By Jeff Brumley A new survey shows that most Americans, including large numbers of Christians, hold compassionate views about people who kill themselves. But some Baptist ministers remember times, not all that distant, when that wasn’t the case. Barry Howard,…
Baptist church in hot water over baptism video
By Bob Allen A Georgia school district is investigating whether any laws were broken after a Southern Baptist church posted online video showing football players being immersed in a makeshift baptistery before practice on a high school football field. Television…
Brewton-Parker profs ink Baptist Faith and Message
By Bob Allen The new president of Brewton-Parker College opened his administration by leading the faculty in signing the Baptist Faith and Message, a move the Christian Index predicted “will surely endear him to Georgia Baptists.” Steve Echols, former president…
Brace yourself: It’s the ‘post-everything’ age, say church leaders
By Jeff Brumley Churches already overwhelmed by the postmodern, post-denominational and post-Christian eras should brace themselves, experts say, for another layer of change: the “post-everything” age. That’s the term Baptist pastor and congregational coach Mark Tidsworth uses to roll together…
Lawmaker says longer summer would buoy Ark park tourism
By Bob Allen A Kentucky lawmaker is proposing a bill to postpone the start of the school year in hopes that more students will travel to visit a creationist theme park under construction in his district. State Sen. Damon Thayer…
Accidental shooting kills N.C. Baptist pastor
By Bob Allen The founding pastor of one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina died Aug. 29 in an accidental shooting while cleaning a pistol. Nations Ford Community Church in Charlotte, a predominantly African-American multi-site congregation affiliated…
Racially diverse nation isn’t mirrored in most religious groups
By Robert Dilday The American Baptist Churches U.S.A. ranks in the top 10 of the most racially diverse religious groups in the United States, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. But with 73 percent of its…
Richard Land: Democrats don’t want gun control but gun ‘confiscation’
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist Convention official termed the declaring of certain public areas as “gun-free” zones “an invitation to mayhem,” citing what he said was evidence that increased gun ownership is a deterrent to violent crime. Richard…
Texas pastors want tax dollars for church schools
By Bob Allen One way to fix the troubled public-school system in Texas is making education funds available to church-based private schools, a group of prominent pastors including Ed Young of Second Baptist Church in Houston and Robert Jeffress of…
Back to school with a free haircut, thanks to Gardner-Webb staffer
By Matthew Tessnear Keith Rhodes knows the importance of a good children’s haircut and the struggle with its cost for families who have limited resources. When Rhodes was 10 years old, his single mother, Janade, couldn’t afford a haircut for…
Texas Baptist headquarters building transferred to Baylor nursing school
By Leah Reynolds Representatives of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff and Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing joined in a “passing the mantle” ceremony Aug. 26. The event commemorated the legacy of Texas Baptists at…
Baptist university responds to video of former president
By Bob Allen Baptist-affiliated North Greenville University issued a statement saying its leaders are expected to lead Christ-centered lives after a video posted on YouTube showed what appeared to be a confrontation between the former president and his son over…