By Bob Allen The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied a clemency petition Sept. 29 for Kelly Gissendaner, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection tonight for plotting her husband’s murder in 1997. The parole board met Tuesday…
It’s the economy, Christian
By Bob Allen Four million black people were fired in 1865, when President Lincoln and the federal government abolished slavery, a pastor told a packed house at the first summit meeting of a new coalition of churches in Louisville, Ky.,…
Faith leaders renew campaign advocating for woman on death row
By Bob Allen Georgia faith leaders including former Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal gathered Sept. 23 outside the office of the Board of Pardons and Paroles protesting the newly rescheduled execution of the only woman on Georgia’s death…
Research addresses ‘silent sorrow’ of stillbirth, miscarriage
By Terry Goodrich With the rate of stillbirths now topping that of infants who die before their first birthdays, employers — and society in general — must become more empathetic to families grieving the death of a baby through stillbirth…
Baptist leaders mark pope’s visit with call to action on climate change
By Bob Allen Leaders of two Baptist groups were among 34 interfaith leaders across the United States sending a letter to Congress in light of the pope’s visit and his call for action to fight climate change. Paula Clayton Dempsey,…
Faith leaders pledge to fight hunger
By Bob Allen Baptist leaders were among nearly 100 top officials from all major faith groups on the eve of Pope Francis’ arrival calling for a shift in national priorities to end hunger and poverty. Faith leaders gathered Sept. 21…
Christian colleges group loses 2 members over homosexuality
By Bob Allen Two Christian colleges who added sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policies have dropped out of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Earlier this year, Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen College sparked controversy over membership standards for…
How do we balance religious liberty and rule of law?
If you could collect a dime every time U.S. media mention “religious liberty” between now and Election Day 2016, you could fund your own Super-PAC — or maybe even bankroll your own run for the White House. We’re going to…
The consequences of a worldview
It seems like each new school year lately brings another scandalous story of something stupid a college fraternity has done. In my home state of Virginia, Old Dominion University’s Sigma Nu fraternity is this year’s culprit. As parents were arriving…
I’m tired of saying “I’m Sorry!”
I’m sorry. It may be the most common phrase in my work. I am sorry about the death; I am sorry about the diagnosis; I am sorry you didn’t like the music, the sermon, the temperature. It seems that I…
Kim Davis: Blinded by belief
So, Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to sign marriage licenses for same sex couples, went to jail. And many political conservatives and religious fundamentalists praised her faith — as if she’s the first person ever jailed for following…
Refugee crisis spurs Baptist assistance
By Eron Henry and Robert Dilday Baptists are ratcheting up their assistance to the growing refugee crisis in Europe, as increasing numbers of migrants are fleeing war and economic dislocation for safer havens. European leaders are struggling to develop a…