Baptist News Global – Page 5 of 3549 – Conversations that matter

Ryan Burge sifts the data to paint an evolving portrait of the ‘nones’

There was a time, not all that long ago, when no minister, denominational leader or seminary administrator ever heard of — or worried about — a “none.” That’s partly because there wasn’t yet a name for religiously unaffiliated Americans, partly…

Admitting our part in ‘Good’ Friday

Most of my adult life, I have questioned the notion of “Good Friday.” How can the day on which the Son of God was murdered be called “good”? I never would call Sept. 30, the day my father died suddenly…

Transitions for the week of 4-2-21

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Chris Aho, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, as director of Thriving Congregations, effective later this spring. He is pastor…

25 faith-based schools named in LGBTQ discrimination case against Department of Education

Three Baptist universities are among 25 faith-based schools named in a class-action lawsuit filed March 29 against the U.S. Department of Education, with claims of unlawful discrimination against LGBTQ students. The suit, filed in U.S District Court in Eugene, Ore.,…

Why I’ll remember 2021 as ‘The Year with Two Easters’

I may refer to 2020 as “The Year Without an Easter.” That is certainly how it felt to me, at least. I had been serving as pastor of Ardmore Baptist Church for less than seven months before the global pandemic…

Less than half of Americans now claim a formal congregational membership

The exodus from formal affiliation with U.S. houses of worship continued its relentless pace in 2020 as congregational membership hit an all-time low in the 80 years Gallup has tracked it. The practice of “belonging” to a church, mosque or…

Holy Week 2021: Justice, gospel and cups of cold water

On Good Friday, April 12, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Ala., for leading an “unlawful” protest in the city. That same day, a group of eight clergymen including five bishops (Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist), a Presbyterian, a…

Through Scripture, understanding that my speech is a form of prayer

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” — Galatians 3:28 “Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17 During the past several…

Ministry jobs and more

Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…

How American exceptionalism is killing America

Join Ryan Burge and Mark Wingfield for a free webinar on the ‘nones’

When pastors change churches during a global pandemic, it takes creativity and perseverance

It’s up to the Senate now to fix our democracy