Baptist News Global

Will the SBC keep Lakepointe after kicking out Saddleback?

Given how often Dallas megachurch pastors have been in the news for abuse scandals or for run-of-the-mill sacralized misogyny over the past year, it’s only fitting that the Southern Baptist Convention would host its 2025 annual meeting in Dallas. When…

Supreme Court sides with Catholic Charities in tax case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court erred in not granting a Catholic social agency the same exemption from state unemployment assistance taxes enjoyed by churches, religious schools and other faith groups, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 5. The unanimous opinion written…

‘No vouchers, no cuts’ rally opposes ‘big beautiful bill’

A coalition of education and religious freedom groups rallied near the U.S. Capitol urging senators to defeat a Republican spending plan that would create a federal school voucher program and impose deep cuts to social service programs like Medicaid. “Today,…

Remembering Walter Brueggemann (1933–2025)

“You are afraid of the text.” He paused. “You are afraid of what the Bible says.” Again, a pause. “You are afraid of the what the Bible says because you are afraid of what the Bible will ask you to…

For abuse survivors, SBC meeting brings pain and lessons

When the Southern Baptist Convention meets next week in Dallas, many clergy sex abuse survivors will feel the hurt and betrayal of it. This will be the first SBC annual meeting since Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg made it clear…

New US travel ban will harm The United Methodist Church

President Donald Trump’s announced travel ban will harm members of The United Methodist Church and its far-flung ministries significantly if allowed to stand. According to the newsletter 1440: “Countries whose foreign nationals will be banned are Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad,…

I’m a Christian teacher who opposes posting the Ten Commandments

Eleven years ago, I began my career as a high school English teacher at a school smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt. It was the same sort of school that would be required to display the Ten…

Prosecution might still be an option in Truett McConnell abuse case

As students and alumni of Truett McConnell University gathered for the first of two planned events to protest alleged mishandling of sexual abuse cases at the Baptist school June 5, news came that one of the alleged perpetrators could yet…

‘This is not the way of peace,’ Boulder Baptist pastor says after attack

The pastor of a Baptist church located just blocks from a violent attack on Jews last Sunday told his congregation, “We must not conflate Jewish people or Judaism with the Israeli government, though we can and should condemn antisemitism and…

A word for the church in a time of collapse

In 2021, I published “The Fight for the Soul of America,” an op-ed warning that our country was not simply in political turmoil — it was in spiritual crisis. Four years later, that warning has proved tragically prescient. Today, I…

BJC leader calls Trump’s new travel ban ‘dangerous and discriminatory’

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban against nationals from a dozen countries is “dangerous and discriminatory” and is a significant threat to religious freedom, according to Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler said the ban,…

Tulsa takes a historic step

Tulsa, Okla. — once infamous for the 1921 Greenwood Massacre — is now taking bold steps toward something America has delayed far too long: reparations for Black Americans. And that’s a good thing. A very good thing. The announcement of…

‘Be careful of Scripture heavy in law but light on grace,’ Wesley warns

‘Show up and do something,’ ACLU leader urges

From the South Side to the South Lawn and back again

Democracy as a moral practice, not just a system