More than 100 members of the Alliance of Baptists signed a letter at the group’s annual meeting last week voicing solidarity for a sister church in Brazil taking heat after voting to open its membership to gays and lesbians. In…
Two boys prove effectiveness of special needs ministries, church says
Tyler Tooley and Blake Dorchester were born with Down syndrome, but the boys do not let that prevent them from participating in ministry and missions. In March, Tooley and Dorchester traveled across the globe with their church, Alsbury Baptist Church…
Alliance of Baptists moves ahead with plans to meet in N.C. to ‘model’ justice
Though some businesses are reducing or ending activity in North Carolina to protest the state’s new controversial LBGT law, the Alliance of Baptists says it will move forward with plans to hold its gathering next year in Raleigh in order to register its…
Transgender Baptist minister depends on ‘theology of survival’
Allyson Dylan Robinson, who may be the first openly transgender person ordained to the ministry by a Baptist church, talks about what spared her life years ago on a deserted Texas highway.
Group files new challenge to clergy tax break
The Freedom From Religion Foundation once again has filed a lawsuit claiming the IRS ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. The Wisconsin-based group that advocates separation of church and state from a secularist position sued April 6 in federal court. It…
What’s the most effective weapon in the battle against malaria? Nets, say Baptists in Virginia.
The statistics surrounding malaria are mind blogging — and terrifying. Close to 200 million cases occur every year and half a million people die from the disease annually — including one child every two minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control…
Transitions for this week
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Johnny Almond, now serving as pastor of Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va. Darrell Armstrong, appointed by the…
Seminary gets OK for online M.Div.
Central Baptist Theological Seminary recently got approval from the Association of Theological Schools to offer the full master-of-divinity degree online. Robert Johnson, the seminary’s dean and provost, said in a March 30 press release that ATS approval means a student…
American Baptists tap international missions head
A California woman who grew up on the mission field has been named new leader of American Baptist International Ministries. The International Ministries board of directors announced April 5 the unanimous election of Sharon T. Koh, senior associate pastor of…
Community, dignity and no prices on its menu: One diner’s answer to food insecurity
The fact that Cameron McCown is a Millennial and a Christian may explain, for some, why he opened a restaurant dependent on donations and volunteerism from its customers to serve other customers. Millennials are, after all, said to be especially…
Florida Baptists find buyer for headquarters
The Florida Baptist Convention is selling its headquarters in Jacksonville for an undisclosed price reported in the multi-millions. Barbara Denman, director of communications for the state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, said 51 percent of the proceeds will be…
Tennessee poised to make Bible the official state book
A Southern Baptist lawmaker’s bill designating the Bible the official state book of Tennessee is on its way to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 1108, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, would designate “the Holy Bible” as the official state…