By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention called on state lawmakers to enact legislation or propose a constitutional amendment to enhance religious liberty and freedom of conscience protections for pastors and churches in a resolution at the group’s annual gathering…
Churches promote ministries that unite generations
By Jeff Brumley The article is more than five years old but the question it raises is still a powerful one for some youth ministers, pastors and congregational coaches today: “Is Youth Ministry Killing the Church?” The 2005 Christian Century…
Baptists in Virginia elect officers, adopt reduced budget
By Robert Dilday The Baptist General Association of Virginia elected a new president Nov. 11 in a voting process which featured two candidates for the first time in 15 years, during an annual meeting which also included adoption of a…
CBF renews partnership with Global Women
By Bob Allen Leaders of Global Women, a woman-to-woman missions organization founded in 2001, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently inked a new partnership agreement for future collaboration. Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator of the 1,800-church CBF, said the new relationship…
Kentucky Baptists elect black president
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention elected its first African-American president Nov. 10 at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Ky. Kevin Smith, teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville and an assistant professor of Christian preaching at…
Disaster recovery remains a busy ministry for some Baptists
By Ken Camp Faith-based disaster relief agencies have enjoyed relative calm around the nation. But that’s not true everywhere — and certainly not in Texas. Faith-based groups, including Texas Baptists and Texas Baptist Men, are busy helping residents recover from recent…
South Carolina Baptists boot church after pastor performs gay wedding
By Bob Allen The South Carolina Baptist Convention voted Nov. 10 to withdraw fellowship from a church whose pastor married a gay couple with blessing of the church deacons. About 300 messengers at the 195th annual meeting of the state…
Baptist church to counter Westboro protests with ‘witness of inclusion’
By Jeff Brumley What should your church do if Westboro Baptist planned to picket the high school across the street? If you ask Pastor Jill McCrory of Twinbrook Baptist Church, the answer is stream giant rainbow banners from the windows…
Southern Baptists to be host for Bevin’s inaugural worship service
By Bob Allen Kentucky Gov.-elect Matt Bevin will break tradition by holding his inaugural worship service at a Southern Baptist church outside of downtown Frankfort, Ky. Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, confirmed on Twitter Nov….
Supreme Court to hear religious challenge to Obamacare
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Nov. 6 to hear appeals from religious non-profits including Baptist universities and the Southern Baptist Convention’s insurance provider challenging required coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare. The high court combined seven cases to…
Seeing where God is at work in South Africa, Baptists from U.S. join in
By Aaron Weaver April 27, 1994. That’s the date that South Africa held its first democratic election, forming a multi-racial coalition government and officially doing away with the country’s brutal, five-decade long system of racial segregation and oppression. Nelson Mandela…
BJC essay contest to explore tension between job duties, personal belief
By Bob Allen Should elected officials be able to opt out of certain job duties because of their personal religious beliefs? How far should government go to accommodate elected or appointed government officials who object to issuing marriage licenses to…