By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s new missions head said June 25 the movement must re-imagine its global missions enterprise in ways similar to sweeping leadership and governance changes embraced since a two-year study of ways to better poise…
Shifts in CBF staff will expedite focus on priorities, says top leader
By Bob Allen Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter said June 25 that plans to realign staff around priorities identified in a two-year study of the movement’s effectiveness are falling into place sooner than she expected when she was…
Chaplains have edge in post-Christian age, CBF official says
By Jeff Brumley Like many U.S. religious groups, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship faces a constant challenge to find and offer ministries that are relevant in a post-Christian society. Navy Capt. Gerald F. Hutchinson, Jr. will offer what he sees…
Federal appeals court overturns gay marriage ban
By Bob Allen A federal appeals court ruled June 25 that marriage is a fundamental right that cannot be denied based solely on the sex of the person that a citizen chooses to marry. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of…
Missourian finds vocation, ministry creating prosthetic eyes
By Vicki Brown Most Haitians shun a child who has lost an eye — a thought that haunted iTeam members for a year. The iTeam is a group of eye-care professionals who minister in Haiti a couple of times each…
Aftermath of West explosion shows both relief and recovery needed after disaster
By Ken Camp Fourteen months ago, John Crowder didn’t know the difference between disaster relief and disaster recovery. He just knew his community needed help. In the months since a fertilizer plant explosion rocked his town, the pastor of First…
Baylor’s alumni association plans defense in lawsuit filed by university
By Marv Knox The Baylor Alumni Association plans to “resolutely — not defiantly” defend itself against a lawsuit filed by Baylor University June 6. The university filed the lawsuit about five months after its lead attorney called on the Baylor…
Art gaining in Baptist worship and spirituality
By Vicki Brown The church has used the arts — all forms — to share the story of God’s love and mercy throughout the ages. Poets and authors have written volumes. Painters and sculptors have depicted Bible stories and represented…
Center for Healthy Churches launches second partnership
By Robert Dilday The Center for Healthy Churches has announced a new partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina — the second collaboration for the church consulting group which launched Jan. 1. The partnership will make available to…
BJC opposes Colorado voucher plan
By Bob Allen The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has joined a lawsuit asking the Colorado Supreme Court to declare a pilot program using taxpayer dollars for private school vouchers unconstitutional. The BJC, a religious-liberty organization that serves 15…
Former SBC president writes on behalf of convicted New Orleans mayor
By Bob Allen The immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention sought leniency for former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, convicted in February on 20 criminal counts including bribery, fraud and money laundering, in a letter in the case…
A picture worth 500 words: WMU’s 125th anniversary prompts a lively visit
By Bob Allen Members of Woman’s Missionary Union wrapped up a yearlong celebration of the Southern Baptist Convention auxiliary’s 125th anniversary with a rare photo-op. Annie Armstrong, who led in framing the WMU constitution in 1888 and served as the…