Baptist News Global

Baptist educator joins Bluefield College as vice president for enrollment

Bluefield College recently welcomed a new vice president to manage recruitment and enrollment initiatives for the school. Toby Ziglar, an admissions director and former college professor and pastor with strong ties to Virginia Baptists, joined the BC family Aug. 1…

Another prominent SBC church beset by strife

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The integrity of another prominent Southern Baptist pastor has been called into question by members of his megachurch — this one in the shadow of the Southern Baptist Convention's headquarters. Local and national news agencies have…

Historic First Baptist of Dallas names Robert Jeffress as senior pastor

DALLAS (ABP) — First Baptist Church in Dallas has called one of its own products, Robert Jeffress, to become its new senior pastor. According to a statement on the church's website, more than 3,000 congregants affirmed the 51-year-old at an…

Will Huckabee’s strong showing bring support to campaign?

WASHINGTON — Could a Baptist preacher become the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee — or more? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's surprisingly strong showing in the Aug. 11 Iowa Straw Poll has significantly raised the profile of the pastor-turned-politician. But if…

Pentagon investigation faults generals for endorsing evangelical ministry

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-ranking Pentagon officials improperly endorsed and aided an evangelical Christian ministry, according to a Defense Department investigation recently made public. The Department of Defense inspector general's report was dated July 20 and released to…

History conference draws diverse group of Baptists

CHARLESTON, S.C. (ABP)—Perhaps the most notable thing about the recent “Baptist History Celebration,” held in the mother church of Southern Baptists, is that it happened at all. But historians from an astonishing array of Baptist groups—liberal, conservative, fundamentalist, moderate, African-American,…

Progressive Baptists protest hip-hop lyrics, global warming & Iraq war

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Delegates to the annual meeting of the Progressive National Baptist Convention have called for protests of music lyrics demeaning to women and minorities. “We are speaking out publicly against the denigration of women, minorities and the kind of self-hatred…

BAPTIST BRIEFS

Some SBC leaders endorse blog. Several prominent Baptist leaders have publicly endorsed a groundbreaking blog operated by reform-minded pastors within the Southern Baptist Convention. The endorsers include the presidents of three SBC entities and a college president—Morris Chapman, president of…

Some Christian readers bewitched by Potter, wild about Harry

DALLAS (ABP)—J.K. Row-ling isn't likely to repeat John Lennon's mistake. She probably won't compare the record-setting popularity of her Harry Potter books to that of Jesus Christ, but the global reach of the title character's adventures is undeniable. The last…

Billy Graham’s access to Oval Office spanned 11 U.S. presidents

It doesn't take long to make a list of religious leaders who've made personal connections with each of the last 11 U.S. presidents. There's really just one name: Billy Graham. The evangelist who has spent the last six decades preaching…

Graham, presidents shared deep personal bonds

Harry Truman “Don't worry about it. I realized you hadn't been properly briefed.” — Billy Graham, in his autobiography, Just As I Am, recalling Truman's acceptance of his apology in 1967 for his actions during a White House visit years…

Seventh Day Baptists to stay in Baptist Joint Committee

NEWBERG, Ore. (ABP) — A tiny Baptist denomination has voted, narrowly, to remain part of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty despite disagreements over church-state relations. Delegates to the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference voted 279-234 July 31 to…

Islamophobia is the next bogeyman

The Black Church cannot remain America’s emergency moral infrastructure

We are manna

Webinar explores religious context of America’s Founders