By Bob Allen Southern Baptist churches in 2013 baptized the fewest converts since 1948 and have lost more than 570,000 members since 2006, according to annual statistics released May 28 by LifeWay Christian Resources. The Southern Baptist Convention publishing house…
Baptists, Vatican agree: Social media is worth the effort
By Jeff Brumley The Roman Catholic Church is committed to social media despite the hassles — ugly criticism, vicious arguments, inappropriate photos — a Vatican official said this week. While Facebook, Twitter and other platforms often bring out the worst in people,…
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…
Washington pastor to serve as interim executive for D.C. Baptist Convention
By Robert Dilday Washington pastor Kendrick Curry has been named interim executive director/minister of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention. Curry, senior pastor of Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in the District, will provide leadership until a successor is chosen for…
Baptist public policy group to relocate to Austin by September
By Ken Camp One of Baptists’ key public policy advocacy groups is relocating its headquarters in what it hopes will increase support for its legislative priorities. The Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission will move from Dallas to Austin, the state’s…
Summer program offers intentional community experience
By Jeff Brumley Young adult Baptists and other Christians curious about living in intentional Christian communities can learn what that life is like through a summer program offered jointly by the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ. “Summer Communities of…
A year later, those impacted by Okla. twisters grateful for spirit of unity
By Jeff Brumley It’s natural for people to ask where God was when a wave of tornadoes killed nearly 50 people in Oklahoma in May 2013, pastors say. That was also the topic of a documentary that premiered May 16…
Baptist seminary in Pa. closes doors, citing online education competition
By Jeff Brumley A proliferation of available seminaries and the rise of distance learning has led a Baptist school in Lansdale, Pa. to close its doors after holding its final graduation ceremony last week. According to a story published by…
Texas Baptists, Baylor agree to sale of Baptist Building in Dallas
By Marv Knox and Ken Camp The governing boards of Baylor University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have approved the sale of the convention’s Baptist Building in Dallas to the university. Baylor regents affirmed the sale May 16,…
TV series aims to inspire future ministers to heed calling
By Jeff Brumley Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology hopes a new weekly cable television series featuring its students, graduates and faculty will inspire some viewers to hear and heed their callings into ministry. “I believe most people are looking…
Baptists in Virginia mark 300 years of ‘uncoerced’ faith
By Robert Dilday In 1714, a small group of Baptists in Virginia asked their spiritual colleagues in Britain to send “messengers” to strengthen the fledgling religious movement in the colony. The result was the first documented Baptist congregation in Virginia….
Southwestern Seminary enrolls Muslim doctoral student, sparks controversy
By Ken Camp Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson has acknowledged the seminary recently allowed a Palestinian Muslim to enroll in the school’s Ph.D. program in archaeology. A Muslim’s enrollment in the Fort Worth, Texas, seminary marks a significant…