Baptist News Global

What Ron DeSantis and the TheoBros share in common

The headline in The Atlantic declared: “The Cost of Ron DeSantis’ Ideological Purity.” That got my attention, because “ideological purity” is big theme among religious conservatives these days — especially among that group we sometimes call the TheoBros. Those are…

Praying football coach returns to field, not sure he’ll stay the season

Update: On Wednesday, Sept. 6, Joseph Kennedy quit his part-time job at Bremerton High School, having been present for only one game. The part-time assistant high school football coach who took his desire to pray at the 50-yard-line after…

I left the pastorate while still loving it

Leaving the pastorate of my congregation in June was the hardest vocational decision I’ve yet had to make. After reading Alexander Lang’s recent article, “Departure: Why I Left the Church,” I wanted to write about leaving my church while still…

Why I’ve stayed

On Aug. 27, Alexander Lang preached his last sermon at First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Ill. A few days later, he wrote a column titled “Departure: Why I Left the Church.” Since then, I have seen Lang’s column shared…

On the other side of the pandemic, the report from America’s churches is mixed

Increases in attendance, giving and participation, and a decline in internal squabbling, may signal America’s churches are emerging from the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, new research shows. But the study — “Back to Normal? The…

Next up: BNG webinar with David Gushee this week

BNG readers are invited to a free webinar this Wednesday afternoon with BNG columnist David Gushee. The Mercer University ethicist will talk with BNG Executive Director Mark Wingfield about Gushee’s newest book, Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies. The webinar…

BGCT nominates first Hispanic to lead convention as executive director

The current president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has been nominated to serve as its executive director, ending a 14-month search process. Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas, is the first Hispanic ever…

Russian Baptist leader targeted, flees home after praying for peace

Yuri Sipko, a former president of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Russia, fled his homeland in August when authorities attempted to arrest him for publicly praying for peace in Ukraine. The retired pastor and former vice president of the…

There’s just no excuse

Several years ago, when I was early in my ministerial career, I went to a trusted mentor and friend because I was struggling with a problem. The whole episode was so long ago that the details are now a little…

How are houses of worship like retail stores? Changing channels of distribution

When a house of worship declines — and many are — the congregation tends to blame a dull pastor, an uninspiring music director or a drafty building with a bad sound system. Suppose the reason, more often than not, is…

New seminary hopes to sow seeds of faith

A new seminary seeks to prepare students for ministry in a divided church and society by integrating interdisciplinary theological education with organic farming in rural Virginia. Sophia Theological Seminary is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class that will begin…

NAMB’s lies are worse than McLaurin’s, Will McRaney charges

A former Baptist executive who claims he was defamed by the leaders of a Southern Baptist Convention agency now says Baptists concerned about the fraudulent resume of Willie McLaurin should be more concerned about false witness offered under oath by…

Theologizing with Larkin Poe, 10 years after Reskinned

Ministry leader with tall tales wins GOP bid for Colorado governor

What Willy Rice once knew

What I learned July 5 at church