By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist evangelist who orchestrated the first gathering of what became known as the Religious Right in 1980 is now seeking to mobilize a new coalition of Catholic, Protestant and evangelical voters to save America’s economy….
Seminary student charged with sexual assault
By Bob Allen A student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary was arrested Saturday, March 17, and charged with second-degree sexual offense against another male student in a campus apartment. William Birch William Watson “Billy” Birch, 43, was arrested after admitting…
Churches conflicted when it comes to social media engagement
By Robert Dilday It’s not about hunting. It’s about farming. That’s how bestselling author Ivan Misner, founder of one of the world’s largest business networking organizations, describes social networks, which he says attempt to do one thing—cultivate relationships. For church…
It’s better to debate than downsize
By Zachary Bailes Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler predicts the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will split over the issue of homosexuality. Meanwhile, Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood announced incentives for employees to take early retirement or resign voluntarily as…
Obama appeals to ‘social gospel’
By Bob Allen President Obama denied March 12 that he is “waging a war on religion,” citing his own work as a community organizer before entering politics as part of the “social gospel.” Asked in a White House interview with…
Luter says his election would improve SBC’s image on race
By Bob Allen A New Orleans pastor seeking to become the Southern Baptist Convention’s first black president says his election would add credibility to a 1995 resolution that apologized for the denomination’s past support of slavery and segregation. Fred Luter…
Long-time WMU leader Helen Fling dies
Associated Baptist Press Helen Fling, 97, a longtime leader in Woman’s Missionary Union, died March 1. Her memorial service was March 6 at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. The wife of Pastor Robert Fling, she was president of…
Is Al Mohler right about CBF?
By Chuck Bugg Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently predicted that the CBF may divide over the issue of “homosexuality.” Perhaps he is right. However, at its best CBF has been able to affirm diversity without degenerating…
Former teacher, youth pastor indicted on sex charges
By Bob Allen An Alabama grand jury indicted a former teacher and Southern Baptist youth minister March 6 on eight counts of sexual abuse 20 years after he avoided firing from his school-teacher job for similar allegations. Daniel Acker, who…