Though the Southern Baptist Convention will be asked this week to adopt a statement affirming its opposition to same-sex marriage, the denomination opened its 2016 annual meeting in St. Louis, Mo., with prayer that God might “take that which Satan meant…
CBF chaplain, congregation serving victims of Orlando massacre
Following the tragic mass shooting June 12 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Cooperative Baptists are continuing to pray for and show acts of support to the victims, their families and the LGBTQ community. “As we continue to hear…
People of all faiths deal with ‘spiritual abuse’ following Orlando attack
Revenge and judgment are swirling through the culture since a lone gunman killed 49 and injured 53 in an Orlando gay night club early Sunday morning. But Ruth Jensen-Forbell and her mostly LGBTQ church in St. Augustine, Fla., aren’t among…
Another evangelical joins roster of Trump supporters, despite earlier opposition
Another evangelical leader has signaled support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, despite earlier predictions that Americans would be “bitterly disillusioned if he were to obtain the nation’s highest office.” Richard Land, the Southern Baptist Convention’s former top public policy…
Faith community responds to Orlando shootings with prayer, compassion
There was plenty of anger to go around on social media following the early Sunday morning massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. And with 50 dead and 53 wounded by a lone gunman claiming allegiance to ISIS, that…
Pastor says Ali property of everyone, but product of black struggle for civil rights
A Baptist pastor from Muhammad Ali’s childhood neighborhood in Louisville, Ky., eulogized the fallen champ and hometown hero as “a product of a difficult time” who “dared to love black people at a time when black people had a problem…
Professor defends complementarian view against heresy charge
A Southern Baptist theologian is denying accusations of reforming the doctrine of the Trinity to advance a social agenda that wives must submit to their husbands. Bruce Ware, a professor of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.,…
U.S. atheist population is growing — and needs radical hospitality, Christian filmmaker says
The number of atheists in the United States has “roughly doubled” since 2007, up to 3.1 percent of the adult population, according to the Pew Research Center. When combined with the rise of Americans who claim no religious affiliation, the survey may…
Editor rebuked for saying Muslims don’t deserve religious freedom
A Baptist expert on religious liberty rebutted a Baptist state newspaper editorial suggesting American Muslims do not qualify for the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist…
Transitions for the week of 06.10.16
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Jerry Benfield, to Buechel Park Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., as interim pastor. Janet Cleland, to First Baptist Church,…
Faith leaders oppose military drone policy
A Baptist leader joined 27 other officials from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions in a June 6 letter to President Obama urging greater transparency about the role of unmanned drones in U.S. military policy. Paula Dempsey, director for…
Outsider SBC presidential hopeful loses nominator
A Georgia layman who announced recently he is running for president of the Southern Baptist Convention says it looks like his agenda to shake up business as usual in the nation’s second-largest faith group will have to wait another year….