Baptist News Global

Mormon imagery seen in ‘Twilight’

LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Ever since Bram Stoker’s Dracula began haunting the imagination in 1897, popular culture has identified Christian symbols — crucifixes, holy water, Communion wafers — as weapons to ward off a blood-thirsty vampire. Kristen Stewart (Bella) and…

Invitation strikes sour note for Christian music festival

OSHKOSH, Wis. (ABP) — A five-day Christian music festival that kicked off July 7 in Wisconsin is being criticized for inviting progressive evangelical activist Jim Wallis to speak. At least one sponsor has pulled out of Lifest — an annual…

Jim Wallis invitation stirs controversy for Christian music festival

OSHKOSH, Wis. (ABP) — The organizers of a five-day Christian music festival that kicks off July 7 in Wisconsin are being criticized by some conservatives for inviting progressive evangelical activist Jim Wallis to speak. Jim Wallis At least one sponsor…

Baptists (Cooperative and uncooperative) face the future, Part I

(Editor’s note: This is the first of two commentaries adapted from a presentation that the author gave at a recent retreat for executives from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and its partner agencies. The second will be published tomorrow, July 7.)…

Grateful to God for America?

By David Gushee The July 4th weekend found me immersed in Christian political theology as I prepare to teach a course on this theme in Australia in a few weeks. Independence Day itself found me in one of my favorite…

ASK THE ARCHITECT: We’re ready to build! How do we go about it?

So you’re ready to build? Ah, now the fun begins! You have already recognized the need to build, formed the building committee and even selected a few subcommittees. And you have appointed that all-important prayer committee to undergird your journey. It…

Invitation to Jim Wallis strikes sour note for Christian music festival

Virginia Baptist Foundation grants scholarships to 51

RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Foundation awarded 51 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students May 23, totaling $112,860. The recpients were honored at a reception that day at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center, hosted by the Foundation’s scholarship committee. The…

For first time, interns to spend summer in worship and church music ministry

RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s office of worship and church music ministries has chosen its inaugural group of summer worship arts and music camp interns. The internship program is a new project this year and was established in…

Christian Leadership Network announces new sites

ROANOKE, Va. — Partnering with the John Leland Center, the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network will host three new teaching sites this fall semester. Undergraduate classes will be offered for the first time at Randolph Memorial Baptist Church in Madison…

OUT LOUD

“It was easily a rock concert. The only thing missing was ‘Free Bird’ and us holding up our lighters.” Scott Thumma Thumma, a professor at Hartford Seminary who studies megachurches, was recalling a visit to a youth service at a…

VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Ready for a name change

Thank you for your excellent editorial in the Herald of May 27, “Is it time for a name change?” The problem for Southern Baptists is that we have been, or we think we have been, a majority with great power…

Paxton dodges ethics questions while claiming Talarico isn’t Christian

Restored Voices Collective gets GRACE report on former board member

‘CatsOnACouch’ influencer sues over First Amendment rights

Court finds Trump and Blanche conspired to create sham IRS lawsuit