By Norman Jameson What is the issue for Christians in the American debate about whether or not Muslims should be “allowed” to build a mosque in Manhattan? Such a mosque would not be the first in Manhattan. In 1991 a…
With marriage debate, remember real people are involved
By Joe LaGuardia Just when I thought politics could not get any more heated, federal judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8 — the California law banning same-sex marriage in that state — Aug. 4. The decision claimed that the law…
The summer of Baptist discontent and hope
By Bruce Gourley During the summer months each year, Baptist groups in America gather to preach, worship, pass resolutions and reevaluate the mission and direction of their churches and denominations. In recent years, these summer convention gatherings have seemingly been…
Clergy couples cope with pain of dismissal
By Roger Lovette I recently sat in a room with 13 ministers and their spouses who had gathered from across the country for a week-long retreat. The group was connected by a common thread: Each minister had been dismissed from…
Is Palestine the link to peace?
By Jim Denison It has been my privilege to lead several study tours of Israel. Each time, I am struck again by the tiny size of the Holy Land. Comparable to New Jersey, it is only six miles wide at…
Some compelling Christians called Baptists
By David Wilkinson The same week that novelist Anne Rice announced that her faith in Christ has led her to disown the name “Christian,” a young woman from Bolivia quietly renewed my hope for people called Christians — and for…
What some Baptists don’t want to hear about others
By Laura Rector “Why did you go to Southern Baptist Convention schools when they don’t support women in ministry, Laura?” That’s the refrain I often hear, as I’ve moved into more moderate circles in recent years. It’s usually followed by…
A still-broken Haiti embraces God’s grace
By David Lane In July, I led a five-person team that provided training in post-trauma counseling to two groups in Haiti: 133 pastors from the Haitian Baptist Convention and 84 teachers from schools in the Grand’Anse province. The trip was…
From Assisi, lessons for Baptists
(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of commentaries by Barry Howard reflecting on his experiences in Italy. The first is available here and the second is available here.) By Barry Howard As our Eurostar train from Rome…