A Missouri religious liberty bill passed last month by the state Senate after a 39-hour filibuster once again kept lawmakers up late at night, when a five hour debate April 13 in the Missouri House of Representatives ended after midnight…
Missouri Baptist group endorses law addressing ‘threat’ to religious liberty
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention called on state lawmakers to enact legislation or propose a constitutional amendment to enhance religious liberty and freedom of conscience protections for pastors and churches in a resolution at the group’s annual gathering…
Insurance company settles with Missouri Baptist Convention
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention has received $5 million in a settlement with the insurance company representing one of five breakaway agencies that moved to self-perpetuating trustee boards in 2000 and 2001. After a dozen years of litigation,…
Missouri Baptists oppose recognition of legal out-of-state same-sex marriages
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention adopted a resolution Oct. 29 criticizing a decision by the state’s attorney general not to appeal a judge’s ruling that Missouri must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Messengers to the 2014…
Baptist editor blasts gay-marriage ruling
By Bob Allen In an Oct. 7 editorial, a Baptist state newspaper editor blasted a ruling by a Kansas City judge that marriages of Missouri gay couples performed legally in other states or countries must be honored in their home…
Search for lobbyist’s wife in second week
By Bob Allen A conservative Baptist lobbyist in Missouri has vowed to continue searching for his missing wife, who disappeared July 8 without a trace from their home on a 270-acre family farm an hour south of St. Louis. “Lynn,…
Windermere lawsuit comes to an end
By Bob Allen The Missouri Supreme Court declined May 27 to review a lower court ruling ending a 12-year-old legal battle over ownership of a Baptist camp that declared independence from the Missouri Baptist Convention in 2001. The refusal leaves…
Baptist editor blasts same-sex divorce
By Bob Allen A Missouri Baptist leader criticized two circuit court judges for granting divorces to females wed in another state that, unlike Missouri, recognizes same-sex marriage. Don Hinkle, director of public policy for the Missouri Baptist Convention, accused the…
Missouri Baptists lose Windermere appeal
By Bob Allen The Missouri Baptist Convention’s 12-year-old legal battle with a breakaway entity may have ended, not with a bang but a whimper. On March 25 the Missouri Court of Appeals denied a jury trial to determine legal ownership…
Mediation of Missouri Baptist lawsuits fails
By Bob Allen Attempted mediation of a 12-year-old legal battle pitting the Missouri Baptist Convention against four breakaway agencies failed to produce an agreement, convention officials announced Jan. 31. Convention leaders met with representatives of the Missouri Baptist Foundation, The…
Mo. Baptists sue state over gay marriage order
By Bob Allen Representatives of the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission filed a lawsuit Jan. 8 challenging a recent executive order by Gov. Jay Nixon allowing same-sex couples legally married in another state to file joint tax returns with…
Windermere sues Mo. Baptist Convention
By Bob Allen A Baptist conference center involved in a long-running legal dispute with the Missouri Baptist Convention filed papers Oct. 25 seeking $10 million in damages, claiming convention lawyers are holding up needed sewer and water improvements that would…