By Bob Allen Moderate and progressive Baptists joined nearly 400 Catholic and evangelical leaders issuing a Holy Week call to end the use of the death penalty in the United States. “We urge governors, prosecutors, judges and anyone entrusted with power…
No forgiveness for slavery, racism without repentance, CBF pastor says
By Ken Camp Real repentance leading to racial reconciliation demands restitution for victims of oppression and injustice, Wendell Griffen told a Hardin-Simmons University audience March 23. “The work of healing what has been wounded, righting what has been wronged and…
Supreme Court won’t force NYC to allow after-hours worship in public schools
By Bob Allen The United States Supreme Court refused March 30 to hear a case challenging a New York City policy of not allowing churches to worship in public schools. The high court declined without comment to review an April…
Cal Baptist women’s tournament run comes up one game short
By Bob Allen In just their second season after moving up to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the California Baptist University women’s basketball Lancers were Cinderella in this year’s NCAA Division II championship tournament. Unranked going into the tournament and…
Survey results could push church beyond its walls into new ministries
By Jeff Brumley A new survey confirms a shift in American attitudes toward faith that should motivate churches to rethink how — and for whom — they do ministry, Baptist and other experts say. The Barna Group study found that most Americans…
Former CLC staffer David Lockard dies
By Bob Allen David Lockard, a Southern Baptist missionary who established the first Baptist seminary in Central Africa before heading up race relations and world hunger awareness for the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission, died March 14 at age 89….
Racially segregated churches ‘blasphemy,’ SBC leader says
By Bob Allen Ethics head Russell Moore told 550 people at a conference March 26 he believes God is giving the Southern Baptist Convention a second chance to atone for its racist past, but “in order to do that we…
Is religious liberty declining around the world? One panel thinks so.
By Ken Camp Repressive governments, radical Islamists and reluctance by Western leaders to confront human rights abuses combine to create the worst global climate for religious liberty in recent history, say a university president with expertise in constitutional law, a…
Church-state group urges IRS to investigate Ted Cruz speech at Liberty University
By Bob Allen The head of a watchdog group advocating the separation of church and state says the IRS should investigate whether Liberty University broke the law when U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced on campus he is running for president….
Kentucky Baptists applaud failure of medical pot
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention declared victory when the 2015 legislative session ended March 25 without voting on a bill to legalize medical marijuana. Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood called on lawmakers to reject legislation to…
As Easter nears, some Baptists say its time to contemplate Good Friday observances
By Jeff Brumley A group of teachers in Rhode Island, where Catholicism is the prevailing faith, sued their school system earlier this month, demanding they get the day off for Good Friday. The Associated Press reported that the teachers’ union…
Banner Sunday boosts Baptist women in ministry
By Bob Allen The so-called “stained-glass ceiling” that Baptist women face when called to ministry cracked a little March 22, when two North Carolina congregations for the first time elected senior pastors who are female. Baptist News Global reported Monday…