In the last 30 years, age-segmented worship was an unforeseen effect of the contemporary worship movement within Christianity. What has developed in many (not all) churches are two worship services. A traditional service with older adults and a commentary service…
Chaplains have edge in post-Christian age, CBF official says
By Jeff Brumley Like many U.S. religious groups, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship faces a constant challenge to find and offer ministries that are relevant in a post-Christian society. Navy Capt. Gerald F. Hutchinson, Jr. will offer what he sees…
Vital Christianity: As I see it
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee Here on the eve of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly meeting in Atlanta, and with other national religious conventions recently in the news (for better or for worse), I choose to articulate what…
Church planter to lead CBF initiative
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has contracted with an experienced church planter in North Carolina to oversee a decade-old initiative begun to encourage and support the starting of new churches. Andy Hale, pastor of Mosaic of Clayton in…
CBF controller stepping down, interim named to succeed him
By Bob Allen Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Controller Larry Hurst is stepping down after 13 years of service to work for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, a nonprofit organization serving local governments in all 159 Georgia counties. CBF Executive Coordinator…
New Baptist Covenant signals resurgence of reconciliation movement, Mandela colleague says
By Jeff Brumley Allan Boesak is a native South African and Reformed Church pastor and theologian who worked shoulder to shoulder with Nelson Mandela and others to defeat apartheid. He is a passionate advocate of the reconciliation and ecumenical movements…
Churches being pushed to see selves as guests in own communities
By Jeff Brumley At Grace and Main in Danville, Va., organizers have ceded much of their power to the people they came to serve. “A lot of our leadership is made up of those who are or were hungry, impoverished…
Ethnic churches fare better with Millennials, but challenges remain
By Jeff Brumley Go to Google and type “Millennials, church,” and the screen will be dominated by links to articles, blogs and studies documenting that generation’s exodus from American congregations. What irks some, however, is that evidence is being overlooked…
For CBF Bahamas and its leader, new tie means increased influence in Caribbean
By Jeff Brumley Baptist John McIntosh knows it’s an honor to have been selected for the Bahamas Council of Bishops, whose members advocate for social justice and help establish churches across the island nation. But he knows something else, too:…
Baptists, Vatican agree: Social media is worth the effort
By Jeff Brumley The Roman Catholic Church is committed to social media despite the hassles — ugly criticism, vicious arguments, inappropriate photos — a Vatican official said this week. While Facebook, Twitter and other platforms often bring out the worst in people,…
A year later, those impacted by Okla. twisters grateful for spirit of unity
By Jeff Brumley It’s natural for people to ask where God was when a wave of tornadoes killed nearly 50 people in Oklahoma in May 2013, pastors say. That was also the topic of a documentary that premiered May 16…
CBF appeals for disaster response volunteers
By Jeff Brumley With assessments conducted and even some initial responses underway, disaster responders with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are now calling for volunteers for long-term tornado recovery projects. CBF U.S. Disaster Response Director Tommy Deal today issued a call…