By Bob Allen An American Baptist church in Iowa City has announced it will perform same-sex weddings, presumably the state’s first Baptist congregation to do so since Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2009. The Des Moines Register reported…
Legacy
As the president of the United States enters into his second term, there is much discussion among the “talking heads” about legacy. What will President Obama seek to do that will assure that he is remembered in the years to…
Pastor takes leave of absence
By Bob Allen The pastor of a historic progressive Baptist church in North Carolina has taken a 30-day leave of absence for treatment of chronic depression and anxiety. Stephen Shoemaker, senior minister at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.,…
Baptist church reports image of Christ
By Jeff Brumley Reports of bleeding religious statues and spiritual images on water towers are usually associated with Catholic and Pentecostal churches. But now you can add some South Carolina Baptists to the mix. Care Baptist Church in Spartanburg recently alerted…
Workshop to address SBC decline
By Jeff Brumley Stemming the decline in Southern Baptist church membership will be the focus of a Jan. 29 workshop hosted by the Florida Baptist Convention and North American Mission Board in Brandon, Fla. The Florida Baptist Witness reported the…
The season of getting busy
By Amy Butler It could very well be just me, but I usually find the post-Christmas haze to be a little bit of a let-down. After all the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Day, I am never quite sure what…
Fire damages church in Forth Worth
By Jeff Brumley The fire that heavily damaged Chinese Baptist Church of Forth Worth, Texas, on Christmas Eve has left its congregation shaken during one of the most sacred seasons of the year. It’s an emotionally searing experience that another…
2012: A year in review
By Bob Allen Here are some of the top newsmakers of 2012 as reported by ABPnews. Obamacare Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler observed in January that Health and Human Services regulations, including pregnancy in “preventive services” that insurers…
Church declines to leave BGAV
By Bob Allen A Virginia Baptist church under fire for ordaining an openly gay man to the ministry has turned down an offer to withdraw voluntarily from the Baptist General Association of Virginia, setting the stage for its dismissal from…
At holidays, churches ready for ‘CEOs’
By Ken Camp Christmas provides churches with a rare opportunity to touch the lives of those on the fringes of congregational life, the Christmas-and-Easter-only worshippers. Some roll out the red carpet for what ministers jokingly refer to as the “CEOs.”…
Churches grieve Sandy Hook shootings
By Bob Allen Pastor Jason Coker opened his third Sunday in Advent sermon at Wilton Baptist Church, written earlier in the week, with words describing irrepressible joy. “Circumstances dictate change,” Coker told parishioners Dec. 16 before switching gears to preach…
Churches grieve Sandy Hook shootings
By Bob Allen Pastor Jason Coker opened his third Sunday in Advent sermon at Wilton Baptist Church with words describing irrepressible joy written early in the week. “Circumstances dictate change,” Coker told parishioners Dec. 16 before switching gears to preach…