Beginning today, Associated Baptist Press will publish one or more blogs daily, Monday through Friday, submitted by a variety of lay and ordained writers on www.baptistnews.com/blog. Topics will be as varied as the contributors themselves, ranging from social issues and spiritual…
The new face of interfaith dialogue
Interfaith dialogue is on the rise, not just in formal conversations led by judicatory leaders but in local communities where friendships forge as ministers of various faiths work together for common goals amid increasing religious diversity in the Bible belt….
The new face of interfaith dialogue
By Jeff Brumley Interfaith dialogue is on the rise, not just in formal conversations led by judicatory leaders but in local communities where friendships forge as ministers of various faiths work together for common goals amid increasing religious diversity in…
Former Herald editor Julian Pentecost dies at 88
RICHMOND, Va.—Julian H. Pentecost, editor of the Religious Herald during one of the most tumultuous periods of Baptist history in the American South, died May 31. He was 88. Pentecost was editor of the Herald in 1980s, a decade of…
Young leaders embrace Baptist identity of freedom
RICHMOND, Va. — Freedom. For six younger Baptist leaders that is the most compelling characteristic of Baptist identity. These two women and four men participated in a panel discussion organized by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies and held…
North Carolina network has eyes to see region’s poor
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — The demographics of Halifax County, N.C., are appalling. Unemployment is above 13 percent and one resident in four earns income below the poverty line. The county is part of the fourth poorest congressional district in the…
Baptist group denounces ‘hate speech’
By Bob Allen The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists called June 1 for Baptist leaders across all traditions to denounce rhetoric from Baptist pulpits promoting violence and even genocide against gays. Robin Lunn, executive director of the Kensington, Md.-based…
Trustees cancel Richard Land’s radio show
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is pulling the plug on agency head Richard Land’s radio show over recent controversial remarks about the Trayvon Martin killing. The ERLC’s trustee executive committee announced June 1…
BWA sends funds to burned-out refugees
By Bob Allen The Baptist World Alliance has sent $25,000 in emergency financial aid to help rebuild a Baptist-run school at a refugee camp along the Thai-Burmese border destroyed by fire in April. The money sent through Baptist World Aid…
Pastor says gays should be put to death
By Bob Allen A Baptist pastor in Kansas is taking heat for suggesting the government should execute homosexuals in an audio clip from his Sunday sermon making the rounds on the Internet. Curtis Knapp, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church…
Pastor defends NAACP marriage stance
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister and board member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said May 26 it would have been hypocritical for the 103-year-old civil-rights organization not to pass its recent resolution supporting marriage…
Baptist leader endorses Catholic campaign
By Bob Allen Southern Baptists’ top spokesman for religious-liberty concerns voiced support May 26 for Catholics across the country gearing up for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a two-week national campaign of special liturgies, prayer services and other events leading up…