By Bob Allen An Arkansas judge who ruled June 9 the state must recognize 500 same-sex marriages that were performed during a six-day window in May 2014 moonlights as a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pastor and is a well-known speaker at…
On LGBT: What I have learned since ‘Changing Our Mind’
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee About a year ago I began my 16-week series on LGBT issues in what was then ABPNews/Herald. In October 2014 a version of these essays plus further material was published as the book Changing…
Texas Senate OKs clergy freedom bill
By Bob Allen The Texas Senate gave final approval May 12 to legislation protecting clergy from being forced to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs. The bill, supported by the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, now…
Supreme Court hears challenges to state gay-marriage bans
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 28 about whether the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and, if not, whether states that forbid gay marriage…
Texas Baptists take sides in school choice, pastor protection legislation
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist official bemoaned a school voucher vote in the state Senate and supported a House measure to protect clergy from being forced to officiate over same-sex marriages in recent debate at the Texas State Capitol…
Arkansas Baptist leaders satisfied with RFRA bill
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By Bob Allen While religious conservatives didn’t get all they wanted in a religious-freedom bill signed recently by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, a supporter of the original measure says after last summer’s Hobby Lobby decision, the final version of the…
Civility and tolerance when absolutes clash
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee My column this week is anchored by the wise insights of Professor Alan Brownstein, a constitutional law and church-state expert from the University of California at Davis. Professor Brownstein spoke at Mercer University the…
Southern Baptists urged to pray as Supreme Court weighs gay-marriage arguments
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention went online April 7 urging people in the pews to pray when the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments about whether state gay-marriage bans are constitutional. The SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission…
When God changes His mind*
It wouldn’t be the first time, you know. If Fox News wants to see what “fair and balanced” looks like they should check out National Public Radio. You know the folks at the helm are left of center, but they…