The Virginia state senate on Monday passed a bill that would allow Bible teaching in public high schools.
BJC opposes ‘government-funded religious discrimination’ in foster care
Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, said a Jan. 23 decision to grant an exception to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for religious discrimination “shows more concern for the providers than children in need and willing foster parents.”
Baptists, other Protestants spared from effort to restrict worship and evangelism
Issues of religious liberty in the United States are often discussed in terms of wedding cakes, taxpayer-funded church playgrounds and politics in the pulpit. In other parts of the world, it’s more about survival.
Pack a constitution with that Bible for overseas mission trips, expert says
A huge challenge facing faith-based groups operating overseas is ignorance about the laws governing religion in other countries. It can get people into a lot of trouble, said Eron Henry, a Jamaian-born American and former communications executive with the Baptist…
Jeff Sessions’ heckler influenced by Baptist ‘tradition of protest’
A Baptist minister removed earlier this week as a heckler during a speech on religious liberty by Attorney General Jeff Sessions is a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity and former intern for the Baptist Joint Committee…
Atlanta agrees to pay to $1.2 million to former fire chief Kelvin Cochran
The city of Atlanta has agreed to pay a former fire chief fired for writing a book critical of homosexuality $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination.
Panel says Arkansas Supreme Court justices violated ethics by removing pastor/judge from death penalty cases
A state government commission tasked with investigating claims concerning the ethical conduct or disability of judges on Thursday filed formal charges against six members of the Arkansas Supreme Court for their handling of a case involving a Little Rock judge…
Reluctant appeals court says Pensacola cross must go
A federal appeals panel ruled reluctantly Sept. 7 that a 34-foot Latin cross standing in a public park in Pensacola, Florida, since 1941 must come down.
North Dakota drops felony charges against Standing Rock protestor
North Dakota prosecutors have agreed to drop felony charges against a Native American activist, ending one of the last high-profile criminal cases remaining from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests of 2016-2017. Chase Iron Eyes, an attorney and former Democratic candidate…
Panel says ethics charges against pastor/judge who protested executions can stand
A disciplinary panel has declined to dismiss charges against an Arkansas judge and Baptist pastor accused of violating judicial ethics by participating in a demonstration against capital punishment in 2017. The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission on Monday said…
Baptist leader says ‘one-sided’ religious liberty task force falls short
The head of a Baptist organization specializing in matters involving church and state gave low marks to a new White House initiative to promote the administration’s views on religious liberty.
Pastor-judge files appeal of case dismissal
An Arkansas judge barred from hearing death penalty cases after attending a rally against capital punishment in his other job as a Baptist pastor claims a three-judge panel rushed to judgment when it dismissed his lawsuit and wants a rehearing…