Baptist News Global

What is ‘religion’? From football to faith to faithfulness

In my home state, folks make regular pilgrimages to a revered shrine where they engage in rituals, sing songs, pray, engage in charismatic hand lifting, and often speak in mysterious tongues indiscernible to outsiders. Sometimes adherents express the ecstasy of…

Of Elisabeth Elliot, Beth Allison Barr, Kristin Du Mez and Karen Swallow Prior and who gets a seat at the table

It seems no matter what table a Christian chooses to sit at these days, powerful men are determining who gets a seat, when they can talk and what stories they’re allowed to tell. This marginalization of voices on the underside…

Americans are not safer because of failed prison policies, but there is a better way, speakers urge

The nation’s criminal legal system fails to lower crime rates or bring healing to victims and communities because its chief aim is retaliation instead of restoration, according to an expert on alternatives to mass incarceration. Courts, jails and prisons utilize…

Even as others knew of allegations against Pressler, Texas House resolution praised him as ‘man of faith’

Nine years after leaders at First Baptist Church of Houston were told about allegations against Paul Pressler for sexually abusing boys and young men, the Texas House of Representatives passed a lengthy resolution of praise for the Houston judge and…

SBC Executive Committee financials missing from online report for third year, while 2022 audit shows trajectory that is ‘not sustainable’

For the third year running, financial reports from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee are missing from the annual SBC Ministry Reports website. An introductory paragraph to the website says: “The 2024 Ministry Report is the compilation of SBC entity…

Kentucky Supreme Court denies abuse victim’s plea, siding with four SBC entities who were not parties to the case

The Kentucky Supreme Court has sided with four Southern Baptist Convention entities that — among others — sought to deny a sexual abuse victim an extension of the statute of limitations to file a claim against those she believes knew…

Staff member fired from Fuller Seminary explains why she couldn’t sign the statement of faith anymore

Ruth Schmidt considered herself a loyal member of the team at Fuller Seminary — until she was dismissed because she refused to re-sign the school’s statement of faith, which prohibits affirmation of same-sex marriage. When she came to Fuller in…

Ecumenical group gathers at border wall to share Communion and demonstrate unity

An ecumenical network of Caribbean, Latin American and U.S. religious groups expanded its commitment to serving migrants throughout the region during a four-day gathering in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Ruben Ortiz, Latino field ministries coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, served…

A geezer Valentine for Lent

It’s Valentine’s Day, and Ash Wednesday. I’m sitting in the waiting room of my urologist, watching an endless procession of old men come and go. I’m one of them: the brotherhood of enlarged prostates and the thousand other natural shocks…

Here’s the real reason Hegseth should not be confirmed

McCartney inspired Christian men’s movement

Study explores American views on both parties’ ‘brands’

Has growth of unpartnered adults in US hit a wall?