Consumer advocates welcomed new rules proposed by the federal government to rein in abuses in payday lending, a nearly $40 billion industry currently regulated by the states. Regulations released June 2 by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a five-year-old federal…
Moving beyond opposition to payday lending
One of the things I love about working in a downtown church is the way it brings me into relationships with poor people. I love this not because I believe I am of much value to them beyond what I…
CBF, New Baptist Covenant team up for civil rights event
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and New Baptist Covenant will host an offsite event June 24 at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum focusing on advocacy and racial reconciliation during the 2016 CBF General Assembly in Greensboro, N.C. Attendees will…
Covenant of action inspires churches to social justice
Two very different Dallas churches inspired by callings for social justice are surmounting racial and geographical differences to minister to their city’s poor. Friendship-West Baptist and Wilshire Baptist churches came together formally in 2014 with a covenant of action through…
Faith coalition cites survey condemning payday lending practices
Religious opponents of payday lending got a boost Wednesday from the release of a new research confirming widespread Christian condemnation of the practice. Faith for Just Lending, a diverse coalition of faith groups, released a report titled The Collateral Consequences…
DNC head challenged by faith leaders over exploitative payday lending
Several Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ministers were among 36 faith leaders sending an open letter March 17 taking the chair of the Democratic National Committee to task for resisting attempts by the Obama administration to rein in abuses in payday lending….
Trust in Jesus, except with wealth
By Seth Vopat When in doubt, turn to the Gospels. Uncertain where to go, trust in Jesus. The red letters — which is Christian language for words attributed to Jesus — will show you how to follow. Except for when…
God, guns, freedom, and idolatry in America
After another mass shooting last week, I watched countless conversations about mass killings unfold on social media and in the news cycle. As many Christians defended complete and total legislative inaction in the wake of wonton violence, I was literally…
Payday loans and potato chips
“Payday loans are the Lay’s potato chips of finance; you can’t have just one and they’re terrible for you.” Comedian John Oliver dropped that line during a segment on his new show Last Week Tonight back in August. The HBO…