By Bob Allen The Baptist World Alliance and European Baptist Federation have called on Baptists worldwide to pray for Christians seeking to bear a faithful witness in Ukraine. On May 2 clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian protestors killed at least…
‘Most Bible-minded city’ status doesn’t impress Baptist pastors
By Jeff Brumley Leading a church in a city recently described as the most “Bible-minded” in America does have its advantages, Thomas Quisenberry said. Mainly: not a lot of necessity to explain the backstory during sermons and Scripture discussions, said…
Supreme Court upholds ceremonial prayer at public meetings
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 May 5 that overtly Christian prayers at government meetings do not violate the First Amendment’s ban on establishing religion. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the town of Greece,…
Mohler says Christ died only for the ‘elect’
By Bob Allen Christ died not as a substitute for all sinners but only for those predestined to believe, a leading Southern Baptist Calvinist said in a weekend podcast explaining the atonement, a Christian doctrine that describes how sinners are…
Ashes to ashes: In debate over burial or cremation, some things get lost
By Ken Camp Christians who debate the merits of burial versus cremation may miss a larger issue — helping people deal with the reality of death, some ministers insist. Traditionally, Roman Catholics prohibited cremation except under special circumstances — a…
Funerals in pluralistic society: What makes them distinctively Christian?
By Ken Camp A funeral home contacts a pastor. The family of a deceased person has no church affiliation, and neither did their relative, but they want a minister to conduct their loved one’s memorial service. The minister agrees, but…
Faiths can build bridges of understanding, BJC’s Walker tells Harvard audience
By Marv Knox Rights, responsibility and respect provide the infrastructure for bridges of understanding between faith groups, Baptist religious-liberty advocate Brent Walker stressed in a symposium at Harvard University May 1. Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for…
SBC leader says Christians should support death penalty
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist seminary president says Christians should support the death penalty, but not necessarily how it is administered in the United States today. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said in a CNN commentary…
Caner foes labeled ‘cyber-terrorists’
By Bob Allen An attorney representing a Southern Baptist college president labeled individuals posting online videos undermining his client’s famous “Jihad to Jesus” ex-Muslim testimony as “cyber-terrorists” in oral arguments April 30. Jonathan Autry — sued for copyright infringement after posting…
CBF Fla. gathering has international, interfaith flavor
By Jeff Brumley Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida members have a wide range of interfaith and international topics to choose from at their Spring Celebration in Orlando this week. The meeting, May 2-3 at College Park Baptist Church, includes workshops,…
CBF braces for ‘new day’ in global missions
By Bob Allen A “new day” for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship global missions will begin a “new conversation” about how to better integrate missions into all areas of CBF life, the Decatur, Ga.,-based Fellowship’s new global missions coordinator said at a…
Baptists in Turkey form first national alliance of churches
By Eron Henry Just over two months before the Baptist World Alliance holds its annual gathering in Turkey, Baptists in that country have formed their first national organization of churches. Four Baptist congregations formed the Alliance of Baptist Churches in…