By Robert Dilday Laughter, not tears, prevailed at a memorial service July 18 for fiery religious liberty advocate James Dunn, who died two weeks ago at 83. A packed sanctuary at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. — the congregation…
The pastor’s dilemma: To friend or not to friend
By Jeff Brumley A Baptist pastor and columnist recently wrote that becoming friends with members of his church was bumping up against his seminary training. “The standard and dominant view is that the office of pastor has clearly defined boundaries…
Fox News personality fills pulpit at Southern Baptist church
By Bob Allen American Christians are on the verge of having their faith criminalized, Fox News pundit Todd Starnes warned a Southern Baptist church in Georgia in a July 5 “Faith, Family & Freedom Celebration” aired on local television. “There is…
Social workers struggle to talk religion and spirituality, study says
By Jeff Brumley Licensed clinical social worker Christen Argueta often delved into clients’ religious and spiritual views when she worked for a nonprofit counseling agency for children and families. The Houston-based counselor said it was important to do so because…
Former youth minister sentenced in third court
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist youth minister has been sentenced in a third Alabama county for sexually abusing young boys in the 1980s. Mack Allen Davis, 74, former youth pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., was…
Complementarian scholar moves to Midwestern Seminary
By Bob Allen Owen Strachan, a leading advocate of a theological view that men and women have different but complementary roles in marriage, church and society, has been named to the faculty of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City,…
Jimmy Carter says Jesus would approve gay marriage
By Bob Allen Former President Jimmy Carter — nicknamed in Baptist circles the world’s most famous Sunday school teacher — says he thinks Jesus would approve of same-sex marriage. “I believe Jesus would approve gay marriage, but that’s just my own personal…
Missouri minister launching network for busy, isolated chaplains
By Vicki Brown Chaplains — military, medical and others — often feel isolated in their ministries. James Layman feels called to help change that in the Midwest. A hospital and military chaplain for 29 years, Layman has been laying a…
Lynn Messer still missing after a year
By Bob Allen The disappearance of a Missouri Baptist lobbyist’s wife remains a mystery one year after 52-year-old Lynn Messer apparently walked away from the family’s 300-acre farm. Kerry Messer, founder of the Missouri Family Network, called the Ste. Genevieve…
Pastor’s killer ruled not guilty due to insanity
By Bob Allen An Illinois man who six years ago shot and killed a Southern Baptist minister in a Sunday morning worship service has been found not guilty by reason of insanity and will likely spend the rest of his…
Networking two continents: For Ruben Ortiz, it means bridge-building
Ruben Ortiz experiences deep fulfillment from his calling as a bridge builder between the church in Latin America and the United States. But it comes at a price. “Sometimes it’s difficult — all of the driving is causing me back…
James Dunn, robust advocate for religious liberty, dies July 4
By Robert Dilday James M. Dunn, one of Baptists’ most well-known advocates for religious liberty and separation of church and state, died July 4 a few weeks after his 83rd birthday in Winston-Salem, N.C. During his nearly two decades as…