By Bob Allen A national Baptist and Jewish organization have joined the United Church of Christ and a number of individual ministers and church members in the first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans in the United States. The Alliance…
ERLC pays tribute to Hobby Lobby owners
By Bob Allen Southern Baptists will honor the Christian owners of Hobby Lobby next week in Baltimore for refusing to pay for employee insurance coverage for birth control methods as required by Obamacare. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and…
For CBF Bahamas and its leader, new tie means increased influence in Caribbean
By Jeff Brumley Baptist John McIntosh knows it’s an honor to have been selected for the Bahamas Council of Bishops, whose members advocate for social justice and help establish churches across the island nation. But he knows something else, too:…
Decline in SBC membership, baptisms sparks leaders’ concern
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…