By Bob Allen Jeffrey Willetts, founding dean and former vice president at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, Va., has been named dean of Mercer University’s James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology. Willetts, currently professor of…
Ministry leaders: challenges of 2015 offer growth in coming year
By Jeff Brumley Ministry and nonprofit leaders are reporting opportunities for growth in 2016 — and some of them credit the difficulties of the preceding year for that. Still, for others, and for many churches, the next 12 months may have…
SBC president leads prayer at meeting of ‘dominionists’
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd led 15,000 young adults in a prayer for spiritual awakening at a charismatic gathering Dec. 28 in Kansas City, Mo. “I’m not here tonight to highlight our theological differences, but to…
Race, sex, politics garner headlines in 2015
By Bob Allen Race, sexuality and politics emerged as recurring themes in daily news coverage by Baptist News Global in 2015. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, challenged black and white Baptists to move beyond comfort…
Faith-based groups gearing up for Texas tornado response
By Jeff Brumley Damage assessments are only beginning to come in, but some disaster responders say rebuilding the Texas communities clobbered by tornadoes over the weekend will require relief work on par with the 2013 Oklahoma twisters. Among the worst…
AU says Christian printer has no ‘religious freedom’ right to discriminate
By Bob Allen A Kentucky printer’s religious beliefs do now entitle him to refuse to make T-shirts for a gay-pride event, Americans United for Separation of Church and State argued in a legal brief filed Dec. 28. The friend-of-the-court brief…
Church/state group says county clerk must issue marriage licenses to gays
By Bob Allen A group that advocates for both the free exercise of religion and separation of church and state says in a brief filed with the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Kentucky county clerk must issue marriage…
Baptist Standard announces cutbacks
By Bob Allen The Baptist Standard, long the largest and one of the most influential of state Baptist newspapers, is reducing staff at the end of the year as part of a series of cost-cutting measures. Founded in 1888, the…
BJC part of new ‘Know Your Neighbor’ campaign
By Bob Allen A coalition of 15 civil-rights and faith-based nonprofits including the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, is launching a new project to foster dialogue about America’s religious diversity. The “Know Your Neighbor” initiative, brainchild of Gurwin Singh…
Baugh Foundation gives $1 million to CBF
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Dec. 16 a $1 million gift from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation to support projects including long-term support of global mission field personnel. CBF Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter expressed appreciation…
Alumni pair ask Carson-Newman to revoke Title IX waiver
By Bob Allen Two alumni of Carson-Newman University have written an open letter urging the Baptist-affiliated school to revoke its waiver from a federal law banning discrimination. Travis Cooper and Jared Champion, who graduated from the school located in Jefferson…
Baylor community offers prayers for Muslim students
By Jeff Brumley Baylor University made clear to its roughly 150 Muslim students during finals week that, whatever rhetoric they hear around the nation, they are welcome and safe at the Baptist institution. More than 400 students, faculty, staff, plus…