By Bob Allen A majority of American adults view same-sex marriage as a civil-rights issue and nearly two-thirds believe it is inevitable that it will become legal throughout the United States, but opinions vary about what those rights should entail,…
Ex-offender ministry addresses recidivism
By Ken Camp Men just released from state prisons in Huntsville, Texas, arrived by bus in Fort Worth and gathered at the Tarrant County Probation Office. Before re-entering the free world, they heard straight talk from someone who understands what they face….
Clergy press for assault-weapon ban
By Bob Allen More than 4,000 congregational leaders have signed an open letter to U.S. senators urging them to pass comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation. The letter calls for legislation that includes a ban on assault weapons and high capacity…
Churches’ prom project reminds teenage girls that real beauty is on the inside
Two young women’s groups in different parts of Virginia recently partnered to prepare teens in Amherst and Nelson counties for a day of outer beauty — their senior prom — while also highlighting the inner beauty of women who love…
OPINION: Yoga and a Christianity for the body
I’m no yoga apologist. In fact, my wife Miska does Bikram Yoga where they heat the room to 105 degrees and then strain, contort, sweat great drops of blood and try not to collapse on the floor for one and half hours….
OPINION: Graceful ears
Even before my hair started to go and betray me, migrating lower on my face and body while my head began to show through up top, my ears have always extended at a quite profound angle. They are, in fact…
NABF retools disaster-relief network
By Jeff Brumley The stream of volunteers coming through La Place, La., these days ebbs and flows, says Reid Doster, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Louisiana. A large group of Stetson University students is currently rehabbing some of…
Church calls cops on inquiring member
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist megachurch reportedly filed a police report on a church member who raised questions about news stories alleging that nearly 25 years ago leaders of the congregation failed to alert authorities about credible accusations of…
EDITORIAL: The power of forgiveness to heal — and evangelize
“And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” — Jesus Mike Steenkamp sat erect in his South African home before the CNN camera and delivered a statement many are finding simplistic and confusing. In the…
North American Baptist Fellowship retools disaster-relief network to enhance communication
(ABP) — The stream of volunteers coming through La Place, La., these days ebbs and flows, says Reid Doster, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Louisiana. A large group of Stetson University students is currently rehabbing some of the…
HERITAGE: Faith, freedom and forgiveness
Great events assume a life of their own. It is true with weddings. They start small with the excitement of an engagement and little by little the plans develop. So it is with an event planned for three days in…
Rising stress boosts clergy depression
Bryan Hatcher was a Baptist pastor once, so he gets it when ministers buckle under the strain of long work weeks, budget pressures and that feeling of constantly being in a fish bowl. And because he has since provided years…