Baptist News Global

Transitions for the week of 5-28-21

Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Christopher Adams, to Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, as pastoral assistant, effective June 27. Matt Bennett, to…

Tennessee and Arkansas top the list of anti-trans legislation but many bills die in other states

While the 2021 state legislative session has produced more anti-LGBTQ legislation than any previous year — often supported by evangelical Christians — many of the anti-transgender bills have failed in statehouses. The latest setback for anti-transgender bills came in Texas…

Can these bones live? The pandemic as portal

This past Sunday of Pentecost, one of the texts was the vision of the valley of dry bones brought to life in Ezekiel 37. Before the fall of the nation of Israel to Babylon — the nation conquered, Jerusalem and…

Lessons in hate and hopelessness

One of the compelling parts of the story telling of the TV series “The Chosen” is the reverent sharing of back stories that could have tied these scriptural people together. One of the best has emerged in Season 2, episode…

It’s not just the SBC banning Critical Race Theory; now state legislatures are joining the fight

Southern Baptist seminary presidents aren’t the only ones up in arms about Critical Race Theory. Their affirmation that the six SBC seminaries will not teach about systemic racism and inherent injustices is sweeping Republican-led state legislatures this year. Bills in…

A conversation with Ben Kirby, author of PreachersNSneakers

Having grown up in a traditional Baptist church, I still remember my Sunday school teacher telling me that as believers, we have been called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in carrying out the Great Commission to change…

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…

Three female victims of Boko Haram terror graduate from U.S. colleges this spring

Three Nigerian students who once were kidnapped or had a family member killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria have graduated from American universities this spring. Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu recently earned degrees from Southeastern University in Florida, while…

Are you sure the Bible actually says that?

“The Bible says …” These may be the most dangerous words in the world, because people say this all the time — and sometimes have no idea what they are talking about. As a pastor (you know, I’m supposed to…

Three dozen others join NAMB in asking Supreme Court not to allow McRaney case on religious liberty grounds

The case of a Baptist state convention leader fired because of what he considers undue influence by a national Southern Baptist Convention agency is drawing intense national interest — but not for the underlying merits of the case itself. More…

Regathering for worship, processing our pain and remembering our baptism

As a pastor who is trained in both social work and ministry, I have been thinking about how to offer collective pastoral care to my congregation as we process the pandemic together. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult season…

Judson College will close and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

An urgent fundraising appeal late last year had appeared to save Judson College, but declining enrollment and wary creditors sealed the historic school’s fate. After 183 years of operation, the Baptist-affiliated college will file for bankruptcy protection and will not…

Eradicating DEI hasn’t made anything better

How Christian nationalism shows up in patriotic worship services

Dear Trump-supporting Christians, are you really OK with this?

‘Every Student. Every State’ campaign promotes school tax credit