Baptist News Global

Advocates fault new SBC president’s record on child sex abuse

Advocates for survivors of clergy sex abuse say they are disappointed the Southern Baptist Convention has elected a new president once accused of shielding a child molester. “We’re disappointed that the Southern Baptist Convention just elected Bellevue Baptist pastor Steve Gaines…

Yes, I have an agenda. There, I said it.

Nearly every time I hear the word “agenda,” it is used as an accusation, as if good and honest people would never have such a thing as an agenda, as if it is OK to do what is compassionate and…

Do only black football players sexually assault coeds at Baylor?

This is a big month in race relations among Baptists. This week at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. was a speaker, and a participant with SBC president…

Direct ministry, legislatures best tools in anti-hunger fight, advocates say

Combating hunger in the United States is a big job — but Christian leaders have identified two main strategies for that fight. And they know that when the victims of hunger involve young people, the motivation and creativity brought to bear…

SBC to consider joining National Association of Evangelicals

Traditionally known for avoiding ecumenical entanglements and limiting formal affiliations to other Baptist groups, a Southern Baptist Convention leader says it is time for American’s second-largest faith group behind Roman Catholics to consider uniting with the National Association of Evangelicals….

Southern Baptists debate resolution supporting Israel

The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution June 14 criticizing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement to put economic and political pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian lands despite objections by an Arabic pastor. Pastor Jamal Bishara…

The Pope needs to do more than kiss the disabled

There’s a long history of disability serving only as an opportunity for non-disabled people to demonstrate their piety through service, a “charity model” that ultimately still promotes otherness and exclusion.

Did Richard Dawkins hand creationists their next school strategy?

The idea that Darwinism leads one to atheism informs much of the so-called “conflict” of science and religion. The facts are simply not on its side. Nonetheless it serves as a point of consensus to attack a range of interpretations.

A time for prayer, but what kind?

Sunday night several hundred people gathered in my city to pray. We went to our prayer vigil place — the steps of the governmental plaza in Greensboro, N.C., where we’d gathered before. Some of the candles still held the wax…

Louisville and Orlando, 2016

On Nov. 17, 1999, I met Muhammad Ali. It was at the Cathedral of the Assumption on 5th Street in Louisville, Ky., in a Cathedral Heritage Series of ecumenical gatherings. I was the preacher for an interfaith Thanksgiving service, and…

Belgium-based minister helping Syrian families to safety

Four years into a multi-faceted and sustained response to “the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era,” the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is continuing its efforts to serve Syrian refugees through field personnel and ministry partners in five countries. Belgium-based field personnel…

Transitions for the week of 06.17.16

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly. STAFF CHANGES Robert H. Carpenter, to Courtland (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor. Caleb Foust, to Emerywood Baptist Church, High…

Theologizing with Larkin Poe, 10 years after Reskinned

Ministry leader with tall tales wins GOP bid for Colorado governor

What Willy Rice once knew

What I learned July 5 at church