By Bob Allen The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined 12 other religious liberty and civil rights organizations in a U.S. Supreme Court brief filed Dec. 10 supporting a Muslim woman denied a job by clothing retailer Abercrombie &…
CBF leaders urge prayer for and commitment to reconciliation
By Bob Allen Top leaders in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship endorsed Black Lives Matter Sunday, a campaign mourning the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner during worship services Sunday, Dec. 14, sponsored by the Progressive National Baptist Convention. “We invite…
Fayetteville, Ark., repeals anti-discrimination measure some Baptists opposed
By Bob Allen In a special referendum ballot Dec. 9, citizens in Fayetteville, Ark., voted 52 percent to 48 percent to repeal an anti-discrimination ordinance adopted in August by the City Council. The City Council passed the ordinance barring “discrimination…
Youth pastor charged with child abuse
By Bob Allen A former youth pastor at a Southern Baptist church in Charlottesville, Va., is under arrest for the alleged sexual assault of a child under his care. Jacob Daniel “Jake” Kepple, 35, resigned his post at First Baptist…
In the path of lava flows, Baptists provide comfort to Hawaiian volcano victims
By Ken Camp A Texas Baptist Men crisis response team journeyed recently to Hawaii’s Big Island to provide what they call “compassion care” — what some others term “psychological first aid” — to children and families in the expected path of a…
Appeals court hears GuideStone challenge to Obamacare
By Bob Allen GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention had a day in court Dec. 8, arguing before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver that required coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare substantially burdens its religious…
Brewton-Parker regains accreditation
By Bob Allen The college commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools voted Dec. 9 to reaffirm the accreditation of Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga., reversing a decision in June to strip the Georgia Baptist Convention-related school…
Struggles prepared her for ministry, says pastor of Hispanic congregation
By Jeff Brumley By all accounts, nothing rattles Alina Carbonell. She has survived communism in Cuba, the leukemia death of a beloved sister, an abusive marriage and a nasty divorce. Throw in a near-bankruptcy while raising two boys on her…
American Baptist, NYC clergy protest Eric Garner decision
By Bob Allen National and regional leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA called for an examination of the U.S. criminal justice system, while interfaith leaders in New York City said a special prosecutor should investigate police misconduct in light…
Baptist church holds same-sex wedding
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Theological Seminary alumna who went on to become the first openly gay elected official in Louisville, Ky., walked the aisle Nov. 29 with her partner of more than 15 years in a wedding ceremony…
Interfaith dialogue requires hard work of forging relationships, Baptist pastor says
By Jeff Brumley Interfaith dialogue is about much more than symbolism, say those committed to the process. That’s because effective interfaith conversations require relationships, and relationships require more than annual prayer breakfasts or worship services that rotate among churches, mosques…
BJC program will equip young professionals for religious liberty advocacy
By Bob Allen Next year the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty will launch a new advocacy program for young professionals, the Washington-based church-state watchdog group announced Dec. 8. The BJC Fellows Program is for people from diverse educational, professional…