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…
Baptists looking to the past to heal modern-day divisions
Some Baptists are looking to Missouri history as a possible source of healing of the divisions between them. The Missouri Plan, which ended a century ago, emerged after the Civil War as a bridge between Southern Baptists and Northern Baptists…
Wiley Drake offers to run as Trump VP
A former officer in the Southern Baptist Convention who was on the ballot in California as Alan Keyes’ running mate in 2008 this time around is offering his services to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Wiley Drake, pastor of the First…
Pastors urge veto of Mississippi ‘religious liberty’ law
Update: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed the “religious liberty” bill into law on April 5. Three Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pastors are opposing Mississippi’s so-called “religious liberty” law, which would, among other things, allow public employees, businesses and social workers to deny…
Film, director challenge churches to re-examine purpose in life
Church consultants have been saying it so long they almost sound like a broken record: congregations are closing at appalling rates and most are too afraid to face it. That’s certainly nothing new to congregational coaches like Eddie Hammett, president…