Baptist News Global

Transitions for the week of 11.24.16

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Rothangliani Chhangte, to American Baptist Home Mission Societies, as special assistant to the executive director for strategic priorities…

Recovering the soul of the Church

Jesus and his disciples were truly the “silent majority” in ancient Roman-occupied Palestine. It was inhabited mostly by Jews who were allowed to exist but had no political power and paid taxes from which they did not benefit. They were…

Under Trump, expect ranks of faith-based environmental protesters to swell

Some leaders of creation-care causes say anticipated rollbacks in anti-global warming policies and treaties, boosts in pipeline construction and fossil fuels use will generate sharp reactions by dedicated activists and inspire others to join the movement.

Faith leaders say Trump building a ‘cabinet of bigotry’

More than 1,500 interfaith leaders charged President-elect Donald Trump with building a “cabinet of bigotry” in an online petition released Nov. 22. About 40 of the signers identify as Baptist, with affiliations including the Alliance of Baptists, the American Baptist…

BWA head announces plans to retire

Neville Callam, ninth general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance and the first non-white to head the global alliance of Baptist conventions and unions founded in 1905, has announced plans to retire at the end of 2017. Policies of the organization…

How technology helped Martin Luther change Christianity

Luther’s spectacular success was in large part a propaganda phenomenon. His broadside against Catholic Church practices might have gone unnoticed were it not for the introduction a few decades earlier of a new technology: the printing press.

‘Sanctuary churches’ vow to shield immigrants from Trump crackdown

During his campaign, Donald Trump vowed to deport an estimated 11 million foreigners. Since his election victory, he said he would immediately deport 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of crimes.

Keeping awake to the power of kindness, civility and nonviolent protest

One of my favorite cartoons depicts two little creatures watching the ark pull away from the shore. One remarks to the other, “Oh, shoot. Was that today?” Apparently they are the only ones who miss the departure. The Gospel reading…

Sanded glass churches

On our family beach trip this past summer, our grandchildren discovered sea glass. For our five preschoolers, it was like finding treasure. In fact, that’s what they called it: “Let’s go find some more treasures!” You probably know that the…

Missionary uses partnership to fight poverty in rural Kentucky

In southern Kentucky, where poverty means prey, Scarlette Jasper is hard at work. Through education, housing assistance and developing the assets of local residents, Jasper is working to repair lives broken by rural poverty.

Murder trial for Alabama minister pushed back to May

An Alabama judge has granted a request to give lawyers more time to prepare their defense for a former Southern Baptist minister charged with murdering his wife nearly three-and-a-half years ago. The trial against Richard Shahan, former pastor to children…

Jerry Falwell Jr. emerges as possible Trump cabinet pick

One of Donald Trump’s earliest evangelical supporters is expected to be rewarded with a role in the next administration. The News & Advance in in Lynchburg, Va., reported Nov. 17 that Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. visited Trump Tower…

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’