(ABP) — The Baptist Union of Great Britain joined other faith groups in a letter reclaiming St. George’s Day, celebrated April 23, from right-wing group’s using England’s patron saint to promote Islamophobia and hatred. “We want to promote a new,…
NEW British faith groups reclaim St. George as symbol of inclusivity, not symbol of hatred
British faith groups reclaim St. George as symbol of inclusivity, not symbol of hatred Bob Allen (ABP) — The Baptist Union of Great Britain joined other faith groups in a letter reclaiming St. George’s Day, celebrated April 23, from right-wing…
Modern hymn writers revive a lost musical art, with surprising success
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — Most songwriters in Nashville want to get their songs on the radio. Keith and Kristyn Getty hope their songs end up in dusty old hymnbooks. The Gettys, originally from Belfast, Ireland, hope to revive the art…
Former ‘Jesus freak’ traces the evolution of Christian rock from spirituals to praise songs
(RNS) — Bob Gersztyn owned a fine collection of 300 rock ‘n’ roll albums in 1971, the year he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Among them were some choice 1960s vinyl from Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles,…
Stand-up comic known as ‘God’s Smart Aleck’ is rising Hollywood star
(ABP) — Nowadays, comedian Michael Joiner is billed as “God’s Smart Aleck” to gently remind audiences that his clean humor comes from a Christian perspective. But there was a time when the Indiana native, raised a Baptist, was anything but…
British faith groups reclaim St. George as symbol of inclusivity, not symbol of hatred
British faith groups reclaim St. George as symbol of inclusivity, not symbol of hatred Bob Allen (ABP) — The Baptist Union of Great Britain joined other faith groups in a letter reclaiming St. George’s Day, celebrated April 23, from right-wing…
Navigating church conflict is focus of conference
The Virginia Network of Interim Ministers will sponsor a conference May 3 on conflict transformation in local congregations. “Navigating the Storms of Church Conflict” will be held in English Hall at Eagle Eyrie from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. just…
Author asks, how would Jesus have treated the followers of the world’s major religions?
In his 2012 book, Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?, emergent church author Brian McLaren purposely evokes an old joke about, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” But instead of introducing a joke, McLaren…
Paynter, ‘CBF 2.0’ visit Fla. gathering
By Jeff Brumley The promise from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida during its spring meeting Friday and Saturday was to “Re-vision, Re-Imagine, Renew” the Fellowship – and Suzii Paynter delivered. In light-hearted and serious moments, CBF’s new executive coordinator…
Haiti trauma tool works in Newtown
By Bob Allen A tool designed to help pastors deal with trauma following the 2010 Haiti earthquakes is translating well into other cultures, said a Mercer University professor who used the storytelling-based exercise April 26 with clergy in the Newtown,…
Wayland fires CFO for alleged theft
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist university has fired and sued its chief financial officer over alleged financial mismanagement. Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, filed a civil lawsuit April 24 against James E. Smith in Hale County District Court,…
CBF supports Newtown-area clergy
By Bob Allen Four-and-a-half months after the mass murder of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Newtown-area chaplains, counselors and clergy gathered April 26 at a Baptist church in nearby Wilton for a conference…