Erica Whitaker of Louisville, Ky., is the new chair of trustees for Baptist News Global. She began the role Feb. 6 at the conclusion of the board’s annual meeting, succeeding Larry Brumley of Macon, Ga., who is rotating off the…
Kentucky panelists discuss the threat of Christian nationalism
As a political ideology, Christian nationalism is not the traditionally conservative movement its adherents claim it to be, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey said during a panel discussion on saving democracy hosted by Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville last Saturday….
New podcast series highlights leadership of women in ministry
A new seven-episode podcast highlights the stories of female pastors, scholars and leaders. Each episode features an interview with women serving in leadership roles as pastors, chaplains, seminary scholars and leaders of nonprofits. “E3” refers to the podcast’s desire to…
Beyond birthright and body type: How to be Christian in America
Every summer, my brothers and I would attend vacation Bible school. We all marched into the sanctuary for opening assembly led by a processional of children holding the American flag, Christian flag and the Bible. In unison we recited the…
Whether blind, blurry or oblivious, failure to see whiteness distorts God’s image in others
When people think about and discuss race, they often fail to see and acknowledge whiteness, distorting the image of God stamped upon all people, Erica Whitaker told participants in a Baptist News Global education conference on hidden racism in Colonial…
Don’t keep sweet: Why white Christians need to celebrate Juneteenth
One of the top documentaries on Netflix right now is Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey. It’s about the FLDS, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who once were in Utah and then in Texas. If you were…
BNG dinner will bring together Anthea Butler and Beth Allison Barr for a conversation on race and gender
Two of the most prominent voices speaking to the American church about race and gender will appear together at a Baptist News Global event during the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly in Dallas this June. Anthea Butler of the University…
Let’s begin again: The birds, the bees and abortions
As a preacher, teacher and spiritual leader, I start to get the nervous armpit sweats at the mere thought of speaking on the topic of abortion among church folk. The dialogue always feels more like a Medieval witch trial that…
Erica Whitaker named associate director of BSK’s Institute for Black Church Studies
Erica Whitaker has been named associate director of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky’s Institute for Black Church Studies, where she will work alongside Lewis Brogdon, who became the institute’s first director earlier this year. Whitaker, pastor of Buechel Park Baptist Church…
No church wants the Moby Dick of ministers
They call me Erica. Well, no they don’t. The folks at Buechel Park Baptist Church actually call me Pastor Erica, and the more formal members refer to me as Reverend Whitaker. We’ve been on the seas of ministries together for…
European school seeks to bolster Baptist scholarship and mission
While serving as a Baptist pastor in Kentucky, Erica Whitaker is working toward a Ph.D. at a prestigious European university. Her academic pursuit, however, is more than a distance learning endeavor with a public research university in the Netherlands. Her…
Caldwell succeeds Anderson as chair of BNG board
Chris Caldwell of Louisville, Ky., is the new chairman of the Baptist News Global board of directors, succeeding Janice Anderson of Houston, who remains on the board but concluded a three-year term at the helm. Caldwell serves as a professor…