When I was growing up, Christian ministers were widely held in high esteem. Although a few Elmer Gantrys may have been in the mix, churches and communities generally received their ministers with respect and honor. As a result, many Christian…
CBF council recommends new leaders
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council approved a list of names nominated for a new organizational structure adopted last year now being implemented in stages. Nominees approved at a called virtual meeting April 4 include 13 names…
CBF ministers urge immigration reform
By Robert Dilday Ministers affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina rallied in Winston-Salem April 2 to call on their representatives in Washington to support “comprehensive, fair immigration reform” that supports “the common good.” “Our Scripture repeatedly calls…
Duke McCall dies
By Bob Allen Duke McCall, a denominational leader known by Baptists worldwide for a ministry that spanned four decades, died April 2 at age 98. Chris Caldwell, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., said McCall died this morning…
Saying ‘no’ to violence against women
By Cindy Ring Ruble We live in a world in which one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. That statistic represents about 1 billion women. Think of three women and girls in your life and…
Students find plenty to do in Haiti
By Jeff Brumley College student Shelby Johnson missed the March 3 announcement that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was shifting its work in Haiti from disaster response to long-term projects, like community health and economic development. But the English and Spanish double…
How long will women pastors be news?
It is time for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches to end the double standard of ordaining women to the ministry but refusing to allow them to serve. I am a Baptist female trying to be faithful to God’s call upon my…
CBF joins hands to help Newtown clergy
By Bob Allen Multiple Cooperative Baptist Fellowship organizations are joining forces to offer support for clergy in Newtown, Conn., struggling to minister to congregations still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A daylong…
Suzii Paynter on life, Lent and CBF
By Jeff Brumley Since her nomination as executive coordinator in January, Suzii Paynter has been traveling at a breathless pace helping guide the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into a new organizational and missional era. The pace only increased with her election…