By Bob Allen Faith leaders hand-delivered letters Dec. 11 asking 115 members of Congress to oppose funding cuts to Medicaid that they believe could harm Americans with disabilities. Talks in Washington to avert an impending fiscal cliff have pitted Democrats’…
Book shares struggles of Baptist women
By Jeff Brumley Growing up Baptist, Jennifer Harris Dault says her calling into the ministry was clouded by comments and assumptions along the way that the pulpit was no place for women. “I had this feeling as a kid that…
First ‘create’ cohort earns degrees
By Bob Allen Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., held a ceremony Dec. 8 for the first eight graduates of the create Program, a unique master-of-divinity degree program launched in the fall of 2009. The three-year program groups students…
Military college planned for holy mount
By Bob Allen Christian organizations around the world are asking members to sign an online petition protesting plans by Israel’s interior ministry to build a military academy on the Mount of Olives, a holy site for three world religions made…
Hong Kong Baptist U. prof censured
By Bob Allen A Hong Kong Baptist University professor will lose his job for publishing unsubstantiated claims about another university in a controversial book that has been denounced as politically motivated. Radio Television Hong Kong reported Dec. 12 that Professor…
Concerns about proposed solar project at Baptist conference center in N.C. to be aired at hearing
RIDGECREST, N.C. — A proposed solar energy project on the grounds of a Baptist conference center in western North Carolina will be considered at a public hearing Jan. 9 in Asheville, after the state’s utilities commission received complaints about the…
Accrediting agency puts Virginia Intermont on probation, cites continued financial stability concern
BRISTOL, Va. — Virginia Intermont College has been placed on probation for the next six months by its accrediting agency — the most recent action taken by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges related to the…
Tennessee Baptist leader says goodbye
By Bob Allen A past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention who served on numerous key committees over the years is saying goodbye to attendance at annual meetings, explaining the organization has become so theologically narrow that it is no…
VITAL SIGNS: Christmas lessons
Our current Christmas celebration habits are a uniquely post-World War II phenomena. Much of the excess we experience stands at odds with the way Western society approached the holiday only a few years ago. This shift has lessons for any…
Spiritual wisdom in 140 characters or less
(RNS) — The Dalai Lama has 5,702,736 followers on Twitter. How many people does he follow? Zero. Pope Benedict XVI plans to start tweeting on Dec. 12. His Twitter handle is @Pontifex, which means “bridge builder” in Latin. Benedict hasn’t…
Spiritual wisdom in 140 characters or less
(RNS) — The Dalai Lama has 5,702,736 followers on Twitter. How many people does he follow? Zero. Pope Benedict XVI plans to start tweeting on Dec. 12. His Twitter handle is @Pontifex, which means “bridge builder” in Latin. Benedict hasn’t…
Seattle church holds group wedding
By Bob Allen Twenty-five same-sex couples exchanged vows in a group wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church in Seattle Dec. 9, the first day that gays could legally marry in Washington State. Hundreds of couples stood in lines on Thursday…