By Ken Camp A federal judge overturned Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage Feb. 26, saying it denies gay couples equal protection under the law. The judge’s preliminary injunction prohibits the state from enforcing a 2003 law against same-sex unions and…
Ky. Baptists say children’s home short on funding
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention is asking the state’s churches to make up a $5 million funding shortfall at Sunrise Children’s Services following controversy last fall over news that the faith-based agency was considering dropping its ban on…
Faith leaders oppose gay discrimination laws
By Bob Allen Baptist pastor and ABPnews/Herald columnist Amy Butler joined nationally known evangelical leaders including author Brian McLaren and blogger Rachel Held Evans in an open letter opposing laws to permit businesses to discriminate against homosexuals like the one…
Alliance of Baptists endorses anti-gun violence Sabbath
By Bob Allen Leaders of the 122-church Alliance of Baptists announced a goal of recruiting 50 Alliance churches to participate in the second annual Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath in March co-sponsored by Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and the…
Elevation of Ukrainian leader puts spotlight on Baptists
By Bob Allen Instability in Ukraine cast a spotlight on the former Soviet republic’s minority Baptist religious population with the selection of interim president Oleksandr Turchynov, a veteran politician, author and lay preacher at the Word of Life Center in…
IMB’s President Tom Elliff to step down
By Robert Dilday Tom Elliff announced Feb. 26 he will step down as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board after a newly-appointed search committee finds his successor. Elliff, a former missionary who was elected president three years…
Religious leaders oppose Ga. gun law in full-page newspaper ad
By Robert Dilday Nearly 200 interfaith religious leaders — including at least a dozen Baptists — took out a full-page ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Feb. 26 to oppose a bill in the Georgia legislature which would lift restrictions on…
Youth minister charged with indecency
By Bob Allen A former Baptist church youth minister in Mississippi is free on a $25,000 bond and awaiting a March 12 court hearing on a charge of gratification of lust involving a 14-year-old boy he knew through his church….
Baptists in D.C. restructure for more ‘nimble’ response to mission
By Robert Dilday Baptists in the nation’s capital adopted a major restructuring of their organization Feb. 24, aiming for a more “nimble and efficient” method for carrying out their mission. Delegates from 44 of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention’s…
Bob Jones allows abuse probe to proceed
By Bob Allen Bob Jones University announced Feb. 25 that an independent investigation into the school’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse can be completed. The university abruptly terminated its 2012 agreement with Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian…
SBC leaders featured at NRB convention
By Bob Allen A top media spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Convention urged communicators attending this weekend’s National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tenn., to keep faith central to whichever form of media they choose. “I would…
Former youth pastor pleads to child porn charge
By Bob Allen A former Tennessee Baptist youth minister pleaded guilty Feb. 23 in federal court to possession of child pornography found on his cell phone during an investigation of his previous arrest on charges of statutory rape and sexual…