Did Holy Week this year seem to shout out for a new dimension of holy dialogue? It did to me. It was an unusual and disruptive week in several ways. It caused me to think about the need for a…
Group proclaims: Let there be access
By Daniel Wallace After one week of a workforce training course where he learned how to build a resume and search for jobs online, a Houston man finally found what he couldn’t the past three years: a job. That’s a common story…
DC Baptists agree to differ on gay marriage
By Robert Dilday Leaders of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention said in a statement March 27 that while the convention’s “diverse body of believers” holds strong opinions on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate, its churches remain focused…
Jesus faces mock trial in Texas
By Jeff Brumley Mark Osler will leave First Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, Thursday evening spiritually drained. Seeking the death penalty for Jesus Christ, he said, always does that to him. “It is very dark,” said Osler, a former federal…
Prof expects kinder, gentler ERLC
By Bob Allen A Baptist communications professor who has written a book about religious language in politics predicts that Southern Baptists’ new spokesman for public affairs will be less strident and politically partisan than his predecessor. Russell Moore’s selection as…
Russell Moore new ERLC leader
By Bob Allen The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has named seminary professor and administrator Russell Moore as president. He succeeds Richard Land, who retires after 25 years as the Southern Baptist Convention’s chief spokesman on public policy and religious-liberty…
Holy Week: Breaking the silence
By Bill Leonard “The Kingdom of God is here. And by the way, don’t tell anybody.” That’s what Jesus said to those he gathered up around the Sea of Galilee, at the start of things. His message, John Dominic Crossan…
Rise up against Christian extremists
Thoughtful Christians can’t win the argument with hate-mongers simply by shouting them down. They must respond with loving actions that say clearly to Muslims that the extremists don’t speak for us. Where is the voice of the moderate church today?…
Baptists go after payday loans
By Aaron Weaver Abortion, homosexuality and church-state separation are all issues on which Baptists have made their diverse opinions loudly known to the public. But predatory lending is not an issue that many associate with Baptists. Yet, Baptists in several…
Baptists hopeful about new pope
By Jeff Brumley Baptists reacting to this week’s installation of Pope Francis voiced hope about his record for improving relations between Catholics and Protestants, his concern for the poor and the face he puts on the broader Christian community for non-believers. Alan Rudnick, pastor…
Ky. settles Baptist home lawsuit
By Bob Allen A long-running legal battle over taxpayer funding of a Baptist children’s home in Kentucky may have ended with a March 12 settlement of a 13-year-old lawsuit filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and…
Aging out of church
One of the things that gnaws at a pastor is wondering why people stop coming to church. Yes, there always are people who hop from one church to another for this reason or that; and we grieve those losses. And…