By Jeff Brumley Frustrating to social activists, both inside and outside of churches, is how many protest campaigns last about as long as the average American attention span. “I think about Rodney King and moments in our history when we…
SBC president calls for racial healing
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd urged members of America’s second-largest faith group behind Roman Catholics to reaffirm their opposition to racism and injustice in a Dec. 15 statement endorsed by ethnic leaders. “Southern Baptists have always…
Former SBC leader says race a rift in America’s social fabric
By Bob Allen The former ethics spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention says visceral reaction to decisions by grand juries in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y., not to indict police officers in the deaths of two unarmed African-American males…
Southern Baptists move up summit on race as issue simmers
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s moral concerns agency announced plans Dec. 11 for a March summit on racial reconciliation responding to the deaths of African-American men in clashes with police in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y. “The…
American Baptist, NYC clergy protest Eric Garner decision
By Bob Allen National and regional leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA called for an examination of the U.S. criminal justice system, while interfaith leaders in New York City said a special prosecutor should investigate police misconduct in light…
A Litany of Tragedies
The streets of Ferguson had grown quiet, but this was not to last. After weeks of deliberation and hours upon hours of testimony, the grand jury tasked with determining whether or not Office Darren Wilson should be charged with any…
SBC leader Russell Moore denounces Eric Garner grand jury decision
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention ethics leader Russell Moore reacted with shock and disbelief to a grand jury decision in Staten Island, N.Y., not to indict a police officer captured on video using a chokehold to subdue a non-compliant…
The race talk
By Starlette McNeill Race. The mere mentioning of the word reveals our unpreparedness, inexperience, awkwardness. Race has been with us for hundreds of years, yet we still don’t know what to say about it — though we are clear on…
Race, Ferguson, and Youth Ministry
There are important conversations happening now in American about race. Since I’m a student minister, I’ve been thinking about my students and how this conversation needs to include them. So, how do I talk with teenagers about something as big…