By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist music minister who will serve no time in prison after admitting to molesting children nearly 30 years ago demonstrates that America’s justice system isn’t always fair, a newspaper in Jackson, Miss., editorialized Jan….
Gay minister arrested in sit-in
By Bob Allen An openly gay ordained Baptist minister and his partner were arrested Jan. 22 in Louisville, Ky., for refusing to leave the county clerk’s office after they were denied a marriage license. Maurice “Bojangles” Blanchard, 34, and his…
Former minister pleads guilty to abuse
By Bob Allen John Langworthy, 50, former associate pastor of music and ministries at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss., pleaded guilty in Hinds County Circuit Court to five of eight felony counts of gratification of lust against young…
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ as lament
By Darrell Gwaltney When my now adult daughter was in middle school, we would listen to NPR together on the way to school. We heard the first confusing reports on the radio together. I dropped her off at school and…
Overlooking Joshua
By Miguel De La Torre Among Christians, one of the most powerful biblical stories is the Exodus, where God enters history and guides God’s chosen people toward the Promised Land. The trek of former slaves toward liberation resonates with many…
Baptist deaths in 2012
By Bob Allen Francis McBeth, an internationally acclaimed composer and conductor and longtime professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, died Friday, Jan. 6, at age 78. Longtime Baptist journalist Jim Newton, 75, died Jan. 16 in Clinton, Miss., after a battle with…
A prayer for Sandy Hook
By Miguel De La Torre Oh Lord, my God, how majestic is your name throughout the earth. Your love and mercy abound and endure forever. A young innocent sparrow does not fall without your knowledge. And yet, I again find…
Churches respond to Palestinian plight
By Leah Grundset Davis Two churches in the Washington, D.C., area are working closely with the Alliance of Baptists to develop a Christian response to the plight of Palestinians — a task they said has taken on greater urgency as…
Groups support people with disabilities
By Bob Allen As values voters both left and right weigh in on special interests from immigration reform to same-sex marriage in an election season, a lesser-known religious coalition is speaking up for Americans with disabilities. The Interfaith Disability Advocacy…