By Jeff Brumley The value and purpose of church membership is becoming an increasingly hot topic in Baptist and other congregations these days. And that’s “hot” as in controversial and heated, not popular. And it’s one that occasionally pits older…
Houston, you have a problem: State Supreme Court sidelines anti-discrimination law
By Bob Allen The Texas Supreme Court ruled July 24 that Houston must repeal a controversial non-discrimination ordinance or put it on the ballot for voters to decide. A state district judge determined in April that citizens seeking repeal of…
CBF Virginia leader takes job with BTSR
By Bob Allen Rob Fox, field coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia since 2009, is stepping down at the end of August to become vice president of institutional advancement at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Fox, a BTSR…
Deal, disaster response director with ‘a chaplain’s heart,’ leaving CBF
By Jeff Brumley Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma were stunned in the immediate hours after a monster tornado tore through Moore, Okla., on May 20, 2013, killing 24 people. And they were overwhelmed trying to assess damage…
Rwandan peacemaker given human rights award
By Robert Dilday The son of Rwandan refugees who became a catalyst for peace and reconciliation among ethnic rivalries in his east African nation was recognized July 23 for his vision of “the church as a home of peace.” Corneille…
Developing ‘transcongregational’ mindset could be BWA’s gift to Baptists, says Upton
By Robert Dilday The Baptist World Alliance may be the best opportunity Baptists have to embrace a “transcongregational” mindset which balances their historic adherence to congregational autonomy while avoiding the isolation of local church independence. That’s the assessment of outgoing…
Tragedy strikes America’s ‘happiest’ city
By Bob Allen The pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, La., urged church members to pray and be open for “conversations about Jesus” after a deadly shooting in a movie theater in their hometown July 23. “After every mass…
New BWA president aims to be transformative agent
By Robert Dilday Living in apartheid-era South Africa, Paul Msiza found both his race and his religion objects of scorn. The country’s legal and social systems discriminated against blacks, while the close association between the nation’s state church and those…
Obamacare foes appeal to Supreme Court
By Bob Allen Groups including an order of Catholic nuns and the agency that provides retirement and insurance plans for Southern Baptist ministers are asking the U.S. Supreme Court for the right to exclude contraceptive coverage in their employee healthcare…
Southern Baptist mission rally includes interviews with presidential candidates
By Bob Allen At least two GOP presidential hopefuls will vie for evangelical support at an upcoming conference on missions sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention. Russell Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, announced plans to…
South African culture featured in BWA congress opening
By Robert Dilday A celebration of South African culture — and the country’s remarkable transformation into “the rainbow nation” — highlighted the opening session of the Baptist World Congress July 22 in a colorful display of music and dance. The…
Second African since 1905 takes helm of global Baptist group
By Robert Dilday As the Baptist World Alliance prepared July 22 to convene its first world congress in Africa, the global organization also transitioned to new leadership with a South African pastor taking the helm as president — only the second…