By Bob Allen In a press release Jan. 7, the 1.3 million-member Georgia Baptist Convention protested the recent firing of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran for writing a religious book deemed intolerant toward gays. Earlier, the 3,600-church state affiliate of…
Oklahoma church paves way on interfaith and missions
By Jeff Brumley Last fall, an Oklahoma Guardsman and member of a Baptist church met an Afghan doctor who had just immigrated to the United States after years interpreting for American combat troops. The soldier essentially adopted the Muslim man…
Lobbyist’s wife still missing after six months
By Bob Allen Jan. 7 marked the six-month anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of a Missouri Baptist lobbyist’s wife. Lynn Messer, 52, wife of Missouri Family Network leader Kerry Messer, vanished in the middle of the night July 8 from…
Baptist fire chief fired over anti-gay book controversy
By Bob Allen Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has been fired over controversy about a Christian-themed book he wrote criticized as promoting discriminatory attitudes against gays. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced the termination in a press conference Jan. 6, Cochran’s…
Pastor credits God for transforming once-seedy neighborhood
By Ken Camp Elmo Johnson rejects any personal credit for transforming Houston’s 4th Ward since he arrived as pastor of Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church 30 years ago. But he’s eager to give God the glory. “The Lord has done some…
Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler remembered as hero in Baptist life
By Bob Allen A memorial service for Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler — former head of the Southern Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union and an early champion of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship who died Jan. 2 after a long illness — is scheduled for…
Baptist pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen An American Baptist pastor in New York state is under arrest on felony charges of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. New York State Police arrested Thomas Wilson, 63, of Watertown, N.Y., on one count of first-degree sexual…
Baptist chaplains wage offensive for military care
By Vicki Brown and Jeff Brumley American military personnel and their families have gone all-out during more than 10 years of continuous war, enduring unprecedented spikes in the tempo and duration of deployments. That’s why it takes an equally all-out…
Glorieta lawsuit reassigned to new judge
By Bob Allen A lawsuit challenging LifeWay Christian Resources’s sale of Glorieta Conference Center in 2013 has been reassigned to a new judge. In September U.S. District Judge James Browning in Albuquerque, N.M., upheld most but not all recommendations by…
Baptist leaders eye hopes, fears for church in 2015
By Jeff Brumley Some congregational coaches hope to see a return to Christ-centered values in the American church, while some Baptist scholars are eager for Christians in the United States to hear and feel the pain suffered by persecuted counterparts…
Missions leader Carolyn Crumpler dies
By Bob Allen Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler, who promoted Southern Baptist missions for 31 years as head of Woman’s Missionary Union before helping to form the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 1991, died Jan. 2 in Cincinnati. Crumpler, 84, was executive director…
Campbell University elects Brad Creed as president
By Robert Dilday In a unanimous vote Jan. 2, trustees of Campbell University elected Brad Creed as president of the Baptist-affiliated school in Buies Creek, N.C. Creed, 57, will take office July 1, succeeding Jerry Wallace, who retires June 30…