By Bob Allen A group formed nearly 30 years ago to combat feminism in the evangelical church has named its eighth and youngest president. The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood announced May 12 the selection of Owen Strachan to…
Baylor prof questions popular views of heaven
By Terry Goodrich “Heaven is for real,” according to the new movie by that name. But which vision of heaven is true? Several versions of heaven are depicted in art, literature, music and pop culture — some of which don’t…
Faith leaders support hike in minimum wage
By Bob Allen Paying a full-time worker $290 a week in today’s economy is immoral, faith leaders said in a recent letter urging Congress to raise the minimum wage. “The call to raise the minimum wage is about more than…
Governor says gay marriage hampers birth rate
By Bob Allen Lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear filed a legal brief May 7 claiming the commonwealth has an economic interest in banning gay marriage because it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. The governor…
Theology of workflow connects dots between spirituality and efficiency
By Jeff Brumley As assistant executive director of the Virginia Baptist Missions Board, Glenn Akins is charged with all kinds of big-picture kingdom work, including keeping churches up to speed on cultural trends and demographics. “It’s important for churches to…
Murder, possible kidnapping, rock Georgia congregation
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister who leads a multi-denominational church in central Georgia says the congregation is in shock and uncertain about what to expect next in the wake of a murder and possible kidnapping mystery involving two of…
La. Supreme Court dismisses Louisiana College suit
By Bob Allen The Supreme Court of Louisiana has upheld lower court rulings that judges cannot resolve a lawsuit alleging academic freedom violations at a Baptist school without delving into issues of theology and church governance, an unconstitutional violation of…
Gaddy retiring as head of Interfaith Alliance
By Bob Allen Welton Gaddy, an ordained Baptist minister and pastor for preaching and worship at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, La., announced May 8 he will retire as president of the Interfaith Alliance at the end of 2014. Since…
CBF appeals for disaster response volunteers
By Jeff Brumley With assessments conducted and even some initial responses underway, disaster responders with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are now calling for volunteers for long-term tornado recovery projects. CBF U.S. Disaster Response Director Tommy Deal today issued a call…
Alliance Baptists address racial justice, reconciliation in annual gathering
By Relma Hargus The Alliance of Baptists went north for its annual gathering this year, taking its theme of racial and economic justice to the church where in 1926 Hilda Libby Ives became the first woman ordained as a Christian…
Labyrinth transforms prayer life, Baptists say
By Jeff Brumley Rita Martin knows a thing or two about prayer as a lifelong Baptist who raised a family in the church. Or at least she thought she did until this past Maundy Thursday when she participated in a…
American Baptists defend clergy housing allowance
By Bob Allen American Baptist Churches USA joined other faith groups in a friend-of-the-court brief filed last month urging the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the ministerial housing allowance as a constitutional accommodation of religion. The brief…