Conflict over sexual abuse claims at one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in Arkansas continues to make front-page headlines in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which has published 25 articles about Immanuel Baptist Church since December. Seven of those articles have…
New lawsuit against SBC and four churches alleges systemic negligence on sexual abuse
The concept of whether the Southern Baptist Convention is a unified church that can be held liable for sexual abuse that happens in individual congregations will be put to the test yet again in a new lawsuit filed in U.S….
Study finds America’s faithful are philanthropists
People and institutions of faith helped reshape American philanthropy in 2023 despite the nation’s daunting economic, political and social challenges, according to the latest “Giving in Faith” report from Givelify and the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving. The survey…
Immigration advocates offer blistering assessment of Senate immigration bill
Immigrant rights groups responded mostly with blistering condemnations to a new U.S. Senate supplemental funding plan that proposes major changes to U.S. immigration and asylum policies in exchange for military aid to Ukraine and Israel. While the $118 billion measure…
Prayer meets politics at U.S. House of Representatives
Prayers have been ringing out in the halls of Congress, gladdening the hearts of those who believe America was and should be a Christian nation. The latest version of the half-century-old National Prayer Breakfast lacked the scandals and partisan fireworks…
Former county clerk faces trial on election interference while claiming God is on her side
Tina Peters, a crusading promoter of election fraud claims and former Mesa County Clerk, begins her jury trial Friday, Feb. 9, in Grand Junction, Colo. The area is represented by firebrand congresswoman Rep. Lauren Boebert, whose staff has aided Peters’…
Abortion now more important to Democrats than Republicans as a voting essential
The issue of abortion is more important to Democrats than it is for Republicans when choosing political candidates heading into the 2024 election, according to a study by Public Religion Research Institute. The PRRI-Brookings Institution survey of 2,500 U.S. adults…
Defeating authoritarian impulses requires a broad coalition, strategist says
It will take a broad coalition of Americans willing to set aside political and cultural differences to defeat the growing authoritarian movement bent on undermining constitutional freedoms, pro-democracy activist Chris Crawford said on the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty’s…
From a church stairwell to the national stage, Kings Return redefines harmony
When the acapella quartet Kings Return started in 2016, it was to help one of its members fulfill a requirement to graduate from Dallas Baptist University. Today, the group is nationally known and just completed a Christmas tour. As Gabe…