Baptist News Global

Here’s why Ron DeSantis has gone to war with Disney

On the surface, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attack on the Walt Disney Co. makes no sense. Why would a Republican governor go after one of the largest businesses and economic drivers in the state? Aren’t Republicans pro-business? Likewise, why would…

New documentary series shows how churches that close can keep ministry open

Invested Faith will premiere a mini-documentary series to inspire closing churches to donate assets to help social entrepreneurs bring about change in the communities they serve. The faith-based organization launched by Amy Butler announced the first video in the series…

Yes, Tim Scott is a Black man, but he’s still promoting Christian nationalism

Republican Sen. Tim Scott entered the presidential race this week, hoping to loosen Donald Trump’s grip on the party with “an optimistic, positive message anchored in conservatism” while appealing to voters who are willing to welcome common sense and common…

Southwestern Seminary trustees called to special meeting next Tuesday

Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have been summoned to a special meeting next Tuesday triggered by a bylaw provision that allows a simple majority of trustees to demand such a meeting. The online meeting will occur just six weeks…

Transitions for the week of 5-26-23

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Natalie Aho, to Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, as director of development, effective June 5. She comes…

8-year-old’s death in CBP custody highlights Biden’s ‘system of death,’ immigration advocates say

Some immigrant rights advocates are calling the Biden administration’s border and asylum policies “a system of death” after an 8-year-old migrant girl died May 17 while in American custody at the U.S.-Mexico border. That was the label Hope Border Institute…

Why ‘affirming’ churches need to speak up

Many years ago, when my church went through the United Church of Christ’s Open and Affirming process to declare ourselves welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ people, someone in the congregation asked why we needed to make a public declaration. Of…

Evangelical worldview ministries seek to promote ‘proper’ thoughts, beliefs and actions

What’s your worldview? How do you understand the world and how it works? In the 1960s and ’70s, theologian Francis Schaeffer taught evangelicals that everyone has a worldview, whether we know it or not. In his wake, dozens of ministries…

Five things Southern Baptists should do now to address clergy sex abuse

Seventeen years ago, the two of us wrote to Southern Baptist Convention officials, urging creation of a denominational database of pastors criminally convicted or credibly accused of sexual abuse. “Moral obligation demands it,” we said. That moral obligation still stands…

Why we must be cautious about understanding what’s going on at Southwestern Seminary

Other news outlets are likely to publish accounts today about dissension among trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and allegations of impropriety related to real estate deals. We’re not publishing such a story today for two simple reasons: We don’t…

Here’s another angle to corporate DEI work: Increased support for ‘faith friendly’ workplaces

U.S. Fortune 500 companies ranked as the most “faith friendly” in a newly released survey share practices such as providing chaplains and spiritual care in the workplace, openly addressing religion in company diversity training and matching worker contributions to religious…

On graduation and the priesthood of all believers

Each year on the first Sunday of May, University Baptist Church of Charlottesville, Va., honors our graduates and reads a litany of blessing as we commission them “to tend to the world and help set it right once again.” As…

Supreme Court slides into partisanship

Before the fireworks, be careful what you drink

The contemptible case of Clarence Thomas

The permanent paradoxes of Christian thinking about war