Baptist News Global

A storm is brewing ahead of the purported nomination of an SBC Executive Committee president on Monday

This story was updated Sunday afternoon, April 30, to include information published by Baptist Press. The nominee to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has drawn public opposition over the weekend even before his nomination was publicly…

Lawyers must pursue Baptist predators and enablers

First, in 1985, came attorneys who began filing lawsuits on behalf of those who were sexually assaulted as children by Catholic clerics. Much later came prosecutors who slowly started to pursue criminal prosecutions. Then, even later, came grand juries and attorneys…

Despite extensive tornado damage on campus, OBU students will return to in-person classes Monday

Students at Oklahoma Baptist University will return to most campus buildings for two final weeks of in-person classes this semester, President Heath Thomas reported April 26. Every building on the Shawnee, Okla., campus was damaged by tornadoes and high winds…

High recidivism rates keep the Prison Industrial Complex humming, authors contend

The U.S. prison system intentionally promotes recidivism rates high enough to guarantee the continued existence and growth of a thriving, profit-driven incarceration system, according to Fox Richardson, the subject of an Academy Award-nominated documentary about the power of faith over…

Why are weddings so expensive today and why are so few held in churches?

Thirty-eight years ago this summer, Alison and I said “I do” in a wedding ceremony at our home church in Albuquerque. We splurged and hired trumpeters for the simple ceremony. The crowd of 150 friends and family celebrated with us…

The stupidity of Christian nationalism

Editor’s note: This is the second opinion piece in a new series on religious liberty authored by BJC Fellows and made possible by a grant from the Prichard Family Foundation. “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good…

Point Loma University enters the collegiate battle over LGBTQ affirmation

Another religious institution is ripping itself apart in a conflict about whether to affirm LGBTQ Christians as full participants, and this time, it’s a conservative evangelical college. Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego fired its dean of theology, according…

Immigration advocates sound alarm on proposed state and federal immigration bills

Immigration advocates have been especially busy this month actively opposing anti-immigrant legislation proposed on state and federal levels. That’s because Republican lawmakers from Washington, D.C., to Tallahassee, Fla., have ramped up efforts to energize their base with bills critics have…

Fraud case against Kanakuk may proceed

A fraud lawsuit against Kanakuk Kamps may proceed, despite the objections of the Missouri camp and its leader, a county court ruled April 25. Kanakuk Heritage Inc., Kanakuk Ministries, and Kanakuk CEO Joe White had asked the Taney County Circuit…

Dear Tennessee and Montana: Stifling dissent is un-American, unpatriotic and anti-democracy

There’s a growing trend among American conservatives to “cancel” dissent. In Tennessee, three lawmakers were censured and two were expelled from the Legislature for participating in a rally about gun control. Now in Montana, Rep. Zooey Zephyr has been expelled…

Historians Bond and Brekus to headline upcoming BJC events

Two historians will headline upcoming events sponsored by Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Catherine Brekus, the Charles Warren Professor of the History of Religion in America at Harvard Divinity School, will give BJC’s annual Walter B. and Kay W….

Transitions for the week of 4-28-23

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Charlie Barganier, to Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville, Texas, as minister of worship. He comes from First Baptist Church,…

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