A Nazarene pastor and professor who was labeled a heretic and expelled from membership in his denomination told Baptist News Global he still has hope for the church of his childhood to break free of its impulses toward legalism. “I…
After decades of advances, support for LGBTQ rights slipping slightly
After reaching an all-time high of 55% in 2021 and 2022, Republican support for same-sex marriage fell to an all-time low of 46% in 2024, even among the party’s youngest voters. This was true for a June Gallup poll and…
If only First Baptist Dallas could rebuild with more love and less hate
The past week has been a roller coaster of emotions. Every time I’ve refreshed a news app or checked my social media feed, something shocking and groundbreaking has occurred. In a world where the words “breaking news” have felt cliché,…
Here’s why UMC delegates will face new twists in electing bishops this week
Bishop elections in The United Methodist Church are typically the kind of institutional politics only those with a major stake in the organization care about. This year, however, delegates to the UMC’s jurisdictional conferences coming July 10-12 face a new…
Purity culture is alive and well in the Christian nationalist agenda for public schools
Last week, I attended a school board meeting for the Southlake-Carroll Independent School District in North Texas which has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over its changes to Title IX. This is the school district in…
PC(USA) continues protest against Israel with more divestment
The Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly has continued its decade-long protest of Israeli occupation of Palestine by voting to divesting from Israeli bonds. The unanimous consent vote of the 500-member assembly marks a continuation of a protest begun in 2014…
Nazarene Church cracks down on LGBTQ-welcoming leaders
The Church of the Nazarene is cracking down on three longtime leaders who seek to minister to LGBTQ people, charging them with disobeying the denomination’s 2019 ruling that same-sex individuals must remain celibate and that clergy cannot bless or perform…
Before you protest at a Pride parade, look closely at what the Bible actually says
I look forward to marching in the Pride parade with my church each year. We have had a float in the parade almost from the parade’s beginning. Each year there are protesters. Almost always, there is someone holding a Bible;…
AWAB celebrates merger, lauds advocates, launches development campaign
The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists celebrated its merger with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Affirming Network, honored two advocates for equality, launched a fundraising initiative and enjoyed a concert during its reception at the CBF General Assembly in Greensboro,…