When we — Baptists and Methodists — were all evangelical

It may now seem surprising to many United Methodists, and even more Baptists, that for most of our histories in the United States, all Methodists and Baptists were regularly designated as evangelical denominations. The most important reason is that both...

Analysis Lovett H. Weems Jr.

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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: An alternative Christian model in a polarized era

By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee Though I am serving this year as theologian-in-residence for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, this reflection on the annual CBF General Assembly this past week represents my independent, unvetted opinion. I write on the day…

The rearview mirror

By Bill Wilson These were hard conversations. This minister had been dismissed from his church many months ago, but the wounds had refused to heal. Hurtful things were said, friendships were broken, trust was betrayed and he walked away wounded…

Justice blundered

By Eileen Campbell-Reed Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down a decision on the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case that allows family businesses as “closely held corporations” to deny coverage for the reproductive health of their employees. As a Baptist minister…

Hobby Lobby wins contraceptive case

By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 30 that the Baptist owners of Hobby Lobby cannot be forced by the government to provide employees with health insurance that covers methods of birth control that they believe cause an…

White House aide, BJC alum, honored at CBF

By Bob Allen Presidential assistant Melissa Rogers credited the Baptist heritage of defending religious liberty and the separation of church and state with shaping her work as head of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships June 27…

Will you be known when you die?

By Mark Wingfield Years ago, there was a national ad campaign aimed at helping Americans understand the importance of going to church. One of my favorite ads in the series showed pallbearers carrying a casket in the front door of…

I fought the law, and the law was unfair

By Joe Phelps In January I was ticketed for failing to follow directions at the scene of an accident. I was innocent, I tell you. I know. Everyone says that. But righteous indignation compelled me to have my day in…

On eve of Supreme Court ruling, Americans oppose contraceptive ban: poll

Hobby Lobby: the Bible verses behind the battle

Pope says communists are closet Christians