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…
Louisiana College off probation
By Bob Allen Officials at Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College announced Dec. 8 the school is no longer on probation with its accrediting agency. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges put the school on probation in June 2014…
CBF Virginia taps new leader
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia unanimously elected a new field coordinator at a called General Assembly Dec. 5 at Central Baptist Church in North Chesterfield, Va. Terry Maples, who for the last five-and-a-half years has held…
Transforming systems, shaping policies
By Ken Camp As a child, the daydreams of Kathryn Freeman, future attorney and public policy director for Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission, never centered on courtroom drama or legislative power plays. “I wanted to be like Oprah,” Freeman acknowledges….