Texas Baptists Committed — an organization formed nearly 30 years ago in a failed effort to stop a rightward shift in the Southern Baptist Convention before successfully slowing that tide in the Baptist General Convention of Texas — is closing its doors.
Samford forfeits Baptist funds but pulls plug on student gay-straight alliance
After forfeiting $3 million a year in institutional funding from the Alabama Baptist State Convention, the president of Samford University announced he will not seek formal recognition of a student group dedicated to the discussion of LGBTQ issues and human…
Pick your reaction: Facebook’s rainbow flag emoji rankles some; their response worries others
When Facebook briefly rolled out a new Pride Flag emoji last month as a reaction option on users’ posts, some adopted it enthusiastically. Others asked for additional emojis — including a Christian cross.
Human rights and religious liberty advocate elected to lead Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance tapped a U.S. human rights and religious liberty advocate as its new general secretary. At 36, Elijah Brown is the youngest person to lead the global organization.
Want your church to talk better about sex? This scholar’s project might help.
Baptists have consistently said two things about sex — “don’t do it, at least not until marriage” and “don’t talk about it” — a gender and sexuality scholar said last week. She thinks they can do better.
Transitions for the week of 07.07.17
Staff changes, congregational news and more from across the nation.
Spontaneous Millennials can be tapped as bigger church givers, studies show
Millennials are more generous with their money in some cases than older Americans, a new report says. The study by the Barna Group examined motivations behind giving to various causes, including family needs, charitable giving and serving God. The findings…
Illumination Project seeks light, not heat, on controversial issues, task force reports at CBF
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is trying to do what few if any mainstream religious bodies have been able to do — disagree about homosexuality without splitting.
Alt-right isn’t new to Christianity, says author Brian McLaren
Christians in the United States are rightly concerned about the rise of extremist groups like the alt-right, but they shouldn’t be so surprised, public theologian Brian McLaren said June 29.
Trump action won’t faze Cuban-U.S. church relations, pastor says
Donald Trump’s decision to negate the normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations may further American isolationism, but it will not sever the relationships between churches in the two countries. The “prophetic role of religious partnerships … will continue their fight for normalized…
Border wall, immigration among top concerns for Hispanic Baptists, leader says
President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, deteriorating relations with Mexico, and the arrests and deportations of immigrants — many from their own communities — strike at the heart of the Hispanic community.
Baptist organizations join letter opposing Senate health care bill
Religious groups including the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist Churches USA, Alliance of Baptists, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and Progressive National Baptist Convention say the Senate replacement bill for Obamacare is bad news for people with…