Baptist News Global

WINN RECOMMENDS

The Republic of Grace: Augustinian Thoughts for Dark Times, Charles Mathewes (Eerdmans) St. Augustine lived in a time when the empire was crumbling and the world was convulsing with rapid change. Old values were being demolished while new religious beliefs…

Evangelical leader Leith Anderson to retire from Minnesota pulpit

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (RNS) — Evangelical leader Leith Anderson has announced plans to retire as senior pastor of his Eden Prairie, Minn., megachurch. Leith Anderson Anderson will end his 35-year pastoral leadership of the 5,000-member Wooddale Church at the end…

HERITAGE: The stuff of compassion

In the beginning the Baptist churches were collections of like-minded believers who primarily gathered in what they preferred to call “meeting houses” for worship and secondarily for sustaining fellowship with one another. They also extended Christian concern to the needy…

HeraldBeat

Transitions ON THE MOVE Rocky Sutphin, to Mount Hebron Baptist Church, Floyd, Va., as pastor. Andy Oliver, to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Shelby, N.C., as pastor. Angela Yarber, to Wake Forest Baptist Church, Wake Forest, N.C., as pastor of preaching….

OPINION: Goodbye, Sears!

I am a member of that generation that remembers the big full-color Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog — especially the big Christmas “wish book.” When it arrived, everyone took their turns looking through it. Hardware, clothing, appliances, kitchenware, sporting goods,…

Patriotism, spiritual ties may pull Christians in opposite directions

RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — When war erupted between Russia and Georgia in 2008, repercussions included more than the 2,000 deaths and tens of thousands of refugees attributed to the conflict. Casualties also included relations between the two countries’ Baptist fellowships,…

One Nation Under God

ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — When American Christians pledge allegiance to their nation and its flag—sometimes in worship services—does that reflect narrow nationalism or proper patriotism? Some Baptists believe it all hinges on how they interpret “one nation under God.” Nationalism,…

Hispanic Convention creates its own governing board

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ABP) — Standing at the start of its second century, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas voted to incorporate the body into a nonprofit organization with its own executive board. Convention president Jesse Rincones said the decision…

Does the Star-Spangled Banner belong in the church sanctuary?

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Christians should express love for country, experts on the intersection of Christianity and public life agree, but they advise caution in how churches demonstrate patriotism in worship settings. Patriotic music, flag displays, recognition of veterans’ sacrifice and…

Civil religion: Lowest common denominator or common ground?

ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — Some Baptists see civil religion as bland at best and idolatrous at worst. But others view broadly shared values of liberty, justice and acknowledgement of God’s providential care as a common ground Christians share with a…

Baptists should understand, teach church-state separation

ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — Because of their historic commitment to religious liberty and separation of church and state, Baptists have a responsibility to educate their fellow citizens what those concepts mean, church historian Jim Spivey said. “Separation of church from…

Central Seminary launches full teaching center in Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) – Six years after starting as a pilot project, Central Baptist Theological Seminary’s center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., is now fully accredited to award the master of divinity and diploma in theology degrees. That means quality theological education…

‘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