By Robert Dilday A week after Baptists around the world responded to a West African request to pray for victims of Ebola in the region, Baptist groups in Virginia and Texas are addressing another critical aspect of the epidemic —…
Guy Sayles stepping down at FBC Asheville
By Bob Allen The pastor of a flagship Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church announced Oct. 19 he is resigning his pulpit, just short of nine months after telling the congregation he is battling cancer. Guy Sayles, pastor of First Baptist Church…
Youth minister charged with sexual abuse
By Bob Allen A 37-year-old Southern Baptist youth minister is under arrest in Sasche, Texas, on charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Derek Hutter, minister to students at South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, Texas,…
2 seminaries with Baptist ties join others adding science curricula
By Jeff Brumley As high-profile, science-versus-faith debates rage across the nation, a handful of American seminaries, including two with Baptist ties, are pursuing the notion that reason and religion are compatible and even complementary. Andover Newton Theological School and Wake…
Broad Baptist coalition asks Houston mayor to withdraw subpoenas for sermons
By Bob Allen Moderate and conservative Baptists set aside differences in an Oct. 15 letter opposing subpoenas ordering five Houston pastors to turn over sermons as evidence in a lawsuit seeking repeal of the city’s non-discrimination ordinance. Top leaders of…
LGBT leaders open to dialogue with SBC
By Bob Allen Two weeks ahead of a major Southern Baptist Convention discussion about homosexuality and the future of marriage, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists is collecting signatures for an online petition requesting a place at the table….
Sisters mourned husbands with different emotions, same Baptist faith
By Bill Webb It was one tragic event involving two siblings and two different reactions of grief, spirituality and faith. Sisters Heather Gilion and Holly Snell recently shared with Baptists in Missouri how the deaths of their husbands in a…
Baptist leaders oppose subpoenaing of pastors
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister who leads a national interfaith organization voiced concern about the subpoenaing of church sermons in a lawsuit challenging Houston’s non-discrimination ordinance. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, said in an Oct. 15 letter…
Two Baptist news organizations consider merger proposal
By Robert Dilday Boards of directors for Baptist News Global (formerly ABPnews/Herald) and the Baptist Standard have approved a process for considering whether the two organizations should merge their operations. Leaders of both groups stressed the goal of their talks…
Faith leaders support economic opportunity for Americans with disabilities
By Bob Allen While restrooms, buildings and parking lots are more accessible for people with disabilities than a generation ago, their employment opportunities are just as limited as they were when President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities…
ABPnews/Herald becomes Baptist News Global
By BNG staff ABPnews/Herald, created a year ago in a merger of two Baptist news organizations, has become Baptist News Global. The rebrand is the result of an agreement approved a year ago when the respective boards of Associated Baptist…
Pastor urges compassion for Ebola victim’s family
By Bob Allen Whatever the public thinks about the West African man who brought Ebola to the United States, a Baptist pastor who has been ministering to his family says people should remember that he caught the disease that killed…