By Marv Knox Bedilu Yirga, the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ second vice president, will be nominated for first vice president when the BGCT conducts its annual meeting in Frisco Nov. 8-10. Bob Dean, executive director of Dallas Baptist Association,…
Congress votes to reauthorize U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
By Bob Allen Legislation reauthorizing a bipartisan committee that advises the State Department on violations of religious liberty in other countries passed both houses of Congress Oct. 6 and is headed to the president for final approval. The U.S. Commission…
McAfee prof sees hope in Gissendaner’s life and example, despite execution
By Jeff Brumley Melissa Browning’s Facebook page tells the story. More specifically, it tells Kelly Gissendaner’s story. Post after post describes the life and death of the Georgia inmate executed by lethal injection last week. “The amazing grace of Kelly…
Louisville churches offer ‘another voice’ on homosexuality
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist seminary president said Oct. 7 that two rival meetings about how churches should respond to LGBT individuals held Monday night in Louisville, Ky., represents not just different views of homosexuality but of the nature…
Ministers, reporter see how grace and forgiveness trump tragedy
By Jeff Brumley A thousand things raced through Pastor Kevin Glenn’s mind the Sunday morning his Las Cruces, N.M., church was struck with an explosive device as worship was set to begin. Worshipers had to be kept calm, law enforcement…
Wiley Drake running for president
By Bob Allen Wiley Drake, elected in 2006 as second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention as an everyman candidate representative of small-church pastors who sacrificed to travel to annual meetings and vote for conservative candidates during the “conservative…
Homosexuality conference greeted by protestors
By Bob Allen Planners of a conference for Christian counselors about homosexuality distanced themselves from the controversial “reparative” or “conversion” therapy aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, but not because they believe an individual struggling with…
Miami ministry celebrates 20 years — and expansion of impact through merger
By Jeff Brumley Martin Villa, a 21-year-old film major, devoted a recent weeknight, as he does on many weeknights, helping children with their math and reading homework at a faith-based after-school program in West Homestead, Fla. He worked patiently and…
Brent Walker announces retirement plans
By Bob Allen Brent Walker announced plans Oct. 5 to retire at the end of 2016 as executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a Washington-based organization founded in 1936 serving 15 Baptist bodies in the United…
Conference confronts transgender ‘confusion’
By Bob Allen The transgender movement offers people “a secular and physically initiated conversion experience” that promises transformation without relying on Jesus Christ as savior, the opening speaker at a Monday morning event billed as the first-ever conference by evangelicals…
Church adds a little beer to Bible to soften Baptist reputation
By Jeff Brumley As a pastor, Susan Sparks has been intent on findings ways church members can get to know each other outside of Sunday worship services. As a moderate Baptist, she’s been intent on modeling the kinder, gentler side…
Egalitarian advocate preaches at Campbellsville
By Bob Allen A leading advocate of the view that the Bible calls women and men to share authority equally in service and leadership in the home and church recently urged students at Campbellsville University to push past assumptions about…