By Bob Allen Southern Baptists joined Mormons in a legal brief Sept. 4 asking the U.S. Supreme Court to settle once and for all if same-sex marriage is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution. The Church of Jesus Christ…
Churches facing a rethink in how they engage aging Boomers
By Vicki Brown Many churches rely on retirees as volunteers to keep some programs and activities vital and growing. Some congregations turn to mature adults for the basics — answering phones, stuffing envelopes and other office or maintenance duties —…
Slow to retire: Boomers turn to ‘encore careers’
By Vicki Brown Baby Boomers — Americans born between 1946 and 1964 — are extending their working careers, and many are turning to what has been dubbed “encore careers.” Boomer numbers vary, with estimates from 65 million to 76.4 million…
National Baptists elect new president
By Bob Allen A Mississippi pastor defeated four other candidates to win election as president of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. — the nation’s largest historically African-American denomination and second-largest Baptist group behind Southern Baptists. Jerry Young, 63, pastor of…
Black Baptists urge Obama to speed Haitian family immigration
By Jeff Brumley Leaders of five of the nation’s largest African-American Baptist communions are urging President Obama to streamline the system for reuniting Haitians with family members already living in the United States. The Sept. 5 letter to the White…
Federal magistrate recommends dismissal of Glorieta lawsuit
By Ken Camp A federal magistrate in Albuquerque, N.M., has recommended a U.S. District Court dismiss suits filed by leaseholders of property at Glorieta Conference Center against LifeWay Christian Resources and other parties. The magistrate also recommended denying a request…
‘Left Behind’ coming to a theater — and maybe a seminary — near you
By Bob Allen With Nicholas Cage starring in the rapture-themed thriller Left Behind coming out in theaters Oct. 3, two Southern Baptist Convention seminaries recently announced endowed professorships with an emphasis including Bible prophecy. Both Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake…
Fire destroys Cumberland University Baptist center
By Bob Allen Two students living in an upstairs apartment escaped an early morning fire Sept. 3 at the Baptist Collegiate Ministries building at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., unharmed but with only the clothes on their backs. According to…
Race, relevancy among challenges facing black Baptist leaders
By Jeff Brumley Four of the nation’s largest African-American Baptist denominations either elected new leaders this year or are in the process of voting on new presidents, and observers say each will have his hands full confronting daunting institutional challenges….
Don’t trade kids for immigration action, faith leaders say in one-sentence letter
By Bob Allen Following news reports of Honduran children being killed following their deportation from the United States and with President Obama considering executive action on immigration, 41 religious leaders signed a succinct, one-sentence letter Sept. 2. “While we celebrate…
Historic Baptist church sold to fraternity
By Bob Allen The Tau Nu chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will move into the former First Baptist Church in downtown Troy, N.Y., in early October, according to the Troy Record. The fraternity reportedly purchased the…
Missionaries serving refugees fleeing Mid-east violence exercise extra sensitivity
By Jeff Brumley As complicated and sensitive as the situation in the Middle East is for Western governments, it is just as tricky for Christian organizations with missionaries in the region. The region historically hostile to evangelism and ministry has…