By Vicki Brown A Southern Baptist church in Missouri is under scrutiny by its local association for replacing a pastor who resigned for health reasons with his daughter. Melody Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Stanton, Mo., said she…
War on women?
By Bill Leonard Tertullian, third-century theologian, wrote of woman: “You are the Devil’s gateway. You are the unsealer of that forbidden tree. You are the first deserter of the divine law. You are she who persuaded him whom the Devil…
Panel urges ‘complementarians’ to practice what they preach
By Bob Allen A movement in evangelical Christianity that promotes male headship and wifely submission in marriage faces competition today not from radical feminists but rather believers who are “complementarian” in name only, according to a panel at a recent…
Georgia Baptists rescind grant to women’s health clinic
By Bob Allen The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation withdrew a $42,000 grant from a women’s health clinic after learning that it dispenses morning-after birth control pills. According to the Rome News-Tribune, the grant was for cervical cancer screening…
Can we tell the truth?
By Elizabeth Evans Hagan At a recent writing workshop the presenter offered this advice. “If you want to write well, if you want to connect with your audience,” she offered, “you always must tell the truth. There’s nothing that can…
Mississippi Baptists back abortion limits
By Bob Allen After endorsing a failed “personhood” amendment to the state constitution last fall, Mississippi Baptist leaders are now backing legislation that observers say could shut down the state’s only abortion clinic. Passed by Mississippi’s House of Representatives March…
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…
Candidate: Faith, politics mix in public arena
By Vicki Brown A Baptist preacher’s wife running for lieutenant governor in Missouri says that while voters should consider a candidate’s moral character and values, faith should not be used for political ends. Judy Baker, who has a master’s degree…
Preach it, Sister!
By Derik Hamby This month I got to sit in the congregation with my 7-year-old daughter. My wife is in choir, so she usually sits with friends. It was nice to enjoy worship with her. I was exiled from my…
Why Baptists need Martha Stearns Marshall Month
By Kate Hanch Martha Stearns Marshall Month, sponsored by Baptist Women in Ministry each February, celebrates the voices of women in the pulpit. Martha Stearns Marshall lived during the 18th century. Along with her husband, she provided leadership and preaching…
Campus minister Melissa Cheliras dies following battle with cancer
By Robert Dilday Melissa Cheliras, Baptist campus minister at the University of Richmond, died Feb. 10, following a four-month battle with esophageal cancer. She was 33. Melissa Cheliras Cheliras had been part-time collegiate minister at UR since last summer. She…
SBC leader criticizes Komen reversal
By Bob Allen The head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing house said Feb. 3 that Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s reversal of a decision to disassociate from Planned Parenthood means that pink-bound Holman Christian Standard Bibles taking up…