Reading Ryan Stollar’s final message through the lens of trauma

Note: This article discusses suicide, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. It may be distressing for some readers. On June 30, child liberation theologian and abuse survivor advocate Ryan Stollar died by suicide, following a lengthy struggle with his...

Analysis Josh Olds

Featured

Baptist students uniting across U.S.-Mexican border

Medical, construction, teaching and ministry are some of the skills often needed in mission settings. But henna storytelling? It is when Neiby Rodriguez participates in missions. The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley student tells Bible stories using henna,…

Transitions for the week of 07.08.16

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Mike Abbamonte, resigning as pastor of the west campus of Atlee Community Church, Mechanicsville, Va., to accept a…

Analysis: A timeline of CBF’s LGBTQ debate

Recent weeks have seen renewed interest in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s 16-year-old policy that prohibits the intentional hiring of non-celibate gays and lesbians. Here’s a recap of how the 1,800-church Fellowship got to where it is today on the LGBTQ question,…

Another legal win for Missouri Baptists in case against breakaway groups

The Western District Court of Appeals in Kansas City, Mo., on July 5 overruled and denied motions by the Missouri Baptist Foundation for the court to either rehear the Missouri Baptist Convention’s case against it or transfer the matter to…

Prayers for Baton Rouge

Today, we mourn, cry out, and acknowledge that we are weary indeed. But Scripture reminds us that when we call upon the Lord, our strength will be renewed. So today, we will also call upon the Lord, and claim our…

Elie Wiesel: cutting and keeping

Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel laureate, Andrew Mellow Professor of Humanities at Boston University, died July 2 at age 87. Had the Nazis had their way, he would never have survived past age 16, when the Allied troops liberated Buchenwald…

Still learning to see the third time across the Brooklyn Bridge

I like running to Manhattan and I love running back to Brooklyn — though running may not be the right word. I have trotted across the Brooklyn Bridge three times. I go slow enough not to miss much. According to…

Preaching with a prayer list

In seminary, I avoided taking the preaching courses until the very end. Instead, I preferred to preach the gospel to empty pews in our chapel on my lunch break and in between classes. In fact, I would offer the hymn…

Separating mission and spiritual formation is bad strategy, say ministers

If he had a magic wand, Trey Lyon says he would likely transform the way churches conceive, fund and experience mission and spiritual formation. Basically, he would combine them. “I would love to see churches with ministers of mission and spiritual…

BJC says churches not entitled to taxpayer funds

Missouri’s ban on taxpayer funding for churches does not represent hostility toward religion but rather is a time-tested means of protecting religious liberty and the separation of church and state, claims a new brief filed at the U.S. Supreme Court…

Unprohibited speech

There’s no law against religious leaders and religious organizations speaking and living out the truths that are rooted in their faith.

Who is the Samaritan?

An ancient tension in Christian discipleship often trips us up. Are we capable of doing what God asks us to do? If we are, why do we not follow the divine guidance more? This debate is as old as Augustine…