A federal court barred Texas late March 19 from implementing a new law that enables state law enforcement officers to arrest and deport migrants who illegally cross the border from Mexico. Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the hold…
All 25 largest school districts in Texas reject school chaplains option
The biggest school districts in Texas have voted against allowing unlicensed Christian chaplains to replace professional school counselors and to evangelize students at will, leaders of a six-month, faith-based campaign against the policy announced Feb. 29. Groups including Baptist Joint…
Fellowship Southwest webinar rallies people of faith to support public schools
Education advocates working to save public schools need the backing of people of faith to support and expand those efforts, Baptist minister and political strategist Matthew Hall said during a Feb. 20 webinar hosted by Fellowship Southwest. “Civic witness is…
Ecumenical group gathers at border wall to share Communion and demonstrate unity
An ecumenical network of Caribbean, Latin American and U.S. religious groups expanded its commitment to serving migrants throughout the region during a four-day gathering in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Ruben Ortiz, Latino field ministries coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, served…
Anti-immigrant frenzy creates dangerous situation at U.S. border, advocates warn
Anti-immigrant bigotry is reaching a frenzied pitch as Texas continues to defy a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that grants U.S. border agents permission to remove razor wire Gov. Greg Abbott has erected along portions of the Rio Grande. Abbott has…
Fellowship Southwest joins bridge walk to draw attention to broken asylum system
A procession of ecumenical walkers supporting asylum rights offered prayers and solidarity for migrants and a shot in the arm for weary immigration advocates last weekend at the Texas-Mexico border. “It was encouraging to my faith and to my work…
Passport announces new cross-cultural youth camps
Passport Inc. is collaborating with five major faith-based organizations to launch a new series of summer camps designed to foster cross-cultural experiences between youth from diverse racial and economic backgrounds. Passport President David Burroughs said the program will be distinct…
Fellowship Southwest’s first conference calls for advocacy and action
Identifying needs and strategies for advocacy and action was the focus of Fellowship Southwest’s first Compassion and Justice Conference in Dallas last week. Convened at Life in Deep Ellum, a church and community center on the eastern fringe of downtown…
CBF Emergency Response grant feeds multitudes of migrants
“Loaves and fishes” come to mind when people think about a Brownsville, Texas, church’s ministry to migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. And a recent Cooperative Baptist Fellowship grant illustrates why. The New Testament describes how Jesus fed at least 5,000…