LIBERTY, Mo.—When a church consultant recommended to Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., that its senior minister needed an additional venue—other than the pulpit—to connect to its members, the church's media minister pushed Pastor Jason Edwards to consider a video…
EDITORIAL: Rogue soldiers
As if tensions in Afghanistan were not high enough over the burning of Korans, a soldier left his base and went on a murderous rampage in a village killing 16, mostly women and children. Afghanis are shocked and furious, and…
TRENDING: Heterogeneity and frequency
Recently, the Rainer Research Group released a futurist study on what they believe to be 10 unexpected trends in church-life by the year 2020 (www.churchexecutive.com). In coming issues, I want to explore a few of those trends. John Chandler Heterogeneity…
VITAL SIGNS: New clergy deserve a chance
A recent column on the surge of churches calling pastors in their fifth decade evoked a wide range of responses. Many came from mid-career clergy who offered a hearty “Amen” and were grateful for the news that their sense of…
OPINION: Imagining a statue of forgiveness
A few weeks ago my family toured the battlefield of Gettysburg National Military Park. About a month beforehand, my 14-year-old son read Killer Angels, a classic novel of the Civil War and he surprised all of us, including our licensed…
Former ‘Seeds’ publisher, Carter Center staffer joins Baptist hospital
By Bob Allen Former Carter Center adviser and one-time magazine publisher Gary Gunderson has been named vice president for faith and health ministries at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Gary Gunderson Gunderson comes from a similar post at Methodist LeBonheur…
Baptists protest violence in Syria
By Bob Allen Leaders of three British religious bodies issued a joint statement March 15 calling on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Syria’s violent suppression of a year-long uprising that has left more than 8,000 dead. Jonathan Edwards…
Mississippi Baptists back abortion limits
By Bob Allen After endorsing a failed “personhood” amendment to the state constitution last fall, Mississippi Baptist leaders are now backing legislation that observers say could shut down the state’s only abortion clinic. Passed by Mississippi’s House of Representatives March…
Obama appeals to ‘social gospel’
By Bob Allen President Obama denied March 12 that he is “waging a war on religion,” citing his own work as a community organizer before entering politics as part of the “social gospel.” Asked in a White House interview with…
Baptist leader says gay marriage an issue of justice
By Bob Allen The gay-marriage debate is about far more than sex, says a leader of one of three Baptist groups working together to defeat an upcoming vote to amend North Carolina’s constitution to recognize marriage as only between a…
British Baptists face budget shortfall
By Bob Allen The Baptist Union of Great Britain faces likely cutbacks as leaders project that financial support from Baptist churches will continue to decline. The Baptist Union Council heard March 12 about a deficit of 685,503 British pounds –…
Luter says his election would improve SBC’s image on race
By Bob Allen A New Orleans pastor seeking to become the Southern Baptist Convention’s first black president says his election would add credibility to a 1995 resolution that apologized for the denomination’s past support of slavery and segregation. Fred Luter…