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...
“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…
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…
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…
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…
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, 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…
As LGBTQ Americans and their allies begin Pride month celebrations, there’s further evidence of a disconnect with conservative voters, no doubt driven by the evangelical base of the Republican Party. While overall support for same-sex marriage remains steady, support is…
Trustees of Truett McConnell University are meeting Friday to discuss charges of alleged sexual abuse against Hayle Swinson, a former student and later employee, committed by a former university vice president. Valdosta, Ga., trustee B. Miles Hannan confirmed the meeting…
A pastor who previously served several prominent Baptist churches in Texas, Georgia and Virginia is being held in the Denton County, Texas, jail on a $500,000 bond while facing charges of possession of child pornography. Denton County public records show…
