Prosecutors have dropped the case against a longtime Southern Baptist minister accused of murdering his wife in 2013. Richard Shahan, former children and families’ pastor and facilities director at First Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., was arrested New Year’s Day…
‘Confessing faculty’ denounce sins of the Trump era
More than 1,100 professors at Christian colleges across the country have signed a “Confessing Faculty” document acknowledging sins of omission that echoes an 83-year-old statement denouncing the corruption of Protestant churches in Nazi Germany. The statement, drafted by faculty and…
Pastor’s wife says for girls, modesty more important than sports
Muslim-American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad made history last summer as the first U.S. Olympian to compete wearing a hijab, but Muslims aren’t the only ones worried about immodest attire in women’s sports. Kara Barnett, pastor’s wife at Faith Baptist Church of…
The ‘Billy Graham Rule’ and women in ministry
A female Baptist pastor and a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader say the “Billy Graham Rule” — in the news since revelations that Vice President Mike Pence never eats alone with a woman other than his wife — has serious implications for women…
Mississippi religious liberty law has day in court
An attorney defending Mississippi’s controversial law allowing state employees to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and various businesses to deny services to LGBT individuals claimed in federal court April 3 that individuals challenging the statute should not…
Ministers, parents disagree on youth ministry goals
Parents expect a lot from youth ministers. Above all they want them to host safe gatherings where their kids can hang out with friends. At the same time they want their youth to learn how to say no to drugs,…
Baptist groups among faith organizations opposing Johnson Amendment repeal
Baptists were among 99 religious and denominational organizations April 4 urging members of Congress to maintain a law that prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Churches USA, Association…
Churches should drop Easter, Christmas extravaganzas and get out more, experts urge
A few years back — 10 or 15 or so — a small church in Southern California noticed its big holiday productions were feeling a bit stale, especially to younger people. “The old guard was putting on a show for the new people,…
Baptist church funds N.C.’s first homeless shelter for gay youth
Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., has announced a $100,000 gift to help build North Carolina’s first homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth. The gift, announced March 30, will help Time Out Youth — a support and advocacy organization for lesbian,…
Orphan care takes center stage in LGBT/religious liberty debate
Adoption and foster care are taking center stage in the latest conflict between LGBT equality and religious liberty. In the Texas legislature, State Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) is proposing an amendment to the state’s Human Resources Code to protect…
Transitions for the week of 03.31.17
Clergy and organizational staff moves, church news, obituaries and more, updated weekly.
Stuffing shoe boxes for the world’s poor? Maybe you should reconsider
For many churches, Operation Christmas Child is a well-established — and easy — expression of their compassion for the poor. Some congregations, however, are discovering better ways to engage the world’s impoverished.