The Federal Trade Commission voted last Friday to dismiss a lawsuit against an affiliate of Grand Canyon University and one executive after deciding pursuing the case further was a waste of time and money. GCU celebrated the decision with a…
Split decision in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ case
A federal judge handed down a split decision Aug. 18 in a lawsuit brought by detainees at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz.” Plaintiffs in the action filed against the Trump administration and the state of Florida last month claiming their Fifth Amendment…
Ruling coming soon on Texas Ten Commandments law
A federal judge will issue a decision within two weeks on the constitutionality of a new Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. Senate Bill 10 mandates the presence of donated 16-by-20-inch posters or framed copies of…
Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick threatens to expel those who won’t stand for Christian prayer
As the Texas Senate convened its second special session Aug. 15 — primarily to gerrymander five more Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened to remove anyone who doesn’t stand for the invocation….
Charismatics are having a moment, PRRI panelists explain
The innate yearning to control government and society has propelled charismatic Christianity to prominence in a Trump presidency determined to impose authoritarian rule in the U.S., political science and religion scholars said during a recent webinar. “Charismatic Christians in this…
In Texas, is ‘shepherd’ another word for ‘pastor’?
The quest for absolute purity in opposing women carrying the title “pastor” is now dividing the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, the conservative breakaway group formed in 1998. SBTC was formed as an alternative to the Baptist General Convention of…
Newsmax settles third defamation case over 2020 election falsehoods
Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the “faith-friendly” right-wing cable network of defaming Dominion Voting Systems. Newsmax falsely claimed Dominion helped rig the 2020 election for Joe Biden. Newsmax was not required to…
Du Mez calls conservatives to speak against Doug Wilson
Even conservative complementarian evangelicals should be speaking out against Doug Wilson, according to historian and author Kristin DuMez. In an Aug. 16 column on her Substack, the professor at Calvin University addressed the issue in light of the latest national…
Pew: Trump’s agenda and performance hugely unpopular
Despite carte blanche from a Republican-led Congress, President Donald Trump’s agenda is hugely unpopular with Americans at large, according to Pew Research. Trump’s approval rating now stands at 38%, with 60% of Americans disapproving of his track record six months…
SBC launches new sexual abuse helpline
After scathing criticism of its current sexual abuse hotline, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee launched an alternative help line Aug. 18. The announcement came from the SBC Executive Committee’s Office for Abuse Prevention and Response. The new hotline is…
In Metro DC, churches sell, build, renovate for innovative ministry
Creativity, courage and the willingness to make tough decisions are traits churches need to navigate the challenges posed by aging buildings, declining memberships and shifting demographics, according to those living this reality. But it also requires the fortitude to work…
Alumni of ‘old’ Southern Seminary gather for reunion
Alumni and faculty of pre-1993 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky, gathered Aug. 15-16 for a reunion hosted by Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston Salem, N.C. That pivotal year was when the “conservative resurgence” took full…