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….
Churches wage war against child hunger
As the last bell rings in late May or early June, throngs of schoolkids rush from their school to celebrate the start of summer. More time to play games, more opportunities to sleep and less homework. Yet, for some children,…
Freefall continues in SBC membership, baptism stats
The Southern Baptist Convention lost more than 200,000 members last year and baptized fewer than 300,000 new converts for the first time in 68 years, according to statistics compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources. The loss of 204,409 members in 2015…
Baptist pastor memorializes Muhammad Ali
A Baptist preacher joined other community leaders June 5 in a Louisville, Ky., mosque for an interfaith service memorializing the boxing icon and world humanitarian Muhammad Ali. “He was a miracle worker in the ring, where he used his fists violently…
Seminary prof to lead Mid-Atlantic Baptists
A seminary professor was elected June 7 as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, also known as the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network. Kevin Smith, assistant professor of church history and Christian preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaching pastor…