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…
How Trump, Kaepernick and NFL inspire venom — and prophetic witness
When Texas pastor Freddy Haynes joined other ministers over the summer calling for a boycott of the NFL, it was to protest the league’s treatment of embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But Donald Trump has pushed the debate, and the proposed…
Former moderators sign petition urging repeal of CBF hiring ban
Twelve former moderators of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are among more than 500 names attached to an online petition urging current leaders to drop the organization’s 17-year-old ban against hiring LGBT people. The petition — delivered this week to a…
Shots fired at Baptist school
Baptist-affiliated Gardner-Webb University went into lockdown Sept. 27 after gunshots were fired on the campus in Boiling Springs, N.C. No injuries were reported, and university officials told local media the campus returned to its normal schedule on Thursday. As of…
Baptist historian at SBC seminary says Civil War monuments should be taken down
A Southern Baptist seminary professor says it is time for Civil War monuments erected decades after Gettysburg and Appomattox for the purpose of intimidating Southern blacks to come down. “I would advocate for the vast majority of Confederate monuments to…
Transitions for the week of 09.29.17
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
CBF-trained pastor making LGBT history with Mennonites
A Truett Seminary graduate has become the first openly LGBTQ person to be called as a solo pastor in the Mennonite Church USA. Albuquerque (N.M.) Mennonite Church voted overwhelmingly Sept. 10 to call Erica Lea, currently pastor-in-residence at Calvary Baptist…
Longer church commutes OK with Christians wary of ‘evangelical gimmicks’
Most churchgoers — almost 70 percent, according to new research — drive 15 minutes or less to get to Sunday worship. That does not describe Todd and Marcia Putney of Macclenny, a rural community located along Interstate-10 in Northeast Florida. The Putneys —…
Pastor charged with failure to report child abuse
A Baptist pastor in Alabama faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly failing to report suspicion of child sex abuse to legal authorities. Michael Walker, 51, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., was booked into Madison County Jail Sept. 21…
American Baptists raising money to help rebuild in hurricane-struck Puerto Rico
American Baptist Home Mission Societies has announced a goal to raise $1 million within the next three to six months to support the rebuilding of homes and churches in hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico. The national ministries arm of the American Baptist…
ACLU challenges law allowing faith-based child services providers to turn away LGBT parents
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 20 challenging a Michigan law allowing faith-based child placement agencies receiving taxpayer funds to deny services to same-sex couples because of religious objections. The 2105 law is similar to legislation…