According to dean of American church consultants Lyle Schaller, when leaders in nondenominational Protestant megachurches founded since 1975 are asked, “What proportion of your regular attendees in worship were born, baptized, reared and confirmed in a Roman Catholic family?”, responses…
OPINION: Dealing with creative people
I’ve been reading different takes on “dealing with” creative people. It makes me laugh to see the advice people give. Usually it boils down to the equivalent of how to keep your pets entertained. “Dangle something shiny or give them…
OPINION: To bomb or not to bomb
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…
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…