By Bob Allen A Kentucky Baptist Convention committee voted Oct. 9 to sever ties with Crescent Hill Baptist Church over the historic Louisville congregation’s welcoming and affirming stance toward gays. According to a news release, the decision by a credentials…
Bluefield College ends dental school project
By Robert Dilday Bluefield College has ended efforts to develop what would have been the only dental school in the nation operated by a school with Baptist ties. Bluefield’s trustees shut down the dental school project, launched in 2012 to…
Maryland high court denies abuse lawsuit appeal
By Bob Allen Maryland’s highest court of appeal declined Sept. 22 to review what has been described as largest evangelical sex-abuse case to date, leaving intact lower-court decisions dismissing the class-action lawsuit on legal technicalities. The Court of Appeals, the…
Self-centered prayers no surprise to American pastors
By Jeff Brumley A new poll has revealed something religious leaders have known for years: Americans are pretty self-centered when they pray. And even when not praying for themselves, they are praying for family, friends and favorite teams — which, pastors…
Ebola vigil becomes memorial for fallen Christian brother
By Marv Knox A prayer vigil for the first Ebola patient in the United States turned into a memorial service for the virus’ first U.S. victim hours after Eric Duncan died in Dallas Oct. 8. Wilshire Baptist Church planned the…
North Carolina’s Gardner-Webb University to partner with BGAV
By Robert Dilday North Carolina-based Gardner-Webb University has forged a new partnership with the Baptist General Association of Virginia following an Oct. 8 vote of approval by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. The 4,600-student Baptist school in Boiling Springs will…
Baptist editor blasts gay-marriage ruling
By Bob Allen In an Oct. 7 editorial, a Baptist state newspaper editor blasted a ruling by a Kansas City judge that marriages of Missouri gay couples performed legally in other states or countries must be honored in their home…
Pastor calls out ‘tolerated non-involvement’ in Southern Baptist churches
By Bob Allen One of the most unrecognized sins in Southern Baptist life is “tolerated non-involvement” by church members, a prominent pastor said recently in a conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church…
BGAV to consider reduced budget in 2015
By Robert Dilday The Baptist General Association of Virginia will consider a 2015 budget significantly lower than current funding levels when it gathers for its annual meeting next month. The BGAV budget committee will recommend a goal of $11.5 million…
Faith community challenged to put a face on poverty, hunger
By Ken Camp and Jeff Brumley A politician’s challenge that the faith community put a human face on poverty can happen only if Christians build relationships with the poor and hungry, according to a Baptist minister who lives and works…
Dallas Ebola patient Eric Duncan dies
By Bob Allen Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, died Oct. 8, according to a statement from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. “It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death…
Alliance of Baptists gets grant for LGBT initiative
By Bob Allen The Alliance of Baptists announced Oct. 8 receipt of a $104,400 grant to support a new initiative promoting LGBT inclusion and racial justice among Baptists. The grant from the Arcus Foundation, a charity that supports organizations that…