By Bob Allen The head of a Baptist organization dedicated to upholding religious liberty for all Americans joined Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in a pledge signed Oct. 23 in Washington denouncing all forms of religious bigotry. Brent Walker, executive…
Opting for non-church weddings crosses age, religious categories
By Jeff Brumley Marriage isn’t what it used to be. That’s no surprise. But ministers and researchers are reporting getting married is rapidly changing, too, with Millennials getting much — though not all — of the credit. And the most noticeable difference…
Third-way pastor says most churches unsafe for LGBT individuals
By Bob Allen A pastor whose church was kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2014 for adopting a “third way” stance of neither affirming nor condemning homosexuality says despite talk of “hate the sin and love the sinner”…
Campbellsville inks pact with American Baptists
By Bob Allen Campbellsville University and the American Baptist Churches of Indiana/Kentucky formalized a partnership with a signing ceremony Oct. 20 on the university campus in Campbellsville, Ky. Soozi Whitten Ford, executive minister of the 313-church regional affiliate of American Baptist…
Study shows faith helps overseas companies; U.S. businessmen say, ‘Here, too’
By Eric M. Eckert and Jeff Brumley Higher levels of spiritual capital — the motivation, energy and work ethic one may find from a relationship with God — have a positive effect on business success, employment and innovation in developing countries, according…
Baptist school honors former first lady
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist university has bestowed an honorary doctorate on former First Lady Laura Bush, recognizing her decades-long advocacy of education, health care, human rights and the family. Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, presented the former…
Brad Hoffmann to be nominated for BGAV presidency
By Robert Dilday Brad Hoffmann, a suburban Richmond, Va., pastor, will be nominated in November as president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, it was announced Oct. 21. Hoffmann, pastor of Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, will be…
Taking refugee work to the next level in North Carolina’s Research Triangle
By Jeff Brumley Stacie Blake knows a thing or two about refugees and refugee resettlement in the United States. Most importantly, it’s a massive job. As the director of government and community relations for the Washington-based U.S. Committee for Refugees…
Missionary sent to revive Zimbabwe seminary
By Bob Allen A recently appointed Southern Baptist missionary is in Zimbabwe to help turn around a seminary struggling since a leadership dispute in 2011 resulted in dismissal of its top administrator and formation of a new ecumenical seminary formed…
Tenn. association defends action dismissing church
By Bob Allen An association of Southern Baptist churches’ decision to kick out its only predominantly black congregation had nothing to do with race, the association’s director of missions insisted Oct. 20. “The issue is not about race,” DOM Mike…
Pastor Nancy Stanton McDaniel to be nominated as BGAV president
By Robert Dilday Central Virginia pastor Nancy Stanton McDaniel, who currently serves as the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s first vice president, will be nominated in November as BGAV president, it was confirmed Oct. 20. If elected, McDaniel, pastor of…
Baptists aid effort to rescue abandoned babies in South Africa
By Aaron Weaver In the sixteenth chapter of Genesis, God promises the weary and desperate Hagar a future for her unborn son, Ishmael, offering the Egyptian maidservant hope and strength as she wanders through the burning Judean desert. Stopped at…