A moderate Baptist organization in Missouri reiterated its support for a provision in the federal tax code barring churches from endorsing or opposing political candidates that has suddenly emerged as an issue in one of the most-watched U.S. Senate races…
Baptist leaders say Trump’s Cuba policy is a step backward
Baptists working to foster fraternal relationships between churches in the United States and Cuba criticized President’s Trump plan to roll back some of the steps that President Obama took to open relationships between the two countries. “Effective immediately, I am…
Churchnet announces leadership change
Columbia, Mo., pastor Brian Ford has been elected executive director of Churchnet, a ministry network of churches and individuals also known as the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. Pastor of Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo., since 2003,…
Christian engagement growing as Cuba-U.S. ties improve
The level and frequency of United States-based Christian activity in Cuba has been rising since the normalization process between the two countries began in late 2014. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida has been building on existing relationships with Baptists and…
Who are we after the Baptist wars?
Our church’s recent quarterly business meeting seemed routine enough (if there is such a thing as a routine business meeting). But very quietly, something historic occurred that evening. In our congregational vote to grant membership letters to those who had…
Word & Way editor Bill Webb retiring this year
Veteran Baptist journalist Bill Webb announced plans to retire later this year, shortly after celebrating his 20th anniversary as editor of the Missouri Baptist publication Word & Way. Webb, 66, announced his retirement plans to readers in a May 10…
Baptist says ‘religious liberty’ bill threatens … well, religious liberty
A Missouri religious liberty bill passed last month by the state Senate after a 39-hour filibuster once again kept lawmakers up late at night, when a five hour debate April 13 in the Missouri House of Representatives ended after midnight…
Baptists looking to the past to heal modern-day divisions
Some Baptists are looking to Missouri history as a possible source of healing of the divisions between them. The Missouri Plan, which ended a century ago, emerged after the Civil War as a bridge between Southern Baptists and Northern Baptists…
‘Colorblindness’ ignores systemic racism, speaker says
By Bob Allen Healing America’s racial rift will require changing not only hearts and minds but also systems that oppress racial minorities and the poor, said a speaker at a recent gathering of Baptists in Missouri focused on building peace…