Mark Galli, former editor in chief of Christianity Today, will be the next speaker in BNG’s webinar series, “Conversations That Matter.” The first webinar, offered Sept. 14, featured a panel of mental health experts talking about how to maintain good…
Q&A with June Joplin on life as an itinerant (transgender) preacher
Earlier this summer, June Joplin made international headlines when she used a Sunday morning sermon at her Baptist church to come out as transgender. Nearly three months later, more has changed than her gender. The Canadian Baptist church she had…
Would you let Donald Trump be your medical power of attorney?
One of the nice things we say about friends to others to indicate the level of trust we have in them is, “I would trust him with my life.” By this we usually mean we have so much confidence in…
‘Practicing Christians’ less likely to see race as problem than one year ago
Months of America’s so-called “racial reckoning” appear to have changed little in the perceptions of a majority of Christian worshipers, according to new data from Barna Research. Comparing attitudes from July 2019 to July 2020, Barna found that “practicing Christians”…
Church leaders, here’s your new vocabulary word for 2020: ‘Liminal’
Susan Beaumont looks like a prescient genius right now. She wants you to know the actual situation is slightly different. One year ago this month, her latest book was published with the title How to Lead When You Don’t Know…
BNG panelists offer diagnosis and prescriptions for mental health during pandemic
Inflamed racial tensions, a divisive election season and alarming climate events — all during a pandemic — have stretched American psychological well-being to the limit. But there also are some potential spiritual positives from the coronavirus era, according to five…
MacArthur flaunts California court order, holds large indoor service again
On Thursday, a California judge issued a restraining order against John MacArthur and his Grace Community Church holding massive indoor worship services. Three days later, on Sunday, Sept. 13, the pastor and church defied that court order by gathering thousands…
Q&A with Meredith Stone about Baptist Women in Ministry
Meredith Stone is the new executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, coming to the role from a faculty position at Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She succeeds Pam Durso, who has gone on to become president…
Judge issues COVID restraining order against defiant MacArthur and church
In a case that combines the global pandemic with the grievances of religious conservatives that they face persecution, a California Superior Court judge on Sept. 10 issued a temporary restraining order against Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church in…