An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Scott Colter as leader of the Center for Baptist Leadership. In fact, Colter retweeted the statement from the Center for Baptist Leadership, which is headed by William Wolfe. The far-right in…
Texas Senate passes Ten Commandments bill
Unwilling to be outdone by its neighbor to the East, the Texas Senate has passed a bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms. The Louisiana Legislature passed a similar law last year that…
Sojourners names Tyler among ‘revolutionary women’
Amanda Tyler is one of a dozen women highlighted by Sojourners as “revolutionary women shaping the church” in 2025. Tyler leads BJC, also known as Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, based in Washington, D.C. She also leads the advocacy…
Will they know we are Christians by our love?
In church Sunday at First Baptist Asheville, the pastoral resident, Will Arledge, quoted a hymn from my childhood, closing a prayer with, “Let them ‘know we are Christians by our love.’” I was a child in the 1970s when this…
What I learned at CBF’s Advocacy in Action
I got to tag along with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship on its Advocacy in Action trip to Washington, D.C., last week. Having participated in several similar advocacy trainings and trips with various groups, I thought I knew what to expect. The…
Cuts to Education Department threaten religious liberty, BJC head warns
The Trump administration’s decision to cut nearly half the U.S. Department of Education workforce is a careless action that will wreak havoc in public schools and erode religious freedom, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty said. “This action is not…
Feeling overwhelmed? Think local, Tyler advises
It can be overwhelming to consider that there won’t be a presidential election for nearly four years, or even the possibility of winning either the House or Senate away from the control of Christian nationalists for another two years. One…
Show up and speak up to save democracy, panelists urge
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he is struggling to fully comprehend the Trump administration’s overwhelming assault on basic freedoms as well as its ongoing attempt to dismantle federal programs and agencies. Calling the situation a “crisis” would be an…
Swift responses follow Trump’s promised executive orders
Just as quickly as President Donald Trump set in motion his controversial agenda for a new administration, leaders in the faith and civil rights communities began reacting. Within minutes of Trump’s fiery inaugural address, groups from Focus on the Family…
Jimmy Carter, a lifelong Baptist, left a legacy of faithfulness, compassion and justice
Baptist leaders are remembering President Jimmy Carter as a Christian example of faithfulness, compassion and justice — and as a staunch advocate of a traditional view of religious liberty. Carter, the nation’s 39th president, died Dec. 29 at age 100….
Rising secularism isn’t good for democracy, scholar explains
Many Americans believe increased secularization will minimize religious and political tensions, simmer the culture wars and reduce threats to democracy, author and political scientist John Compton said. Some mainstream commentators argue the continuing move away from religious belief and belonging…
This is a time for our movement to meet the moment
At this point of uncertainty and change for our country, our commitment to religious freedom and the separation of church and state remains the same. I am sad for our country and worried about the impact last week’s election results…