By Eron Henry German Baptist youth leader Christian Rommert reminded youth from more than 60 countries gathered in Singapore that life in Christ is not about rules or systems but relationships. Rommert cautioned the 16th Baptist Youth World Conference against…
Historian seeks return to communion wine
By Jeff Brumley Jason Coker says most members of his Connecticut Baptist church are social drinkers in a culture where alcohol consumption is expected. “I tell interns who come up here if you are in a social setting and you…
Carter supports Zimmerman verdict
By Bob Allen Former President Jimmy Carter says the jury in the George Zimmerman trial “made the right decision” based on the evidence and the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the neighborhood watch volunteer acted deliberately and…
Statement cites sexual abuse in church
By Bob Allen Seventy-two faith leaders signed a public statement July 17 decrying silence from evangelical leaders on the issue of sexual abuse in the church. Released by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), an advocacy group…
Book challenges ‘gendered’ pulpit
By Bob Allen A “gendered” pulpit that defines what a preacher looks like as exclusively straight and male hinders women and members of the LGBT community from leadership in preaching and worship, theologian, author and Baptist pastor Angela Yarber says…
BJC names education, outreach specialist
By Bob Allen Recent McAfee School of Theology graduate Charles Watson Jr. has been named education and outreach specialist for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. He began work July 8. “Charles brings a unique skill set to the…
British government asks church to take over thousands of state schools
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — Leading secularists are calling on nonreligious parents to fight a government effort that would allow the Church of England to run thousands of state schools. The schools, or academies, would be privately funded, quasi-independent and accountable…
Megachurch pastor Joel Hunter pays price for attempting to bridge divide between political parties
LONGWOOD, Fla. (RNS) — There’s a price to pay for becoming the voice of moderate conservatism and coalition politics. Even more so for refusing to march in lockstep with the Republican Party. Ask Joel Hunter of Northland Church, Florida’s largest…
White House says it can’t list Westboro Baptist Church as hate group or remove tax-exempt status
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In response to five “We the People” petitions, the White House condemned the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church but said it is powerless to list the Kansas church as a hate group and remove its tax-exempt…
Pastors whose congregations face foreclosure say it’s vital to act, recall church is not a building
(ABP) — A Missionary Baptist pastor in Anniston, Ala., learned recently that his church faces foreclosure and its building may be auctioned to the highest bidder by the end of the month. The Anniston Star reported that Pastor La’Noan Ealy…
Baptist World Alliance calls for end to Cuba embargo, presents human rights award to Glen Stassen
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (ABP) — Baptist leaders from around the world called on the United States to lift its half-century-old economic embargo on Cuba in a resolution adopted during the Baptist World Alliance annual gathering July 1-6 in Ocho Rios,…
New head of SBC public policy agency says too much political involvement can harm mission of church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Southern Baptists’ new spokesman for moral and religious-liberty concerns offered a corrective for Christian involvement in politics in a wide-ranging, 45-minute interview July 8 on C-SPAN. “I think there was a day when evangelical Christians in…