Baptist News Global

McCain’s faith: Pastor describes senator as devout, but low-key

Editor's note: This story corrects and updates one issued under the same headline April 8. PHOENIX (ABP) — John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man McCain…

Historic Wisconsin church destroyed in gas explosion

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (ABP) — American Baptist Churches USA officials have sent aid in the aftermath of a gas blast that leveled the nearly century-old sanctuary of one of their churches. First Baptist Church of Oconomowoc, Wis., was destroyed in the…

Fundamentalists of all stripes want to turn back the clock

Despite all their theological and cultural differences, fundamentalists of every faith share at least one common characteristic — resistance to modernity. That's the assessment of scholars and firsthand observers who have evaluated the varieties of religious expression. “Fundamentalism worldwide is…

Beliefs alone not to blame when faith turns violent, scholars say

ATLANTA (ABP) — Every faith group has its extremists, but not all extremists turn violent. What makes the difference? While most religious violence follows common patterns, faith seldom turns violent except in response to social oppression, say experts who study…

Fundamentalist now applies to ‘other groups that scare us’

Were the 9/11 terrorists who flew airplanes into the Twin Towers fundamentalists? Technically, no. Practically, yes. “Fundamentalism” specifically refers to a conservative movement within U.S. Protestant Christianity that began about a century ago, scholars agree. But they concede the term…

Top 100 churches in total Cooperative Missions giving in 2007 listed

First Baptist Church in Alexandria led churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia last year in contributions to the Cooperative Missions. Rounding out the top 10 churches in total CM gifts were Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond,…

Bluefield College unveils new published history of the school

BLUEFIELD — Lighthouse on the Hill: The Bluefield College Story is now available for sale to the public. The book, the school's first published history since 1972, was originally unveiled to alumni, faculty, staff and students during the college's Homecoming…

Will Baptists be counted in the ‘evangelical center’?

If an “evangelical center” emerges from the current shake-up in American politics, will moderate Baptists be part of it? It depends on how comfortable moderate Baptists are with being considered “evangelicals” in the first place. Moderate and progressive Baptists certainly…

EDITORIAL: How far should understanding go?

If you are like me, you have grown weary of hearing the comments of Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Still, something about his comments and the story are so compelling that I can't leave them alone. I understand that…

Freedom of the Spirit

Next week, on Friday, April 11, the University of Richmond inaugurates its ninth president, Edward Ayers, who is an historian by profession. Ever since its humble yet hopeful beginnings, the University of Richmond (as academy, seminary, college and, since 1920,…

SECOND OPINION: Can we at least talk about it?

I'm one of the few leaders in Baptist life with the freedom to talk openly and honestly about the complex theological, moral, pastoral, and public policy issues raised by homosexuality without destroying myself professionally. Because I hold a tenured professorship…

OUT LOUD

“Sen. Richard Lugar … is [a] member of our congregation, and I would hope that he would never be held accountable for everything I have said in the last 15 years. Why is there any assumption that a person in…

What Disclosure Day reveals about evangelicals’ fears

Insufficient

6 ways the Reflecting Pool boondoggle mirrors Trump and MAGA

Pilate asked Jesus, ‘What is truth?’