Research once again shows that confidence in organized religion remains at all-time lows. But what the numbers don’t reveal is the toll that the erosion of reputation and relevance has had on churches and ministers throughout the decline. It’s often described as an astonishing and disturbing experience.
Religion Notes: Hackers converge, compete at Baptist-affiliated university
Moderate Baptists will recognize many of the institutions that made McCormick Theological Seminary’s annual list of Seminaries that Change the World. The Chicago seminary’s Center for Faith and Service compiled the lineup from what it called “a select group of…
Beware of list making: Baylor ‘most effective preachers’ lineup chastised
Anyone who publishes “best of” lists knows they usually generate plenty of criticism. Baylor University’s “12 Most Effective Preachers” lineup has been no exception. Released earlier this month, the lineup has been criticized by some for having only one woman, and by others for its lack of theological diversity.
Religion Notes: Seminary identifies top American preachers
An occasional compilation of events from around the religious world. To suggest items for inclusion, email assistant editor Jeff Brumley at [email protected]
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CBF honors Virginia pastors with leadership awards at ChurchWorks
Two Virginia pastors were honored Feb. 26 for their outstanding leadership during the opening day of ChurchWorks, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s annual conference for Christian educators meeting at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. ChurchWorks is three-day event for all practitioners of education and spiritual formation in the congregational setting.
Youth studying theology? Lilly Endowment-funded programs hope to pull it off
Getting high school students interested in theology sounds like a pretty tall order. In the age of “nones” and “dones” and continuing declines in religious adherence, younger generations have been identified with a less-is-more attitude toward faith. But that assumption…
A Christian feminist response to Baylor
When the Pepper Hamilton summary report was released revealing major failures by Baylor University to comply with Title IX requirements, I read the entire document and was not at all surprised with its findings. It’s not that I thought Baylor…
Transgender Baptist minister depends on ‘theology of survival’
Allyson Dylan Robinson, who may be the first openly transgender person ordained to the ministry by a Baptist church, talks about what spared her life years ago on a deserted Texas highway.
Packing in the pews
The latest challenge facing some congregations is deciding whether open carry gun laws should extend to church property — including the sanctuary.