By Bob Allen Leaders of American Baptist Churches USA joined the larger Baptist family Aug. 25 in the United States and globally in prayer for former President Jimmy Carter and his family after the lifelong Baptist’s recent diagnosis with cancer….
51 Christian leaders support Iran nuclear deal
By Bob Allen Paula Clayton Dempsey of the Alliance of Baptists and American Baptist Churches USA head Roy Medley were among 51 U.S. Christian leaders asking members of Congress to support the negotiated nuclear deal with Iran. The group — which also…
Briefs ask Supreme Court to take Obamacare case
By Bob Allen Scripture and Southern Baptist doctrine teach that life begins at conception, and ending that life through emergency contraception or intrauterine devices is a “grave moral wrong,” according to a U.S. Supreme Court brief filed by Southern Baptist…
Study: church diversity does not guarantee diverse thinking, beliefs
By Jeff Brumley Many think of multiracial congregations as places where understanding grows between blacks, Hispanics and whites on social and justice issues. But a newly published study suggests that the opposite is true in many such congregations. Instead, it…
Ted Cruz recruiting pastors in push to defund Planned Parenthood
By Bob Allen Sen. Ted Cruz will hold a nationwide conference call for pastors Aug. 25, seeking evangelical support for his presidential campaign by going after Planned Parenthood. Cruz (R-Texas), a Southern Baptist and pastor’s son, invited pastors to join…
Injunction extended in contraceptive case
By Bob Allen Baptist organizations including the Southern Baptist Convention’s insurance provider got temporary relief Aug. 21 from an Affordable Care Act requirement that employers include in their employee health care plans drugs and devices they believe cause abortion. A…
Baylor launches investigation of student-athlete’s sexual assault
By Ken Camp Baylor University President Ken Starr called for a “comprehensive internal inquiry” into circumstances surrounding former football player Sam Ukwuachu’s sexual assault of an 18-year-old female student-athlete, including the conduct of the various campus offices involved. Ukwuachu, a…
For some, another threat to church survival: natural beauty
By Jeff Brumley The American church, it seems, just can’t catch a break. The “nones” won’t come in, the “dones” are … well, done, and the rest of the membership is slowly but surely dying off. Attendance and tithing are…
SBC parliamentarian ‘converts’ from long affiliation with Christian Church
By Bob Allen After advising Southern Baptist Convention presidents for 29 years as chief parliamentarian during SBC annual meetings, longtime Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister Barry McCarty is officially part of the fold. The Christian Index reported recently that…
State convention challenges church’s acceptance of gays
By Bob Allen The South Carolina Baptist Convention has written a letter asking First Baptist Church of Greenville to either recant its recent decision to include gays in all areas of church life or withdraw from the 2,000-church state affiliate…
‘Preacher camp’ inspires sermons, ministries and lives of 6 pastors
By Jeff Brumley Every year, interest grows in a combined worship planning and support group that has forged an unbreakable bond between six Baptist pastors. Known as preacher camp, the annual, closed gathering got a lot of attention on Facebook…
Ted Cruz urges evangelicals to vote in 2016
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist presidential candidate Ted Cruz says evangelical pastors are Republicans’ best hope to win the White House in 2016. “Nothing is more important in the next 18 months than that the Body of Christ rise up…