This past week, I watched as my social media pages were flooded with “first day of school” photos. My friends’ school-aged children stood by their front doors, or perhaps a nice tree in their yard, smiling and adorned with new…
Grace Valentine, ice cream and sources of empowerment for women in complementarian circles
After a Good Friday worship service, Anne-Tillery, a divinity school friend and I, were discussing gender roles in the church over ice cream at the local Kilwins. The night before, we had found ourselves among a sizable group of sorority…
BSK and Wake Forest Divinity announce master’s degree changes
Two seminaries that partner with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship have announced changes to their core curricula that address the changing needs of students seeking theological education. Wake Forest University School of Divinity has completely revamped its master of divinity degree,…
The grace of wildness: Reflections on a new year
The church was full of birds; at least it was when I was there. In January 2005, for about a week, I went to mass at 5:00 every morning in the Catholic church across the street from the Mekong River…
Princeton Seminary removes name of slaveholding founder from its chapel
Princeton Theological Seminary announced Jan. 25 that it has changed the name on its campus chapel to avoid further association with a slaveholding professor. Samuel Miller was the second professor hired at the Presbyterian seminary. Born in 1769, he was…
No stranger to controversy, Alabama scholar critiques values of Trump, Southern culture
Wayne Flynt is a Baptist minister whose calling frequently lands him in controversy. “My role is to move the Kingdom of God one step closer, day by day,” says Flynt, 78, an acclaimed author and teacher on Alabama politics, Southern…
Pastor counsels churches to greet disabled with compassion, not exclusion or fear
Individuals with disabilities, and their families, are accustomed to poor treatment wherever they go – including church.
Baptist pastors gather in Boston to discuss ministry in divisive times
Close to 40 Baptist ministers gathered in Boston Sept. 17-20 for Baptist News Global’s second Conversations that Matter event. Centered in church venues on and around Harvard University, the gathering this year was themed “Pastoral Leadership in a Polarized and…
Powerful spiritual force needed to counter critical national, world challenges
Research shows that a slight majority of Americans believe religion can solve most of the world’s problems. According to Gallup, 55 percent of Americans hold that view. Broken down by politics, 71 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of Democrats express that…