By Jeff Brumley It’s usually called a mission trip when a group of college students and their campus minister visit a ministry located in a struggling out-of-state neighborhood. But that’s not what a group of Clemson University undergrads and their…
Osteen illustrates nondenominationalizing of U.S. religion, says church historian
By Ken Camp Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church in Houston offer a high-profile case study in the “nondenominationalizing” of 21st century evangelical American religion, says church historian Bill Leonard. Osteen manages to be “modern and postmodern, traditional and…
Pastor says male/female roles will continue in heaven
By Bob Allen Wives are to submit to their husbands not only on earth but also in heaven, according to an article posted online recently by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. A 7,000-word article titled “Relationships and Roles…
Tom Cleary dies, was one of first missionaries appointed by CBF
By Bob Allen Tom Cleary, one of the first global missions field personnel appointed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm March 15, CBF Florida Coordinator Ray Johnson reported in an e-newsletter March 19. Cleary served…
Pastor accused of bilking elderly
By Bob Allen An American Baptist pastor in Connecticut has been charged with stealing more than $173,000 from an elderly parishioner. Robert Genevicz, pastor of Stratford Baptist Church the last 16 years, was arrested March 18 and charged with first-degree…
Campolo says U.S. missionaries too close to CIA, later ‘regrets’ comment
Editor’s note: This article was modified March 19 to include additional information following the third paragraph and the final paragraph. By Bob Allen A progressive evangelical leader who counseled President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal says it isn’t…
Blogger moving on from Louisiana College to ‘ex-Muslim’ controversy in Georgia
By Bob Allen A Baptist pastor who released documents that brought media scrutiny to alleged wrongdoing at Louisiana College says he is finished with that controversy and shifting focus to another Baptist college president accused in the past of lying…
Churches respond to call for disaster relief in Augusta, Ga.
By Jeff Brumley Andy Jones says he has just one answer for church groups still looking for that quick spring or early summer mission: come to Augusta, Ga. As the minister of missions at First Baptist Church there, Jones has…
For Lent, Baptist dons orange prison garb for poor and imprisoned
By Jeff Brumley Kent McKeever’s choice of Lenten sacrifice has already generated enough stares and media scrutiny to last him a lifetime. But that’s OK, he jokes, given the trade-off: a lot less laundry to do until Easter. “It’s very…
Liberia seminary installs interim president
By Bob Allen A Mercer University professor on loan for one year to the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary was inducted March 13 as sixth president of a long-respected school attempting to rebuild after decades of civil war and recent controversy…
Support for immigrants is essential part of gospel, say mission advocates
By Greg Warner No one objects when missions personnel feed the hungry or attend to the sick. But is advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees also part of the gospel? For Cooperative Baptists who minister among Hispanic immigrants, the…
Longtime pastor will use skills honed in congregations for wider engagement
By Jeff Brumley Texan Mark Newton says he had no intention or interest in leaving the pulpit, even with a quarter century of pastoring churches under his belt. But Newton did just that recently by stepping down as pastor at…