Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, nicknamed the “Ten Commandments judge” for his refusal to remove a monument from the state judicial building in 2003, has been suspended and faces a possible second ouster from the bench he reclaimed in 2013….
Alice Cooper visit reminded church to treat all visitors as celebrities
A Christian news site published a blog last month about rock star Alice Cooper, the performer known for his outlandish costumes, demonic makeup and huge snakes during performances. “He has been called the godfather of shock-rock, mixing elements of horror…
Russell Moore says Christian nation idea a form of theological liberalism
The Southern Baptist Convention’s top official for public policy and religious liberty concerns says, theologically speaking, America is not a Christian nation. In a Gospel Coalition video posted May 4 in advance of this week’s National Day of Prayer, Russell…
Church shooting suspect gets public defender
A Pennsylvania man charged with manslaughter in an April 24 shooting inside a Southern Baptist church has been assigned a public defender in advance of a preliminary hearing scheduled May 12. Reports from local media say that members of the Montgomery…
Unlikely Baptist missionary transformed as she heals others
At an IHOP restaurant in Tampa, Fla., a waitress finishes her shift and heads home, where she stashes the day’s cash tips in a safe place. Each week she deposits the money in her bank and writes an equivalent check…
Transitions for the week of 05.06.16
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Nick Carter, to American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, Calif., as interim president, effective May 15. He…
BJC offers timely answers to questions about religious liberty
A new one-page resource advocates a “golden rule” for religious liberty. “Do not ask government to promote your religion if you don’t want government to promote somebody else’s religion; and do not permit government to hinder somebody else’s religion if…
Seminary president says ‘sanctified testosterone’ antidote for anemic church
The church cannot flourish without strong male leadership, a Southern Baptist seminary president said at a recent gathering promoting the idea that men and women are created for different and complementary roles in marriage and church. “Where there is a…
Anniversary cruise turns into spiritual experience for pastor, wife
It was just supposed to be a cruise to celebrate 15 years of marriage, see some of the Dominican Republic and even do a little service work, Tony Lankford recalls. Lankford, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in St. Simons…
SBC leader to convene national conversation on race
Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd will convene A National Conversation on Racial Unity at the group’s annual meeting next month in St. Louis, the pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas announced in a blog May 2. Floyd said…
Youth volunteer at S.C. megachurch charged with abuse
A 20-year-old youth group volunteer at the nation’s largest Southern Baptist church has been arrested on a charge of sexually assaulting a minor. Leo LaSalle Comissiong III is accused of kissing and fondling a 15-year-old boy in February at the…
Bill would list schools asking for LGBT exemptions to Title IX
A Massachusetts congresswoman has introduced legislation to require the government to publish the names of colleges and universities that request religious exemptions to federal regulations that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) unveiled…