(ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 2 defending prayers offered in Jesus’ name at government meetings. The first legal brief filed since Russell Moore took…
Baptist ethicist signs sex abuse petition
(ABP) — Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., added his signature to “A Public Statement Concerning Sexual Abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ” posted July 17 by Godly Response to Abuse in the…
Southern Baptist chaplains won’t perform gay weddings, NAMB says
The SBC agency responsible for chaplain endorsement says it won't permit offiicating at gay weddings. ATLANTA (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has released guidelines stating that chaplains endorsed by NAMB “will not conduct or attend…
Why I am so passionate about starting new congregations
Note: In a recent post I talked about the role of women in ministry regarding church planting. In this new post, I focus on my personal passion for starting new congregations that is foundational to urging a generation of women…
A tale of two Chucks
What a couple of agnostics taught me about congregational business. I have two friends who are particularly dear to me, both named Chuck. I first met The Chucks, as I call them, a few years ago in a writers’ group…
What if a generation of women in ministry planted new congregations?
It is hard to believe it has been more than 35 years since I was ready to leave seminary in Louisville, KY for what I thought would be my first full-time church pastorate. Although I had grown up in Baltimore…
Does your church look like a warehouse?
For the last 30 years, it has become popular for new churches to build their worship and ministry space to look like a warehouse or storehouse (or use an actual warehouse). The “Emergent” or “Emerging Church” and ultra contemporary church…
About 2,500 youth from more than 60 countries attending Baptist gathering in Singapore
SINGAPORE (ABP) — German Baptist youth leader Christian Rommert reminded youth from more than 60 countries gathered in Singapore that life in Christ is not about rules or systems but relationships. Rommert cautioned the 16th Baptist Youth World Conference against…
Baptist World Alliance calls for end to Cuba embargo, presents human rights award to Glen Stassen
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (ABP) — Baptist leaders from around the world called on the United States to lift its half-century-old economic embargo on Cuba in a resolution adopted during the Baptist World Alliance annual gathering July 1-6 in Ocho Rios,…