Merritt Johnston surrendered her life to ministry as a high school senior, although her options may have seemed limited, growing up in a small-town Baptist church in Texas. “On that day, I had people asking me, ‘Does this mean you…
D.C. Baptist Convention installs Manarin, first female executive director in 145-year history
The District of Columbia Baptist Convention installed Trisha Miller Manarin as its executive director/minister — the first female to hold the job in the convention’s 145-year history — this fall. Manarin has held the position since August 2020, but the…
Baptists and Catholics together? Progress and promise despite a shaky start
A few years ago, I delivered a keynote address for a symposium on the Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, held at Creighton University in connection with the 50th anniversary of its promulgation on Nov. 21, 1964. The fact…
Baptists worldwide uniting to offer aid to Haiti as challenges mount
Baptist organizations from around the world are joining forces to provide financial, material and spiritual care to Haitians reeling from the Aug. 14 earthquake that killed at least 2,200, injured more than 12,000 and flattened tens of thousands of homes,…
BWA celebrates growth of Baptist movement, calls for unity amid challenges
The Baptist World Alliance concluded its most globally diverse gathering ever July 10 by celebrating its continued growth and outreach but also by remembering the life-threatening challenges faced by Baptists internationally. The three-day virtual World Congress attracted 4,000 attendees from…
Global church must confront gender-based violence with honest view of Scripture, BWA told
Christians must join efforts to combat the plague of gender-based violence around the world, but not without the church also repenting for its historic and ongoing role in perpetuating abusive attitudes and behaviors toward women, the Baptist World Alliance was…
BWA begins World Congress with emphasis on religious freedom for all
The 122nd global gathering of the Baptist World Alliance begins July 8 — a year later than originally planned and online due to the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. BWA announced the virtual version of its three-day World Congress…
Baptist-Catholic dialogue resumes despite challenges of pandemic
Despite the travel limitations imposed by COVID-19, a group of Baptist and Catholic scholars have continued their historic dialogue on ecumenical relationships. Conversations between the Baptist World Alliance and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were put on hold…
BWA urges: Remember the people of Myanmar this weekend
The goal of this week’s “Myanmar Red Ribbon Solidarity Weekend” is to combine prayer with activism to tangibly support the oppressed people of the Asian nation formerly known as Burma, a Baptist World Alliance official said. “It’s important as Baptists…
Re-receiving the gift of inclusive liberty, with help from Pope Francis
This past weekend, I offered Baptist ecumenical reflections on Pope Francis’s most recent encyclical “On Fraternity and Social Friendship” (Fratelli Tutti) on the program of the Hearth for the Human Family conference sponsored by the Focolare Forum for Dialogue and…
New director of BWAid steps in as global needs arise
When the Baptist World Alliance last month named Marsha Scipio director of its global aid organization, BWAid, it said her job would be to respond to people suffering in times of crisis by networking with other agencies to boost sustainability…
Asia Pacific region leads the globe in increasing restriction of religious faith
Government restrictions of religion are increasing around the world, with the Asia Pacific region leading the way, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. And while the report identified China and Myanmar, as leaders in official efforts…