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…
Presidents of two Baptist-affiliated universities in N.C. to retire
By Jeff Brumley The presidents of two North Carolina universities with Baptist affiliations have announced their impending retirements. Wingate University’s Jerry E. McGee announced in April he would retire in May 2015. He is Wingate’s 13th and longest serving president with…
Texas Baptists respond to wildfires in state’s Panhandle
By Ken Camp Texas Baptist Men disaster relief responded to varied needs after the Double Diamond wildfire burned about 2,600 acres in the state’s Panhandle and destroyed 225 homes around Fritch, Texas. At its high point, the fire forced more…
UK Baptists leave gay marriage up to local church, while affirming traditional view
By Bob Allen The Baptist Union of Great Britain said in a recent statement that decisions related to a same-sex marriage law recently passed by Parliament are the purview of the local church, not the denomination. The statement, released following…