Baptist News Global

On our doorsteps

At the Baptist World Alliance gathering held in Prague, Czech Republic, the world-wide body of Baptists considered a reply to an open letter sent last fall from Islamic religious leaders to the Christian community. The letter calls on Christians and…

SECOND OPINION: Scandal in light of private, public story

The recent spectacle of John Edwards's confession of adultery managed to be at once pathetic and instructive. While bearing in mind Lily Tomlin's observation that no matter how cynical one becomes, it's impossible to keep up, I can't imagine anyone…

OUT LOUD

“Look at the attention I get: It's because I throw a football. But that's what society values. That's not what God values. … He didn't invent the game. We did. I have some eye-hand coordination, and I can throw the…

RIGHT OR WRONG?

I've been reading a lot about whether it is right or wrong to applaud in church. Is this just a cultural issue, or is there something deeper? The preaching of John Chrysostom 1,600 years ago troubled people of nobility but…

Faith groups push to increase minimum wage to $10 an hour

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A nonpartisan coalition of more than 90 faith, community, labor and business organizations has launched an ambitious “$10 in 2010” campaign to raise the federal minimum wage within two years. The Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign…

Survey suggests ‘unchurched’ represent a pretty fluid group

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A new survey shows that “unchurched” Americans may be worshipping more, and “churched” Americans worshipping less, than many people might think. Numerous surveys track trends among “unchurched” Americans, but what does “unchurched” really mean? Does it mean…

Faith no laughing matter, court says

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — Making jokes and comments about a person's religion can create a “humiliating and painful environment” and be a form of on-the-job discrimination, New Jersey's highest court recently ruled. The New Jersey Supreme Court said remarks about…

Reading the Bible anew — with the chronology clarified

Bob Sanford wanted to create a Bible that would bring order and clarity to the text. Instead, he's waded right into one of the great debates of biblical scholarship. The Chronological Study Bible will be released this fall in the…

FAITH DIGEST

Airport renamed for civil rights pastor. The Birmingham Airport Authority has voted to rename Alabama's largest airport for civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth. Shuttlesworth, 86, grew up in Birmingham and was pastor of Baptist churches in Birmingham and Cincinnati. He…

Former planter files libel suit against Texas Baptists

EDINBURG, Texas (ABP) — A former Hispanic church planter implicated in a 2006 Baptist General Convention of Texas scandal has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BGCT and several other Texas Baptist entities and individuals. Otto Arango, founder of the…

Baptist Youth World Conference attracts 6,000 to German city

More than 6,000 youth from nearly 90 countries gathered in the Leipzig Congress Center in eastern Germany for the opening session of the 15th Baptist Youth World Conference last month. The conference, held every five years, is the largest global…

Not just another conference

Recently, I attended the Baptist Youth World Conference in Leipzig, Germany. Now, if you think this was just another church conference, or youth group meeting, well then you are entirely wrong. From opening to closing day, it was an exciting…

Lindsey Graham spoke at Baptist church a week before his death

When leaders know better but choose a different path

On the death of Lindsey Graham

Farewell, Three Amigos