Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has apologized for a photo which has circulated on Twitter of five white faculty members posing as black gang members. The photo has been criticized as racist.
AWAB leader among clergy, groups, speaking up for fired transgender mortician
The chair-elect of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists joined 74 other faith leaders and religious and civil-rights organizations in a legal brief filed April 24 supporting a former transgender funeral home employee in Michigan who claimed she was…
Survey shocker: music dead last, sermons first, as worship draws
Americans who attend church say the sermons – not the music – keep them coming back. In fact, music finished in last place among every category of church life – from volunteer opportunities to children’s programs – in Gallup’s April 14…
Baptist pastor says faith-based adoption agencies shouldn’t discriminate against gays
The pastor of a Texas Baptist church which recently went on record as welcoming and affirming of gays has opposed pending legislation to allow faith-based adoption and foster care agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples. In testimony…
Baptist group joins call to deny funding for border wall
The Alliance of Baptists was among 80 national and local faith-based organizations joining in a letter April 24 urging Congress to refuse to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border proposed by President Donald Trump. With Congress facing an April…
Former state exec sues NAMB for libel, interference in business relationships
A former Baptist state convention leader who claimed last year his firing was orchestrated by the head of a Southern Baptist Convention agency has filed a defamation lawsuit alleging, among other things, his picture was displayed at the welcome desk…
Contemplative practices can lure the ‘spiritual but not religious’ to Christianity, expert says
New research is shedding light on a term — and a group of Americans — known as “spiritual but not religious.” They prefer yoga and meditation to scripture and worship. They define God in individualistic ways and they almost always have negative…
As high court hears arguments, BJC lawyer said Missouri church not entitled to taxpayer support
A Baptist church/state specialist said after oral arguments April 20 the U.S. Supreme Court should rule against a Missouri church seeking state aid to make its playground safer, citing Baptist history when colonial dissenters objected to paying taxes to support…
Transitions for the week of 04.21.17
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Phil Carpenter, to Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., as music minister. Billy Craig, to First Baptist Church, Bassett,…
Judge disputes claims that his death penalty protest violated judicial impartiality
An Arkansas judge who also serves as a Baptist pastor defended his participation in a death penalty protest after issuing a court order barring the state from using an execution drug, saying his ruling on facts in a property dispute had…
Former minister to get passport back after murder charge dropped
More than three years after being pulled out of line by Homeland Security at Nashville International Airport while waiting to board a flight to Germany and being told he was wanted for murder, former Southern Baptist minister Richard Shahan can…
Texas Baptist convention aligns with groups seeking to limit abortion
The Baptist General Convention of Texas joined the Texans for Life Coalition, Texas Alliance for Life and Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in an April 18 press conference voicing support for 15 bills before the state House and Senate seeking…