Baptist News Global

Transitions for the week of 03.10.17

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Phil Carpenter, concluding his tenure as minister of music at United Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., to accept a…

Pontificate with caution (or not at all)

We all pontificate, those times when we “speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way.” Like the pastor who entered the pulpit one Sunday and declared: “I had a great sermon on humility for today. But the crowd…

Jesus and the Virgin Mary … in the Quran? A study of the true definition of ‘family.’

There are many great universal truths in this life. For example: Never trust a dog to watch your food. Or the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket….

CEO-style pastorates all the rage but offer little to those seeking deeper faith

Most pastors have had administrative responsibilities. But experts say it has gone well beyond that for ministers who are facing increasing pressure to act more like chief executive officers than pastors. Congregations concerned about dwindling numbers — both on the rolls…

Seminarians push back at former SBC president escrowing Cooperative Program funds

Former Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham was greeted by students wearing “I Love CP” t-shirts and an open letter voicing concern about his Texas megachurch’s decision to temporarily withhold funding for the denomination when he spoke in chapel March…

When Christianity co-opts justice movements

We as Christians have irresponsibly thrown around the term “justice” to describe various types of ministries that we as Christians are involved with. We must acknowledge that justice and charity aren’t interchangeable notions.

Dutch treat: Betsy DeVos and the Christian schools movement

Betsy DeVos is the now-very-public face of what has been a quiet but powerful drive for taxpayer-supported religious schooling carried on by one of America’s least-understood ethnic tribes, the Dutch Calvinists of the Upper Midwest.

There is nothing too good for the poor

A wealthy woman once gave Dorothy Day a diamond ring as a gift to help support the work of the Catholic Worker. According to some other workers, she slipped it into her pocket for a little while. A short time…

Uproar over theology misses powerful lesson on grief, healing in ‘The Shack’

The movie reviewer side of Michael Parnell is so-so on the film The Shack as a cinematic production. “It’s OK — I’ll just say that,” said Parnell, who writes film reviews for EthicsDaily.com. The pastor side of Parnell is more passionate…

This Lent, I’m giving up apologizing for other Christians

Some of this year’s most popular Lent sacrifices are booze, social media, and Donald Trump. But I’ve decided to go a different direction and give up saying I’m sorry for all the Christian crap out there.

I’ve worn ash on my head on ESPN for 16 years. This year was different.

I’ve been on national television for 16 years and for all 16 I wore an ash on Ash Wednesday. It’s shocking to me that I’m one of the few faces you see on TV wearing an ash.

Faith groups: new immigration order still anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant

Federal judges may find the President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration more acceptable than the last. But many religious groups and faith leaders see no meaningful difference in the new measure, which Trump signed privately March 6.

An American experiment: 250 years of trying

10 reasons America is not a ‘Christian nation’

American Dominion traces deep roots of Seven Mountain Mandate

Lindsey Graham and the history of ‘widow’s succession’