Compartmentalization is the bane of authentic faith. When we begin to divide the realms of our life from one another, the end result looks very different than loving God with “all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” We become a…
Reflections on a fast-moving year in CBF
By Vicki Brown Helping guide the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship through leadership changes and into a new structure was sometimes an exhausting, sometimes exciting process, said Keith Herron, the organization’s immediate past moderator. And it went by fast, he added. “We…
Baptists support discrimination ban
By Bob Allen Baptist preachers opposing a ban on discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation in Frankfort, Ky., don’t speak for all members of the Baptist faith, moderate and progressive ministers contended in an op-ed…
Editorial ignites atonement debate
By Bob Allen A Presbyterian controversy spilled into Baptist life when Southern Baptist leaders criticized a Baptist state newspaper editor for agreeing with a hymnal committee that omitted a popular hymn because of the phrase “the wrath of God was…
State paper editorial ignites atonement debate
By Bob Allen A Presbyterian controversy spilled into Baptist life when Southern Baptist leaders criticized a Baptist state newspaper editor for agreeing with a hymnal committee that omitted a popular hymn because of the phrase “the wrath of God was…
Baptist church torched in Egypt
By Jeff Brumley A Baptist church is among at least 18 that were reportedly torched Wednesday by Egyptian supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. News reports say more than 500 have died since Wednesday morning when Egyptian security forces attacked…
Baptist steeple toppled in Texas storm
By Ken Camp Members of a Texas Baptist church that suffered major storm damage met for prayer in the parking lot Wednesday night to give thanks that no one was injured. Severe storms that swept through the Dallas area Aug….
‘Loving OK’ succeeds despite low turnout
By Jeff Brumley Last week’s “Loving Oklahoma” tornado recovery campaign saw inspiring cooperation between Texas Baptists and Cooperative Baptists, but fell way short of its goal of drawing the 1,000 volunteers organizers wanted. Even so, planners said concerted effort to…
Evangelicals seek OK on pulpit politicking
By Jeff Brumley A church-state watchdog group has urged Congress to ignore a proposal from evangelical and other groups seeking an end to the prohibition against politics in the pulpit. The proposal by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability claims…
D.C. Baptists defend ex-gay barred from concert
By Jeff Brumley The president of an African-American Baptist group in Washington, D.C., has criticized the city’s mayor over reports that the politician uninvited an ex-gay singer from performing in a Civil Rights commemoration event. The singer, pastor and 2010…
Faith-based re-entry saves tax dollars
By Jeff Brumley A Baylor University study shows that faith-based prisoner re-entry programs – at least in one case – help ex-cons, society and taxpayers. The study analyzed the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, a Minnesota program that uses volunteers and private…
Baptists boot scouts from Alaska church
By Jeff Brumley A Baptist congregation in Alaska has booted a local scouting troop because of the Boy Scouts of America decision to welcome openly gay members. The Anchorage Daily News reported that Anchorage Baptist Temple dropped its sponsorship of…