By Bob Allen One hundred sixty-seven years after forming over the right to appoint slaveholders as missionaries and 17 years after apologizing for the denomination’s racist past, the Southern Baptist Convention elected its first African-American president June 19. Messengers to…
Honoring the military
By Miguel De La Torre During the recent Memorial Day weekend, we heard a lot of patriot rhetoric about those who gave their lives protecting our freedom. While I respect those who join the armed services out of a sense…
U.S. military emblems removed from Bibles
By Bob Allen A group that monitors religious freedom violations in the armed forces claimed victory June 11 after the Pentagon announced that LifeWay Christian Resources can no longer use official emblems of the four military branches on Bibles sold…
Military emblems removed from Bibles
By Bob Allen A group that monitors religious freedom violations in the armed forces claimed victory June 11 after the Pentagon announced that LifeWay Christian Resources can no longer use official emblems of the four military branches on Bibles sold…
Faith groups tout anti-discrimination bill
By Bob Allen Thirty-seven faith groups wrote senators June 12 urging passage of a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism coordinated the letter signed…
Faith leaders protest contraceptive rule
By Bob Allen Nearly 150 faith leaders wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius June 11 protesting the administration’s requirement that faith-based employers include contraceptive coverage for women in their health-care plans. The Affordable Health Care Act, also known…
Walking spoils of war
Veterans Affairs needs an overhaul, and churches can lead the way in veteran care reform—only if they work together. I’ve wondered how the church would respond to wounded veterans’ needs. In communities across the country veterans return attempting to fight…
Baptist school fires gay librarian
By Bob Allen A gay librarian at Shorter University who refused to sign a statement rejecting homosexuality has been fired, the Save Our Shorter website reported June 7. Michael Wilson, 50, off-campus librarian for professional studies since 1998, returned his…
The parable of the vineyard from the margins
By Miguel De La Torre One early morning, a certain vineyard owner sets out to hire laborers. He goes to the local bodega where laborers usually wait to be hired, negotiates a fair day’s wage and sends them to his…