New details have recast the apparent immigration detention of United Methodist Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa in Nigeria as a security measure to protect the cleric rather than arrest him over a visa conflict. Initial reports from Nigeria claimed the bishop…
Many Africans root for Kamala Harris but some question her identity and policies
A few days after Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and backed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to run for the office, a message began making the rounds via WhatsApp among some Africans in church groups and elsewhere…
ABCUSA sends ‘cease and desist’ letter to AWAB
The president of the American Baptist Churches USA has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists demanding AWAB remove the ABCUSA logo from its website as well as any “partnership” language related to the denomination….
Baptist Press compares GOP and Democratic platforms to SBC resolutions, and there are some surprises
It should come as a surprise to exactly no one that the platform of the Republican Party aligns more closely with resolutions passed by the Southern Baptist Convention than does the platform of the Democratic Party. What might be surprising,…
The Widening of God’s Mercy: A reflection
“There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,” says the old hymn by Frederick William Faber, “like the wideness of the sea.” Millions of Christians have sung this song in their churches since it was written in 1862, basking in the magnitude…
Fletcher Seminary: Progressively risking criticism to act Christianly
Jesse C. Fletcher Seminary in San Antonio is an exciting place for women and men to prepare for Christian ministries of many kinds. The young seminary — whose core values are servant leadership, authentic community, engagement and inclusivity — extends…
What if you decided to love your child before you knew they were gay?
Dear parent, I’m writing today with a tough ask. I’m asking you not only to give a loving reception if your child “comes out” as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer. I’m asking you to imagine that day even if…
Analysis: What to expect from The Widening of God’s Mercy
It’s not every day a Christian leader has courage to change his mind on a theological position that risks reputation and social acceptance. But that is what New Testament scholar Richard Hays has done in a new book, written with…
Bishop Gene Robinson looks back on a remarkable life
Gene Robinson has trouble believing his own remarkable life has been real. “When I look back at my life, I see myself as a third person looking back on what happened 20 years ago,” he said. “I think, ‘How in…