By Jeff Brumley The subject of preaching is often lost in today’s urgent talk about church decline, closure and relevance. Most of the buzz centers around embracing technology, social media, worship styles or whether to stay in or sell the…
Debate: what (if anything) to do about choir decline
By Jeff Brumley Recent news that the church choir is in rapid decline troubled a number of Baptists, a number of whom took to Facebook recently to post evidence that choral music has – or at least should have – a…
Culpepper stepping down after 20 years as McAfee dean
By Bob Allen Alan Culpepper, founding dean of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, is stepping down after nearly two decades at the end of the current academic year. After a sabbatical, he plans to teach full time on the…
Do you solemnly swear — on this Kindle?
By Jeff Brumley It’s hardly news anymore to see someone in church using a smartphone or tablet, instead of a printed Bible, to follow along in Scripture. Many pastors have embraced the paper-for-digital swap themselves, often using iPads or tablets…
Liberia seminary installs interim president
By Bob Allen A Mercer University professor on loan for one year to the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary was inducted March 13 as sixth president of a long-respected school attempting to rebuild after decades of civil war and recent controversy…
Walker Knight: more challenges ahead for Baptist journalism
By Jeff Brumley Legendary Baptist writer and editor Walker Knight has been retired from full-time journalism for years now. But he’s kept a close eye on the industry he left in the 1990s. From his longtime home in Decatur, Ga.,…
A passion to serve Liberian Baptists
By Jeff Brumley Richard Wilson’s 10th journey to Liberia won’t be the usual Mercer on Mission trip that he’s used to. This time he’s going back as president of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary near Monrovia. Wilson, chairman of Mercer University’s…
C.S. Lewis ‘claimed by everyone’
By Jeff Brumley C.S. Lewis did it during his lifetime and he’s continued to do it in the 50 years since his death on Nov. 22, 1963: inspire Christians from theologically diverse traditions through his theological and fictional work. Box…
Debating doctorates in a missional world
By Jeff Brumley Brian McLaren is recognized as one of the most influential shapers of progressive Christian thought and has revolutionized the way many conceive and practice evangelism, church planting, worship and spiritual formation. Yet McLaren, who is closely associated…