A few weeks ago I wrote about the conflict in Egypt and how Christians should think about it. Since then, the conflict in Syria, to which I alluded in my last article, has blown up into a full-on international crisis…
LETTER: Where will the slide toward disaster stop?
I have agreed with many, probably most of the editorials written by Jim White, but the one on Aug. 26 entitled “What is wrong with us?” pushed his writing and reasoning skills to their best effort yet for me. Every…
LETTER: Church isn’t actually ‘silent’ on sex
I feel a response is needed to the two recent articles on sexuality by Ken Camp [Herald, Sept. 9]. The article describing The Passion Principles by Shannon Ethridge leaves the meaning of “sexual freedom in marriage” rather ambiguous. I…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Is your church ready for the age wave?
My friend Gary lived a productive life and had loved ones he cared for and who loved him. He left his mark on his new church late in life and on me as his new pastor. Gary experienced multiple health…
EDITORIAL: Still blowin’
In my Aug. 26 editorial I said that the issue of gun control was an issue for another editorial. I made that comment shortly after three bored teenagers decided to kill somebody for the thrill of it. So, while driving…
HERITAGE: Finding home
Two months ago Jonathan Cordell of Jacksonville, Fla., had never heard of Poplar Springs Baptist Church, the church of Slovakian heritage in the Richmond area. Interested in family history, he discovered the baptismal certificate of his great-grandfather, Martyn Gregor. In…
VITAL SIGNS: Where is your parish?
One of the polarities every minister must navigate is between ministry within the congregation and ministry in the surrounding community. Is the minister called to serve the members of the local church exclusively, or is there a larger call to…
Baptists gearing up in Colorado
By Jeff Brumley Television and internet images of flooding in Colorado just don’t capture the scope of the carnage, says a Baptist minister helping clear mud and debris from homes. “The devastation is just amazing, and it just goes from…
Oakhurst Baptist celebrates 100 years
By Bob Allen A progressive and radically inclusive Baptist congregation celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend in Atlanta. Constituted in 1913, Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., sparked controversy in the 1960s as one of the first Southern Baptist churches…
ERLC defends rules for military chaplains
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission defended new guidelines for military chaplains in response to a recent commentary published by Associated Baptist Press. Andrew Walker, director of policy studies for the SBC agency dedicated…
AWAB head applauds pope’s remarks
By Bob Allen The head of an organization that advocates for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith welcomed comments by Pope Francis saying the Catholic Church is too focused on gays,…
BWA seeks funds for Mexico floods
By Jeff Brumley The Baptist World Alliance is calling for financial contributions to help communities in Mexico devastated by hurricane-related flooding and mudslides. The Mexican government reported that as many as 80 people have died as the result of hurricanes…