By Bob Allen Leaders of three British religious bodies issued a joint statement March 15 calling on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Syria’s violent suppression of a year-long uprising that has left more than 8,000 dead. Jonathan Edwards…
New Springsteen album delivers 30-year-old ‘Promise’
By Mark McEntire While Wrecking Ball is Bruce Springsteen’s 17th and latest studio album, it marks some important firsts. Above all, it is Springsteen’s first studio album since the deathof band mate Clarence Clemons. The “Big Man” was such a…
Washington minister to receive BWA human rights award
By Robert Dilday Edgar Palacios, a Salvadoran who serves as associate pastor for Christian education at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, is the 2012 recipient of the Baptist World Alliance’s Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award. The announcement was…
Candidate: Faith, politics mix in public arena
By Vicki Brown A Baptist preacher’s wife running for lieutenant governor in Missouri says that while voters should consider a candidate’s moral character and values, faith should not be used for political ends. Judy Baker, who has a master’s degree…
Baptist Standard Publishing launches test phase of FaithVillage site
Associated Baptist Press The website is a new ministry of Baptist Standard Publishing, parent company of the Baptist Standard. The 123-year-old organization will continue to publish the newspaper and its digital news products. FaithVillage.com will provide Christian community and an…
Skipping Alleluia
By Amy Butler It happens every year, and on the scale of church conflict it can only be compared to an adjustment of the coffee-hour punch recipe without a full congregational vote of approval. Without fail, every single Lent somebody…
Friendships foster deeper religious life, research shows
By Ken Camp Research proves what most ministers long have suspected: Friendships developed at church positively influence religious behavior and — to a lesser degree — beliefs. Sam Stroope, a doctoral student in sociology at Baylor University, analyzed data from…
Online spiritual resources for observing Lent available
By Robert Dilday Two resources to help observe the season of Lent are available online, one provided by the Birmingham, Ala.-based Passport Inc., the other by a Baptist congregation in Charlottesville, Va. Journey to the Cross, a Lenten devotional series…
Faith leaders ask candidates to avoid sowing religious discord
By Bob Allen The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined Jewish and interfaith leaders in drafting a statement Feb. 21 calling on candidates to refrain from using religion as a political wedge. The document titled “Religion in Political Campaigns…