By Bill Leonard On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, the terrorists who call themselves an Islamic State released a lurid video showing the decapitation of 21 Egyptian laborers working in Libya. Taken hostage in January, largely because they were Coptic Christians,…
Fired Atlanta fire chief sues city
By Bob Allen Former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran has filed a federal lawsuit against the city claiming he was fired because of his religious beliefs. Cochran, a member and deacon at Southern Baptist-affiliated Elizabeth Baptist Church, was fired Jan….
Legislator aims to make Bible state book of Tennessee
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist pastor turned state lawmaker has introduced legislation to designate the Bible “the official state book” of Tennessee. Rep. Jerry Sexton, a Republican from Bean Station in the Morristown metropolitan area in East Tennessee,…
Baptists, Catholics oppose D.C. laws
By Bob Allen Faith-based organizations with offices in Washington including the Southern Baptist Convention and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote a letter Feb. 5 asking Congress to reject two new District of Columbia laws they say would restrict…
The culture wars come to Georgia
My home state of Georgia is the setting for the latest battle in America’s never-ending culture wars. The event that ignited this fresh fight was Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s decision to fire Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran for, according to…
I’m a clergy who opposes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The British Catholic apologist G.K. Chesterton once said that America is “the only nation founded on a creed.” I wonder if that’s why the great Virginia Baptist John Leland opposed ratifying the United States Constitution, forcing James Madison’s father to…
I am Charlie, I am Jewish, I am …
Baptists, of all people, are qualified-and should be motivated-to speak words of peace, reconciliation and encouragement to the religious divisions plaguing our world. Disenfranchisement is part of our DNA. We support free speech and free expression. We value religious liberty….
Georgia Baptists divided over religious liberty bill
By Bob Allen A Baptist newspaper editor compared perceived discrimination against Christians in the 21st century to the 1960s struggle for civil rights in comments at a Georgia statehouse rally Jan. 28 quoted by local media. Gerald Harris, editor of…
Georgia Baptist clergy oppose ‘religious liberty’ bill
By Bob Allen Religious liberty isn’t a license to discriminate, a Georgia Baptist pastor said at a news conference Jan. 28 at the Georgia State Capitol convened by opponents to proposed legislation preventing “government overreach” in matters of religious expression….