By Bob Allen When it comes to sexuality, many women are suffering, the lone female plenary speaker at a Southern Baptist summit on sex said during the final session of the three-day gathering. “Some women are suffering, and some women…
Dismissed abuse lawsuit headed for appeal
By Bob Allen A lawsuit described as the biggest evangelical sex abuse scandal to date is headed for appeal, a year after being dismissed on a technicality, elders of the church involved informed members in a letter dated April 22….
Advocate says something missing at Baptist sex summit
By Bob Allen A victims’ advocate says there is a glaring omission at this week’s summit for Southern Baptist pastors on sexual issues — any mention on the program about the church’s response to sexual abuse. Amy Smith, a lifelong Southern…
Small church makes big strides despite location, trends
By Daniel Wallace and Jeff Brumley First Baptist Church of Covington, Texas, averaged slightly more than 50 in attendance when the congregation decided to build a sanctuary that seats 150 worshippers — in a community of 269 people. “We’re either crazy…
Merger plans collapse for struggling Virginia college
By Robert Dilday Plans for Virginia Intermont College to merge with a large Florida university have collapsed, leaving the struggling Baptist-affiliated school “financially distressed,” its president said. Earlier this year the Bristol, Va., college said it had initiated discussions to…
Judge says use of Caner video fair
By Bob Allen A federal judge has dismissed a Georgia Baptist college president’s lawsuit against a blogger who posted video to support allegations that a famous “Jihad to Jesus” testimony is bogus. A U.S. district judge in Fort Worth, Texas,…
Pressler says SBC controversy started in Houston church
By Bob Allen The “conservative resurgence” that transformed the Southern Baptist Convention three decades ago began in the halls of Second Baptist Church in Houston, the movement’s chief architect told seminary students April 15. Paul Pressler, a former Texas Appeals…
Baptist disaster recovery gears up for summer
By Jeff Brumley Baptists with a combined hankering for travel and hard work are in luck as denominational disaster recovery organizations are beginning to issue their calls for help this spring and summer. American Baptist Churches USA has posted three…
Baptists see Fort Hood shootings through lens of Easter
By Ken Camp As ministry leaders at First Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas, prepared for Wednesday evening activities earlier this month, they heard an all-too-familiar report: a shooter had opened fire on soldiers at nearby Fort Hood. “The really sad thing is…
CBF, SBC leaders meet with president
By Bob Allen Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter and Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president Russell Moore were among a small group of faith leaders who met in the Oval Office April 15 to discuss immigration…
Louisiana College to seek new president
By Bob Allen Rather than losing his job or getting a contract extension, an embattled Baptist college president in Louisiana will return to the classroom with an honorary title and trustees will search for a new president to replace him….
N.C. church, first to ordain a woman, calls its first female pastor
By Bob Allen A North Carolina church credited with opening doors for women in ministry by ordaining the first Southern Baptist woman to the gospel ministry 50 years ago lifted its own stained-glass ceiling April 6 by choosing a female…