The Southern Baptist Convention’s continued embrace of fundamentalism and conservative politics is undermining its ability to “moralize to American culture,” church historian Bill Leonard said during a lecture at Baylor University. “How did a once engaging gospel of grace, repentance,…
Preying preachers: Confronting clergy sexual abuse
There should be zero tolerance when it comes to clergy abuse of congregants. However, we learned years ago of how child sexual abuse by priests has been tolerated within the Roman Catholic Church. Since then, it has become unequivocally clear…
Two Baptist seminaries among six ‘recommended’ by new Global Methodist Church
Two Baptist-affiliated schools are among six “recommended educational institutions” approved by the new Global Methodist Church. The GMC is a breakaway group from The United Methodist Church created largely over disagreements about LGBTQ inclusion and acceptance. The UMC is perceived as…
How can we say thanks? Reflections on the influence of Andrae Crouch
The music of Andraé Crouch was the soundtrack of my life as a teenager and college student in the 1970s. “My Tribute,” “Soon and Very Soon,” “Jesus Is the Answer” and many others were songs I often heard at First…
Truett Seminary names a controversial Methodist bishop to its faculty
Baylor University’s Truett Seminary has added a second faculty member aligned with the new Global Methodist Church, the conservative breakaway from the United Methodist Church. The appointment of Scott Jones as affiliate professor and pastor-theologian in residence at Truett’s Wesley…
Woke, awake or unfaithful? Racism in the white church
Feb. 16-18 at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, we convened our second national conversation about racism in the white church, “Time to Wake Up.” Although those attending were passionate about the program and online and social media comments before, during and…
BGCT will not change its relationship with Baylor
Despite indications to the contrary six months ago, the Baptist General Convention of Texas will not change its relationship with Baylor University. Last August, Baptist News Global reported the BGCT would “review and consider changes” to its 1990 agreement with…
Failure to love neighbor leads to racism and sexism, Houston pastor tells Baylor conference
The church’s failure to care for all people with the compassion Christ commanded fuels white supremacy and racial injustice, Sean Palmer said during a Baylor University conference on racism and faith. “It’s the failure to love neighbor that has always…
Baylor unveils design for “Monument to the Unknown Enslaved’
Baylor University has released the first detailed renderings of an addition to its Founders Mall that will be called “Monument to the Unknown Enslaved.” The monument is a priority project of the Baptist school’s Commission on Historic Campus Representations, which…