By Bob Allen Owen Strachan, a leading advocate of a theological view that men and women have different but complementary roles in marriage, church and society, has been named to the faculty of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City,…
Baylor drops language referring to ‘homosexual acts’
By Bob Allen Baptist-affiliated Baylor University has quietly removed a ban on “homosexual acts” from its sexual conduct code. In a change last May that went unreported until a story in the Waco Tribune-Herald July 2, Baylor’s board of regents…
Two Baptist colleges ask Supreme Court for protection from mandate
By Ken Camp Two Baptist-affiliated universities in Texas and a seminary in Pennsylvania are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court a religious liberty case regarding the Health and Human Services mandate of the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as “Obamacare.”…
For low-income kids, new program offers a shot at college
By Linley McCord Hannah Okafor not only enjoys school but already has an eye on a chosen profession — even as a rising seventh grader. “I’ve always wanted to be a mechanical engineer,” she said. Now, Okafor has a pretty good chance…
Church/state group attacks ‘bogus’ religious liberty claims
By Bob Allen Americans United for Separation of State unveiled a new initiative July 7 to counter attempts by the Religious Right to conflate religious liberty with the right to discriminate against LGBT Americans. The new Protect Thy Neighbor initiative…
Jimmy Carter says Jesus would approve gay marriage
By Bob Allen Former President Jimmy Carter — nicknamed in Baptist circles the world’s most famous Sunday school teacher — says he thinks Jesus would approve of same-sex marriage. “I believe Jesus would approve gay marriage, but that’s just my own personal…
Missouri minister launching network for busy, isolated chaplains
By Vicki Brown Chaplains — military, medical and others — often feel isolated in their ministries. James Layman feels called to help change that in the Midwest. A hospital and military chaplain for 29 years, Layman has been laying a…
Lynn Messer still missing after a year
By Bob Allen The disappearance of a Missouri Baptist lobbyist’s wife remains a mystery one year after 52-year-old Lynn Messer apparently walked away from the family’s 300-acre farm. Kerry Messer, founder of the Missouri Family Network, called the Ste. Genevieve…
Pastor’s killer ruled not guilty due to insanity
By Bob Allen An Illinois man who six years ago shot and killed a Southern Baptist minister in a Sunday morning worship service has been found not guilty by reason of insanity and will likely spend the rest of his…
Networking two continents: For Ruben Ortiz, it means bridge-building
Ruben Ortiz experiences deep fulfillment from his calling as a bridge builder between the church in Latin America and the United States. But it comes at a price. “Sometimes it’s difficult — all of the driving is causing me back…
N.C. lawmakers lift ban on Sunday hunting
By Bob Allen Baptists in North Carolina opposed to ending the state’s ban on Sunday hunting got some accommodation in a compromise measure passed by the legislature that prohibits hunting with a firearm between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on…
James Dunn, robust advocate for religious liberty, dies July 4
By Robert Dilday James M. Dunn, one of Baptists’ most well-known advocates for religious liberty and separation of church and state, died July 4 a few weeks after his 83rd birthday in Winston-Salem, N.C. During his nearly two decades as…