Many people struggle with knowing how to support others who are enduring tough times, but empathy — the kind, thoughtful key to that support — can be learned, Christy Edwards told participants at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in…
‘Great white Christian freakout’ shifted America, Jones says
The U.S. was just beginning to come to terms with the effects of racial injustice when the “great white Christian freakout” ushered in the era of Donald Trump and empowered religious nationalism, said Robert P. Jones, president of Public Religion…
SACS continuing to monitor Southwestern Seminary
In a technical move, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has extended sanctions against Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for another year to achieve “a pattern of financial stability.” The Southern Baptist Convention school in Fort Worth, Texas, was issued…
Dissent against injustice inflicted upon ‘the least of these,’ García warns
“Dissent against any ideology that seeks to replace Christ … with political power, nationalism, lies or fear,” outgoing Moderator Juan García urged the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship during its annual General Assembly in St. Louis June 26. “As true Baptists, we…
The time is now to preach justice, Blackmon urges CBF
“Now is the time” to proclaim a gospel that sets people free, activist and theologian Traci D. Blackmon told participants at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Dr. Emmanuel McCall Racial Justice Trailblazer luncheon June 25 in St. Louis. The annual event…
High court allows exclusion of Planned Parenthood as Medicaid provider
A South Carolina woman does not have the right to sue the state over its exclusion of Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 26. Writing for the conservative majority in a 6-3 decision, Justice…
CBF session explores responses to sexual abuse in congregations
One learning lab at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly asked attendees to consider what their church would do if abuse happened in their congregation. Jay Kieve, CBF’s abuse prevention and response advocate, joined attorney David Cooke to talk through…
CBF ratifies downsized budget, elects slate of new leaders
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship adopted a downsized budget and elected new leaders during its General Assembly in St. Louis June 24-26. The 2025-26 budget — which takes effect when CBF’s fiscal year begins Aug. 1 — calls for expenditures of…
Courage and dignity needed in fight for equality, Raushenbush says
The church must demonstrate courage, demand dignity and fight for equality as attacks against religious freedom and LGBTQ people spread throughout the nation, Interfaith Alliance President Paul Raushenbush said. “The root of the word ‘courage’ is ‘cor,’ or heart,” he…
MAGA coalesces around evangelical support for Israel in bombing Iran
Robert Jeffress not only supports President Donald Trump’s bombing of Iran, but his publicist sent out a news release to make sure everyone understands he does. In last Sunday morning’s sermon — delivered hours after Trump ordered massive bombs dropped…
Find purpose beyond church growth or decline, Burge urges CBF
“Your church probably is not growing, and that’s OK,” Ryan Burge, a leading analyst of politics and religion, told a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship gathering June 24 in St. Louis. But that doesn’t signal a cause for apathy or despair, he…
Supreme Court clears way for third-country deportations
The Trump administration may deport undocumented immigrants to countries other than their own, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23. The unsigned order reverses a lower court ruling granting unauthorized noncitizens an opportunity to demonstrate the risk of persecution, torture…