By Bob Allen A Mercer University professor on loan for one year to the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary was inducted March 13 as sixth president of a long-respected school attempting to rebuild after decades of civil war and recent controversy…
Longtime pastor will use skills honed in congregations for wider engagement
By Jeff Brumley Texan Mark Newton says he had no intention or interest in leaving the pulpit, even with a quarter century of pastoring churches under his belt. But Newton did just that recently by stepping down as pastor at…
Report: SACS to investigate Louisiana College
By Bob Allen The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools plans to investigate media reports that documents submitted leading to reaffirmation of Louisiana College’s accreditation in December may have been forged, The Town Talk newspaper in Alexandria, La., reported March…
‘Pilgrimage’ to the South’s civil rights sites to explore religion, culture
By Jeff Brumley A Mercer University-led tour of the American South will expose participants to some of the culture, history, politics, architecture, food, religion and key locations that informed and drove the nation’s civil rights movement. In other words, one of…
Former Louisiana College VP files lawsuit
By Bob Allen A former Louisiana College administrator sued the Louisiana Baptist Convention-affiliated school March 11 claiming wrongful termination after he filed a whistleblower report alleging misconduct by the school’s president. Timothy Johnson, former executive vice president at Louisiana College,…
In quest to empower the vulnerable, Global Women hears ‘heartbreaking stories’
By Jennifer Harris Dault “We are all part of an amazing story — God’s story.” That was the message Cindy Dawson, executive director of Global Women, hoped to communicate at her group’s Summit March 7-8 in St. Louis. The Summit…
North American Baptists ask, what will we look like in 50 years?
By Robert Dilday The North American Baptist Fellowship marked its 50th anniversary March 6-7 with a nod to the past while focusing on what the group’s general secretary called one of its greatest challenges — finding a mission and vision…
Baptist groups at forefront of ecumenical disaster relief
By Jeff Brumley In an age of declining respect for churches and an overall disinterest in religion, sometimes it takes a tornado or earthquake to show the world that Baptists and other Christians can, in fact, do something right. That…
Declining attendance prompts call to merge BWA’s congress, youth conference
By Robert Dilday Dwindling attendance at both the Baptist World Alliance’s world congress and youth conference has prompted a proposal to merge the two international meetings, held every five years though not simultaneously. BWA general secretary Neville Callam told the…