It had all the marks of a transformational moment in American life. When President Lyndon B. Johnson declared “unconditional war on poverty” in 1964, around 19 percent of the nation lived in poverty. For the first time a sitting president…
‘We just need to be the church,’ says anti-poverty activist
Fifty years ago the United States declared war on poverty. Half a century and trillions of dollars later, what’s been accomplished? Is it an incomplete triumph or a wasteful failure? What really captured my thought was the slogan itself —…
Seven things you should know about poverty
$23,021 — The official poverty line for a family of four. It’s $11,484 for an individual. 15.1% — The number of Americans (46 million) in poverty, by the most common official figure. In 2007 the figure was 12.5 percent. 11.1% —…
South African tapped to lead Baptist World Alliance
By Jeff Brumley American John Upton has been succeeded by South African Ngwedla Paul Msiza to lead the Baptist World Alliance. Msiza, 53, is only the second African ever elected to the BWA presidency. The first was Liberian William Tolbert,…
BWA resolution calls surge of child immigrants a ‘humanitarian crisis’
By Ken Camp The surge of unaccompanied children from Central America into the United States “is not primarily an issue of unprotected borders but a humanitarian crisis,” according to a resolution the Baptist World Alliance General Council approved in Izmir,…
Veteran activists say LGBT inclusion nothing new
By Bob Allen The pastor of a Kentucky Baptist church making national headlines for changing its wedding policy to include same-sex couple admits he is a little surprised by all the attention. “This seems like big news for us, but…
SBC leader opposes legislation to reverse Hobby Lobby ruling
By Bob Allen Southern Baptists’ top public-policy spokesman pledged to oppose a bill on the fast track in the U.S. Senate to override the recent Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case and compel for-profit employers to cover the…
Union University murder case headed to grand jury
By Bob Allen A judge in Jackson, Tenn., ruled July 10 that there is enough evidence against a former Union University student accused of murdering his fiancée and staging her death to look like a suicide to send the case…
Baptists represented in presidential meeting on child immigrant crisis
By Ken Camp Texas Baptists joined other religious leaders and state and local officials at a meeting July 9 with President Barack Obama to discuss the humanitarian crisis caused by a surge of unaccompanied minor immigrants from Central America. Obama…
Ukrainian Baptists continue ministry amid conflict, leader says
By Vicki Brown Ukrainian Baptists have stepped up ministry as conflict continues to tear at their country, Slavik Pyzh told pastors and lay leaders in Missouri recently. The president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary spoke to a small gathering July…
Pastor pleads guilty to domestic violence
By Bob Allen An East Texas pastor arrested May 6 after police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home pleaded guilty July 8 to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. ABC affiliate KTRE reported…
Baptist church ordains transgender woman
In what is likely a first, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington ordained Allyson Robinson, who was previously ordained as a man, to the gospel ministry. A transgender woman who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and pastored a church in…