By Jim Denison In the aftermath of the Florida presidential primary, this headline caught my eye: “The Republican Florida Primary Was the Most Negative Ever in Terms of Ads.” One analysis indicates that 92 percent of the ads aired during…
Joining Baptists in defeating NC Amendment One
By Susan Parker and Angela Yarber A few weeks ago we were invited to teach a class of clergy about North Carolina Amendment One, a measure on the ballot May 8 that would define marriage as only between one man…
A shelter for conscience
By Bill Leonard Sometimes universities confront historic moments when their identity is put to the test, occasions that challenge a school’s public character, and require it to reexamine its mission in the world. The appointment of Imam Khalid Griggs as…
Our bodies do matter
By Elizabeth Evans Hagan First Corinthians 6:11-20 can be the preacher’s worst nightmare — a passage full of directives about sex, food and all things bodily. Yet, I chose it as part of a six-part series about God’s calling on…
Sex and covenant conference a rare opportunity
By David Gushee One reason to register now is because we are planning “covenant community groups” as our means of organizing conversations after each plenary session. These small groups will be led by trained facilitators. We need to know as…
Baptists, atheists share common story
By Zachary Bailes The New York Times shares the story of Jessica Ahlquist, 16, who lives in Cranston, R.I., enjoys Harry Potter, and is an atheist. She also happens to be on the winning side of a lawsuit against the…
What is good preaching?
By Amy Butler This week I began teaching a preaching practicum at a local seminary. As a place to start, my students received and turned in the assignment of a short reflection paper on one of my favorite topics, “What…
Winning with racism
By Laura Rector Somewhere in a closet at my parents’ house in Kentucky hangs a George H.W. Bush shirt from my high school days. On one occasion in my early 20s, I skipped church to pass out flyers with Right…
America is drunk
By Jim Denison Ablow cites new data from the Centers for Disease Control revealing that one in six Americans downs eight mixed drinks within a few hours, four times a month. Twenty-eight percent of young people between the ages of…