With a population of 3,400, you wouldn’t expect Allendale, South Carolina to bring much to the table when it comes to welcoming the stranger. This area has been noted numerous times as the poorest county in the state. They do not like…
Perspectives on Immigration: cultural concerns
Immigration reform is an issue making headlines in our nation. Both sides of the political aisle discuss and debate the best way forward for the nation, while seeking to preserve both the laws of our land and the dignity of…
Marriage in the New Testament
By Miguel De La Torre The concept of marriage in which women were relegated to property evolved from the Hebrew Bible by the time we get to the New Testament. The New Testament discouraged marriage, placing it secondary to a…
A new theme song for CBF?
On a recent Sunday, our church choir sang “Find Us Faithful” as the anthem in the traditional worship service. I have always liked this song that was written by Jon Mohr and popularized by Steve Green. In fact, we used…
Remembering C. Everett Koop (and Lewis Smedes)
By Roger Olson Yesterday, Monday, Feb. 25, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died at his home in New Hampshire. He was 96. Anyone who paid attention to public controversies knew of him in the 1980s as a rock-ribbed…
If you can say it to Jesus, you can say it to anyone
One of my mentors in the area of conflict mediation was Bill Treadwell. I loved that guy. I miss him. He had so much wisdom about how to deal with people in congregations. He was as much right-brained as I…
The new civil rights movement?
Despite what almost every single church sign says, openly LGBT people are NOT welcomed in most churches across the South and across America. Richard “Dick” Brogan was a personal friend and one of my heroes. Dick was a white Mississippi Baptist…
The surrender principle
By Bill Wilson A striking phrase from Luke 9:51-53 describes Jesus as “turning his face toward Jerusalem.” This implies a resoluteness of intent and a high degree of commitment to a divine agenda. Nothing was going to dissuade Jesus from…
Spiritual genius — an evening with Krista Tippett
Human beings are the earth’s most complex and perplexing creatures. The human creature remains a mystery that can’t yet be solved or understood in its many depths. Thus began Krista Tippett in her talk Tuesday evening at Luther Seminary in Saint…
Gay are called to bring message of redemption
I met Tommy (not his real name) back in the 1980s at our local church where I served as deacon and Sunday school teacher. We became close friends and talked about many things. Both of us being young and single,…
The future of CBF and the matter of legacy
By David Burroughs The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a movement started by the people who stepped away from oppression and made some bold decisions about our future 22 years ago at our founding. We were not going to be a…
Reflections on the pope’s resignation
Today was a good day, the kind of day that someone like me, an academician, would consider an ideal day. After completing my morning chores, I headed to the library of one of the local Catholic seminaries to get immersed…