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…
Raleigh church finds ‘very Baptist’ way to be multicultural
By Jeff Brumley Janet Pan firmly believes there will be no segregation in heaven, which may be no surprise from the pastor the Chinese Baptist Church of Raleigh, N.C. “Heaven is filled with Chinese and Africans and people of all…
Dueling columns pit SBC leader against pundits
By Bob Allen The head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission pushed back at criticism by Fox News analyst Kirsten Powers and culture writer Jonathan Merritt that it’s hypocritical for a Christian photographer to refuse to…
Baptist seminary in Liberia reopens after forced closure
By Bob Allen A labor judge’s Jan. 6 order shutting down the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary has been lifted, the school’s interim president announced Feb. 21. National Labor Court Judge Comfort Natt ordered the closure over the seminary’s refusal to…