On Nov. 17, 1999, I met Muhammad Ali. It was at the Cathedral of the Assumption on 5th Street in Louisville, Ky., in a Cathedral Heritage Series of ecumenical gatherings. I was the preacher for an interfaith Thanksgiving service, and…
CBF chaplain, congregation serving victims of Orlando massacre
Following the tragic mass shooting June 12 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Cooperative Baptists are continuing to pray for and show acts of support to the victims, their families and the LGBTQ community. “As we continue to hear…
People of all faiths deal with ‘spiritual abuse’ following Orlando attack
Revenge and judgment are swirling through the culture since a lone gunman killed 49 and injured 53 in an Orlando gay night club early Sunday morning. But Ruth Jensen-Forbell and her mostly LGBTQ church in St. Augustine, Fla., aren’t among…
Painful lessons from a pastor’s viral transgender post
“Does God still love me?” That is one of the most painful questions I have been asked in the past two weeks after writing a commentary that went viral and made me a most unlikely spokesperson for the transgender community…
Baptists join diverse faith groups to support mosque-building effort
Religious freedom has become synonymous with division in the United States thanks to a rash of controversial state laws creating tension between conservative religious groups and LGBT rights. Corporations and gay rights groups have squared off against states and cities…
Honest to God
How can we talk about orthodoxy or orthopraxy when best and brightest pastors have too much integrity to lie to get the approval they need to serve?
Texas faith leaders foster uncomfortable-but-needed transgender conversation
Recent commentary by two conservative North Texas men of faith has emboldened us to believe that generous and compassionate debate can occur around the transgender issue.
Pastor writes to dispel embedded misconceptions about transgender people
As churches seek understanding about the LGBT community, a Dallas pastor wrote a blog post sharing seven things he learned about transgender people. Rachel Martin speaks with Pastor Mark Wingfield.
Baptist leader asks Fla. governor to reject transgender bathroom order
A Florida Baptist executive penned an open letter May 18 urging the state’s governor to ignore directions from the Obama administration to allow transgender students to use the school bathroom of their choice instead of the one that corresponds to…