By Ken Camp Orville Lindsey Scott, whose service as a Baptist communicator spanned four decades, died Jan. 12 in Grand Saline, Texas, at age 80. Funeral arrangements are pending with Eubank Funeral Home in Canton, Texas. Scott was born July…
SBC leader sees ‘chasm’ between liberal, evangelical denominations
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention leader says that rather than representing two points on a spectrum of Christianity, evangelical Christianity and liberal Protestantism are different and competing religions. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,…
Family suggests memorial gifts for Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler
By Bob Allen The family of deceased Baptist leader Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler is asking that rather than paying their respects by sending flowers, friends honor her memory by supporting causes that were dear to her heart. Crumpler, 84, died Jan….
Editor says Atlanta mayor should repent or resign
By Bob Allen A Georgia Baptist newspaper editor says Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed should either repent or resign for firing a fire chief who wrote a religious book that offended the city’s LGBT community. Christian Index Editor Gerald Harris said…
In thick of Syrian refugee crisis, couple learns to ‘love the enemy’
By Aaron Weaver For Chaouki Boulos, learning to love his enemy has been a Christ-celebrating, and life changing, process. And it’s been a 30-year process as Chaouki has shared Christ with anyone willing to listen. Today, he and his wife,…
Former international seminary head John David Hopper dies
By Bob Allen John David Hopper, president of the European-based International Baptist Theological Seminary when the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board suddenly defunded the school in 1992, died Jan. 10 at age 80. Despite having promised four years before…
Insurance company settles with Missouri Baptist Convention
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention has received $5 million in a settlement with the insurance company representing one of five breakaway agencies that moved to self-perpetuating trustee boards in 2000 and 2001. After a dozen years of litigation,…
Cost-effective conference fosters fellowship for busy and financially challenged pastors
By Jeff Brumley Three years in ministry have taught Alina Carbonell some pretty tough lessons about juggling church and family, overseeing both youth and adult members and the fact she can’t share personal struggles with her congregations. “I have discovered…
CBF, Southern Baptists find common ground in Kentucky politics
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Fellowship, one of 18 state and regional organizations that partner with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated Kentucky Baptist Convention are on the same team in a broad coalition of faith…
Mohler says fire chief’s firing a win for ‘erotic liberty’
By Bob Allen The firing of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran highlights “the religious-liberty implications of the normalization of homosexuality and the legalization of same-sex marriage,” Southern Baptist Theological President Albert Mohler said in a podcast briefing Jan. 9. Mohler…
Survey seeks to educate parents, youth ministers on teen texting
By Jeff Brumley Trying to figure out what teens are saying to each other in acronym-heavy text messages can drive parents and youth ministers batty. The lexicon has gone far beyond LOL and ROFL to what often looks like more…
In wake of Paris attack, Al Mohler says West faces religious war
By Bob Allen Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said in a podcast briefing Jan. 8 that U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) was on target in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt about…