By Bob Allen A group that advocates for separation of church and state says Hobby Lobby owner Steve Green’s new high school Bible curriculum is likely unconstitutional and warns that school districts that use it risk getting sued for violating…
In the midst of Ukraine crisis, Baptists offer witness to unity, says leader
By Robert Dilday As the crisis between Ukraine and Russia continues to bedevil world leaders, Baptists in the two countries have offered a profound witness to unity as Christian believers, a European Baptist said April 28. “Obviously it is a…
Baptists getting, staying busy in disaster areas
By Jeff Brumley Baptist disaster-relief groups are mobilizing now that they have a clearer picture of the need and permission to enter Arkansas and other parts of the South pounded by vicious waves of tornadoes since Sunday. The Cooperative Baptist…
Activists reflect on Baptist peacemaking in wake of Stassen death
By Jeff Brumley The term “Baptist peacemaking” conjures up images of President Jimmy Carter observing elections on troubled continents. For others it means human rights activists brokering peace deals between warring factions in Africa or the Middle East. But it…
Glen Stassen, Baptist peacemaker, dead at 78
By Bob Allen Glen Stassen, an evangelical peace activist who taught Christian ethics more than 50 years, died April 26 in Pasadena, Calif., months after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Stassen, 78, the Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian…
D.C.’s Amy Butler is candidate for Riverside Church in New York
By Robert Dilday Washington pastor Amy Butler is a search committee’s candidate to be the next senior minister at Riverside Church in New York City, one of the most prominent congregations in mainline Protestantism. The search committee’s selection of Butler,…
Pastor retires to be minister’s husband
By Bob Allen An Alabama pastor who chaired a blue-ribbon task force charged with retooling the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for the 21st century is retiring from the pulpit to become a minister’s spouse. David Hull announced in an email April 27…
Baptist groups await OK to help Ark. twister victims
By Jeff Brumley Death tolls and destruction aren’t the only difficult things to deal with for Baptist disaster-relief officials. Having to tell eager volunteers, at least initially, to stay home can be just as tough. “The toughest part of my…
Glen Stassen, leading Baptist voice in peacemaking, dies at 78
By Robert Dilday Glen Stassen, a Baptist theologian widely known for his work on the ethics of war and peace, a topic he explored with seminary students for 30 years, died April 26 in Pasadena, Calif., following a battle with…
Diverse faith coalition — including Baptists — advocates immigration reform
By Jeff Brumley Advocates of the rapidly growing immigration reform movement say they’re heartened by the expanding involvement of religious groups, which they say is key if Congress is to ever act decisively on the issue. “The coalition is getting…
Richmond Baptists restructure to strengthen ministry in wake of homosexuality dispute
By Robert Dilday The Richmond Baptist Association has approved a significant restructuring aimed at strengthening its ministries in the wake of a dispute over homosexuality which prompted some of its member congregations to withdraw or reduce financial support. Though final…
SBC leaders warn book by gay Christian ‘not faithful to Scripture’
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention seminary cranked out a 90-page rebuttal to a recently released book making waves in evangelical circles with claims that the Bible is not anti-gay. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, described…