By Jeff Brumley Licensed clinical social worker Christen Argueta often delved into clients’ religious and spiritual views when she worked for a nonprofit counseling agency for children and families. The Houston-based counselor said it was important to do so because…
Book tells untold story of women in the SBC controversy
By Bob Allen Most histories of the Southern Baptist Convention controversy in the late 20th century downplay or neglect the impact and role of women, a female historian says in a recent book. Elizabeth Flowers, associate professor of religion at…
Former youth minister sentenced in third court
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist youth minister has been sentenced in a third Alabama county for sexually abusing young boys in the 1980s. Mack Allen Davis, 74, former youth pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., was…
Debates on racism, gay rights take toll on pastors
By Jeff Brumley Stressful times for the nation, it turns out, translate into especially stressful times for pastors. That fact was the focus of Tuesday’s Baptist News Global column — titled “A humble plea: Go easy on your pastor” — by Corey…
Complementarian scholar moves to Midwestern Seminary
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…