By Jeff Brumley Baptist minister Terrell Carter felt he could identify when a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., last August. “I know what it’s like to be racially profiled,” said Carter, who is African-American. “But on…
American Baptist College criticized for inviting lesbian preacher
By Bob Allen More than 50 faith leaders, most of them Baptists, voiced support March 9 for a historically black Baptist college being criticized for inviting a lesbian who is legally married to a woman to speak on campus. Baptist…
Missouri youth director charged with abuse
By Bob Allen A 42-year-old man who until recently worked as youth director at a Missouri Baptist church is in jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond after being arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a teenaged girl. Dale G. Johnson,…
People of faith key to healing wounds of mass incarceration, expert says
By Ken Camp In a nation where mass incarceration policies have devastated poor and minority communities, people of faith and hope can bring about change, an advocate for criminal justice reform told a Baylor University crowd. “Injustice prevails where hopelessness persists,” said…
Christians for socialism
“Socialism” is a word with a very negative connotation for most Americans. And yet perhaps socialism, especially democratic socialism, deserves to be much more highly evaluated by the public at large and by Christians in particular. Last month I read…
New Orleans Baptist church rocked by abuse arrest
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist youth minister fired by his church after he was seen on surveillance video sneaking into a closet with a 14-year-old girl faces up to 10 years in prison on a charge of sexual battery….
Supreme Court brief argues for gay Baptist minister’s right to wed
By Bob Allen Four same-sex couples in Kentucky, including a Baptist minister, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage in a 60-page brief filed Feb. 27. Petitioners included Maurice “Bojangles” Blanchard, a gay-rights activist…
Moderate Baptists rise to aid of woman on death row in Georgia
By Bob Allen Update: Kelly Renee Gissendaner’s execution was postponed Monday night when officials cited problems with the drug that would be used for the lethal injection. Officials are waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to either grant or deny…
Studies, experts suggest why some Christians like church shopping
By Vicki Brown You’ve been a member of the same church for a few years. While you may not know everyone in the congregation well, you are acquainted with most folks in your Sunday school class. One Sunday morning you…