A Baptist church with a nearly 60-year history of challenging the status quo is seeking a new pastor. The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, a progressive congregation in Chapel Hill, N.C., affiliated with both the Alliance of Baptists and…
Pastor terms ESAs ‘violation’ of religious liberty
A Texas Baptist pastor has urged state lawmakers to reject the latest proposal to use taxpayer dollars to help parents send their kids to private or parochial schools or educate them at home. Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors…
Look to church for healing of racial divisions, ministers say
Relationships between churches hold the key to healing the racial divisions and violence that plague the nation, two Dallas ministers say. Bryan Carter, pastor of Concord Church in Dallas, and Jeff Warren, pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas,…
Trump speaks out on disability issues
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to include people with disabilities in his administration and work with Congress to increase opportunities for Americans who live with disabilities in responses to a request by faith-based organizations for political candidates to address…
American Baptists seeking candidates for general secretary position
American Baptist Churches USA is receiving applications and soliciting recommendations for its next general secretary. American Baptist News Service reported Oct. 18 that links to a position profile, instructions for applying and a recommendations form have all been added to…
Churches need to talk about sexual assault
Last Thursday, Michelle Obama delivered a stirring speech on sexual assault and harassment before her standard stump speech for Hillary Clinton. Her words were of the kind that should not have to be said; nevertheless, Obama gave the sermon many…
The ranks of ex-pastors grow as some join ‘nones’ and ‘dones’
Between the notoriously long hours, the unrealistic expectations and the severe stress on health and family, church ministry often becomes too much for many — in fact most — ministers to handle. For some it results in being fired, quitting or…
Former SBC leaders denounce ‘Christophobic behavior’ in Clinton campaign
Two past presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention and a retired agency head were among 86 Roman Catholic and evangelical leaders in an open letter Oct. 12 denouncing what they call anti-Christian bigotry in the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. The…
Mixing politics with religion — and communion
Few pastors throw their hat into a political race. But many engage in politics in other ways, both in the public square and in church sanctuaries. W.T. Edmonson, associate pastor at Second Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo., sees political…
Baptist children’s home reaps reward after bad press
Negative headlines and criticism on social media for turning down a donation from an atheist group turned into a windfall for a Baptist ministry serving Native American children in Oklahoma. Officials said the recent fifth annual Murrow Indian Children’s Home…
Former SBC president standing by Donald Trump
A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention named to Donald Trump’s evangelical executive advisory board reiterated his support for the Republican nominee after the release of damaging video showing the candidate making lewd remarks about women. Jack Graham, pastor…
Baylor student continually relives Paris attacks — even in Waco
Baylor University senior Olivia Gambelin is a passionate advocate for international travel and study abroad. She highly recommends it after spending last fall studying in Rome. “A great way to open your mind to other world views is to travel,”…