Government secrecy had as much to do with the botched execution of Byron Black as the toxic chemical Tennessee used to slowly and painfully take his life, death penalty abolitionist Stacy Rector said. “The state has a law shielding the…
Lawsuit seeks to stop reversals of legal immigration status
The Trump administration faces yet another challenge in its efforts to deport immigrants who are in the country legally. A federal lawsuit filed Aug. 11 objects to the “sudden and unlawful” cancellation of parole status of immigrants living and working…
Kim Davis is back — challenging same-sex marriage nationwide
If it chooses to, the U.S. Supreme Court now has a pathway to reconsider its landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. If it does it, the court will fulfill the dream of conservative evangelicals — including Southern Baptists…
Environmentalists win temporary pause at Alligator Alcatraz
A federal court in Miami has ordered Florida to temporarily pause construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center. And ICE is now hiring “patriotic Americans” as young as 18. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled Aug. 7 the state…
‘Pro-family’ groups say Israel is wrongly blamed for genocide in Gaza
Israel faces international condemnation and charges of genocide for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but the Family Research Council says believers with a “biblical worldview” and “moral clarity” can see Israel is blameless. “Why in the world are they not…
Ministry jobs and more
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…
REAP will cease operations
The organization that unsuccessfully sued the U.S. Department of Education to stop religious exemptions to Title IX for LGBTQ students at Christian universities is disbanding. The board of directors of the Religious Exemption Accountability Project announced the closure Aug. 10….
Keep federal budget cuts coming, say 100 Christian and conservative leaders
Elon Musk has left Washington, D.C., but a who’s who of secular and Christian conservative leaders says the Trump administration should continue making chainsaw-style cuts to federal departments and programs Congress previously approved. “Conservatives are united behind the efforts of…
United Methodists’ commitment to overcoming racism still rising
Five years ago, on the historic holiday known as Juneteenth, the United Methodist Council of Bishops unveiled a churchwide initiative called “Dismantling Racism.” The bishops were responding to the series of high-profile killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George…
Equal Justice USA to shut down
Equal Justice USA has announced the “hard news” that it will shut down due to the Trump administration’s revocation of more than $3 million in federal grant funding. “After dozens of meetings and hours of analysis and deliberations, the leadership…
‘White identitarians’ draw bipartisan rebuke in Missouri
News of a whites-only group seeking to establish a private community in Missouri is generating mounting opposition from a broad range of religious, civic and political leaders. “Return to the Land is a white-supremacist group that wants to create a…
Retired pastor invites community to advocate for immigrants
Retired United Methodist pastor Jerry Eckert knows a lot about advocating for folks who may not have someone to stand up for their rights. Eckert was a co-founder of a volunteer group, Associates in Advocacy, that provides advocates — usually…