By Bob Allen A grand jury in Manatee County, Fla., has indicted 33-year-old Andres “Andy” Avalos Jr. on three counts of first-degree murder for the killing of his wife, a Southern Baptist pastor and a third person in a violent spree…
Georgia Baptists support fire chief suspended over homosexuality
By Bob Allen Leaders of the Georgia Baptist Convention launched an online petition demanding reinstatement of a fire chief suspended for writing a religious book critical of homosexuality. Last month Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced a 30-day suspension of Atlanta…
Virginia church sees album as missional way to live its calling
By Jeff Brumley All Souls Charlottesville is a Baptist church in Virginia where ancient church practices are embraced, from focusing on hospitality and following the liturgical calendar to embracing creeds and celebrating the Eucharist. But spiritual formation took on a…
Majority of Americans believe in Virgin Birth, poll shows
By Bob Allen Nearly three-fourths of U.S. adults (73 percent) expressed belief in the Virgin Birth in a Pew Research poll released Dec. 15 indicating that most Americans believe the Christmas stories in the Bible are historically true. Similar numbers…
SBC president calls for racial healing
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd urged members of America’s second-largest faith group behind Roman Catholics to reaffirm their opposition to racism and injustice in a Dec. 15 statement endorsed by ethnic leaders. “Southern Baptists have always…
CBF helps sponsor first 5-day spiritual academy in Cuba
By Bob Allen Thirty participants from various denominations convened in November for the first Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation ever held in Cuba. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Florida CBF helped sponsor the enrichment event, which is a ministry of…
Baptist chaplains eye growing openness to discussion of death
By Jeff Brumley Broaching the subject of death can be a serious downer in a society obsessed with beauty, health and long life. But there are signs that may be starting to change. “There are more people who are talking…
Former SBC leader says race a rift in America’s social fabric
By Bob Allen The former ethics spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention says visceral reaction to decisions by grand juries in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y., not to indict police officers in the deaths of two unarmed African-American males…
Arkansas Baptist College gets $30 million to stabilize finances
By Bob Allen A historically black Baptist college in the news of late for financial woes has secured a $30 million funding agreement aimed at restoring fiscal health at the institution with ties to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. A U.S….
For Baptists, a lone Arminian voice crying in a Calvinist wilderness
By Jeff Brumley Roger Olson is one of the few voices in American evangelicalism, and among Baptists, who regularly speaks out against the increasingly popular Calvinist movement. “I guess I do feel a bit lonely,” said Olson, a professor of…
Southern Baptists move up summit on race as issue simmers
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s moral concerns agency announced plans Dec. 11 for a March summit on racial reconciliation responding to the deaths of African-American men in clashes with police in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y. “The…
Former missionary, professor Malcolm Tolbert dies
By Bob Allen A memorial service is scheduled Dec. 13 in Baton Rouge, La., for Malcolm Tolbert, a former missionary to Brazil who taught at two Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and died Thanksgiving Day at age 90. Tolbert, a native…