By Vicki Brown Two women and a man. The phrase might conjure snippets from the old television sitcom, Three’s Company — but at Englewood Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo., two women and a man make up a unique, entrepreneurial pastoral…
Indonesia executes Australian members of Bali 9
By Bob Allen Two Australian drug traffickers shot by a firing squad in Indonesia refused blindfolds and sang “Amazing Grace” as they were taken to a jungle clearing to be executed, according to their spiritual adviser. Australians Andrew Chan and…
Baltimore Southern Baptists respond to unrest with prayer, service
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist church planters in Baltimore say they weren’t surprised when peaceful protests over the death of Freddie Gray turned violent, because they have witnessed firsthand the conditions breeding anger among the city’s African-American youth. “I want…
Supreme Court hears challenges to state gay-marriage bans
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 28 about whether the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and, if not, whether states that forbid gay marriage…
Julie Pennington-Russell resigns as pastor of FBC Decatur
By Bob Allen A pioneer among Southern Baptist women in ministry and early supporter of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is stepping down as pastor of First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. Julie Pennington-Russell, announced April 29 in an open letter…
PNBC head says anger OK, violence not
By Bob Allen An African-American Baptist leader says young people rioting in Baltimore are sacrificing the moral high ground of nonviolent protest advocated by Martin Luther King. “Anger over the yet unexplained death of Freddie Gray is one thing, but…
Baptists join growing army of relief headed to Nepal
By Jeff Brumley Governments, the United Nations and an army of international aid agencies are pouring relief supplies and workers into Nepal. And faith-based groups, including many Baptist organizations, are going in right along with them. Baptist groups across the…
Baptist disaster responder, through Facebook, reports on Nepal efforts
By Jeff Brumley Eddy Ruble used his Facebook status to share a long-time dream with friends Tuesday. “I’ve always dreamed of visiting Nepal, but not under the circumstances to which I am to arrive to today,” he wrote. The circumstances…
Texas Baptists take sides in school choice, pastor protection legislation
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist official bemoaned a school voucher vote in the state Senate and supported a House measure to protect clergy from being forced to officiate over same-sex marriages in recent debate at the Texas State Capitol…
Baptists lead movements to ease ex-offender return to society
By Jeff Brumley and Ken Camp There’s a growing push, here and there around the country, to stop treating ex-cons like criminals after they have served their time. The restorative justice movement is nothing new but is taking on fresh…
Baylor renames School of Social Work for Dean Diana Garland
By Bob Allen Baylor University’s board of regents has voted to rename the university’s School of Social Work in honor of the school’s first dean, Diana Garland, who is stepping down June 1 due to illness. The Diana R. Garland…
SBC Pastors Conference disinvites Ben Carson
By Bob Allen An invitation to likely Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson to speak at this summer’s Southern Baptist Convention Pastors Conference has been withdrawn after it was criticized in Baptist blogs. Pastors Conference President Willy Rice said in a…