriend church with female pastor
Can a church with a female pastor be Southern Baptist? A Tennessee Baptist Convention committee says “no.”
Is there a market for a Christian cryptocurrency? Christ Coin aims to find out.
Emmanuel Ogunjumo’s empathy for the world’s spiritually and financially impoverished has inspired the creation of Christ Coin, which bills itself as the world’s first Christian cryptocurrency.
Transitions for the week of 11.03.17
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
BJC head says tax bill would ‘deform,’ not reform, Johnson Amendment
A Baptist church-state specialist criticized the latest attempt by Republican lawmakers to weaken a part of tax law called the Johnson Amendment that prohibits tax-exempt charities including churches from taking sides in political campaigns.
Baptists, others faith groups say religious liberty not a license to discriminate
Baptists were among religious leaders and groups signing on to briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court Oct. 30 opposing the claims of a Christian baker who for religious reasons refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
Protestant decline leaves fewer to celebrate Reformation Day
Happy birthday, Protestants. This week marks 500 years since Martin Luther’s actions sparked the Protestant Reformation. But is anyone really celebrating? Church historian Bill Leonard says yes, some are.
Oklahoma pastor tapped to lead CBF-related ethics group
Oklahoma pastor Mitch Randall has been named executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, directors of the independently run ministry partner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Oct. 30.
America needs refugees ‘to show us how to love each other,’ agree church resettlement volunteers
America needs refugees as much as refugees need places like America, says Stephan Bauman, former president and CEO of World Relief. He spoke to refugees and volunteers at a “refugee welcome” event attended by more than 350 at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Burmese Baptist pastors sentenced to prison
Two Baptist pastors from Myanmar have received prison sentences for leading journalists to a church reportedly destroyed by military air strikes last year.
Can Trump’s combative social media style help pastors, churches promote the gospel?
Many observers are raising concerns that some pastors share in President Trump’s hard-core fan-the-flames approach to social media. But there are, other ministers say, confrontational and gentle approaches to social media that can be healing and prophetic.