Baptist News Global

Oklahoma Baptist official supports ‘no-aid’ repeal

Oklahoma’s top Southern Baptist official is disputing a recent newspaper headline implying that many Baptist clergy oppose a proposal to repeal a prohibition in the state constitution against using taxpayer funds for religious purposes. Anthony Jordan, executive director of the…

‘Just a little touching’: My own pastor excused my sexual assault

Donald Trump has never assaulted me, but men with his sense of entitlement have. What’s even worse: The church that should have been my shelter instead armed these men with ready-made excuses for their behavior.

The shackles of shopping in the ‘land of the free’

Let’s start with the undeniable: “You are the target.” You are the subject of massive amounts of research. You cannot begin to imagine the money spent to woo you. Entire industries exist to define, stimulate and trigger your cravings. And,…

‘Alabama Baptist’ announces editor succession plan

Veteran Baptist journalist Jennifer Davis Rash has been named editor-elect of the Alabama Baptist. Rash, who has worked nearly 21 years at the Alabama Baptist Convention news journal and the last six years as executive editor, was designated to follow…

Transitions for the week of 10.14.16

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Alyssa Aldape, to First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., as associate pastor for young adult and youth ministries, effective…

Oklahoma governor urges prayer for oil industry

Oklahoma’s governor is asking citizens to pray Oct. 13 for the state’s oil industry, a major contributor to the economy recently in a downturn as crude oil prices dropped to the lowest levels in 15 years. Gov. Mary Fallin proclaimed…

InterVarsity authors and alumni protest policy terminating employees who support gay marriage

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA faced widespread backlash after it announced it would begin “involuntarily terminating” employees who support gay marriage. But the heat is rising today as influential authors and InterVarsity alumni are now publicly protesting the decision.

Speak truth to Trump

Evangelicals, of all people, should not be silent about Donald Trump’s blatant immorality.

Bridging divides in post-election season will be challenging for churches

While sociologists slice the population into thinner and thinner samples for examination, columnist and radio host Byron Williams says the most neglected — and dangerous — segment is “the Bob Dylan demographic.” Quoting a famous Bob Dylan song, Byron said,…

Calling our people into stillness is a subversive act

On a recent Thursday, my day off, I was in my pajamas, sipping coffee and reading the news on my computer when I received a text from my spiritual director, Charlotte: “You on your way?” It was 10:10 a.m. When…

First class, economy and privilege

Words like privilege, entitlement and equal access have suddenly taken on enormous significance in our culture. Until recently, I viewed myself as very egalitarian. But onboard a recent commercial flight, I learned something disturbing about myself. Maybe I’m not as…

Focus must be on behavior, not age, in shaping relevant ministry

For years now, Christian communities have been intensely focused on serving Baby Boomers, Millennials and other groups demarcated by age. But that focus alone is no longer going to cut it for churches genuinely interested in being relevant to the…

Supreme Court slides into partisanship

Before the fireworks, be careful what you drink

The contemptible case of Clarence Thomas

The permanent paradoxes of Christian thinking about war