“They stole $77,000. And that was all of my savings.” Her voice was so soft I (Doug) had to lean in to hear her. “I’ve talked with the local police, the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission. The money is...
I’m new to the “empathy is sin” debate, which has been bouncing around for years in the rightwing Christian echo chamber. It’s gained new traction in the wider culture recently as rabble rousers such as Elon Musk and JD Vance…
Multiple men have accused Michael Tait, former frontman for the contemporary Christian band Newsboys, of grooming and assaulting them as young men. The allegations are the fruit of a two-and-a-half year investigation published by The Roys Report. Although no formal…
On June 5, the world lost one of its most provocative and prophetic theological voices. Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament scholar, preacher, teacher and esteemed theologian, died at the age of 92. His death leaves a significant void in the landscape…
One of the key figures in the Southern Baptist Convention’s sexual abuse crisis has died prematurely after reportedly suffering a massive stroke days earlier. Jennifer Lyell, a former executive at the SBC’s Lifeway Christian Resources, died Saturday, June 7, at…
Truett McConnell University President Emir Caner has been placed on administrative leave while trustees wait on a third-party investigation into alleged mishandling of sexual abuse complaints at the Georgia Baptist school. University trustees met Friday morning, June 6, as fallout…
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…
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…
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,…
“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…
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…
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,…
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…
