Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Millennials Will Soon Step into Church Leadership
There will soon be a paradigm shift as Millennials begin stepping into leadership roles in every organization including churches. Many of us currently in church leadership were trained to manage organizations....
May 31, 2016
Baylor Brings in ex-Wake Coach (San Angelo Standard-Times) Christian School Stands by Biblical Values Despite Risk of Losing U.S. Federal Funding (Christian Today) Ed Stetzer Believes Evangelism Should be Christians'...
On Memorial Day: Practicing the Discipline of Remembering
Some things we want to remember, and some we want to forget. But what do we do when the things we want to forget are also the things we should remember? As I shared a eulogy recently at Barrancas National Cemetery at...
May 28, 2016
Traditional Theological Schools Explore Mergers and Campus Sales (Inside Higher Ed) Trump's Neo-Nazi and Jewish Backers are Both Convinced He's Secretly On Their Side (Huffington Post) Could Mississippi Integration...
Even as Congregations End, the Church Continues
I worked previously at a Cokesbury Bookstore located on the campus of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. A smaller store than most Cokesbury-owned stores, we had a lot of customers who sought out the specialist...
Who Are the Lonely People in Your Church?
I can think of only two times when I've felt seriously lonely. One was my first week as a student - in a completely strange city, in which I knew not a single soul. The other was the first time I went abroad - far from...
May 27, 2016
Baylor Removes Ken Starr as President Over University's Response to Sex Assault Cases (NPR) Homosexuals 'Worthy of Death' Bible Verse Read Before Key Vote in U.S. House (Roll Call) South Carolina Joins 13 States...
The last days …
All good things must come to an end, at least on this world, and study tours are no exception. Though travelers in Greece with Campbell University Divinity School and Nurturing Faith Experiences learned much and grew...
Who’s in Your Church? Members or Disciples?
The word "member" was, in its original biblical usage, a very healthy, organic term. It's found 45 times in the New Testament, with only nine instances in the gospels. Paul uses "member" in his use of the body metaphor...
Broad Concern About U.S. Moral Condition
Eighty percent of all U.S. adults are concerned about the moral condition of the nation, according to a Barna Group survey. "Though measurable differences exist between population segments, moral concern is widespread...
May 26, 2016
Starr Says He Remains Baylor's President; Petition Urges Regents to Keep Him (Waco Tribune) Houston Baptist to Remain Gun-Free (Houston Chronicle) Women are Leaving Church, and the Reason Seems Clear (Religion...
The hills are alive …
There is music in Athens, but the hills are mainly alive with the echoes of history, and those echoes rang clear May 23 for folks traveling with Campbell University Divinity School and Nurturing Faith Experiences. From...
Godsey affirms mystery, relatedness in new book
By John D. Pierce To disclose a bias: I highly regard R. Kirby Godsey as an innovative leader and deep thinker, and seek his wise counsel at times of strategic decision making. For 27 years he led Mercer University as...
The Role of Individual Volition in Moral Formation
There are four interdependent areas that contribute to "moral formation," according to Louise Kretzschmar. Kretzschmar is professor of theological ethics at the University of South Africa; the International Baptist...
Prison Ministry Deemed Important, But Not Prioritized in Many Churches
Nearly unanimous support exists among U.S. Protestant churches for ministry to persons during incarceration and upon their release, but few make it a priority, according to a LifeWay Research survey. "Eighty-three...
May 25, 2016
Baylor Not Commenting on Reports of President Kenneth Starr's Firing (Washington Post) Kenneth Starr, Who Tried to Bury Bill Clinton, Now Only Praises Him (New York Times) Jimmy Carter Accuses Donald Trump of Violating...
A tale of two islands …
Extended days and insufficient bandwidth are not conducive to regular blogging, but the 2016 Bible Lands Study Tour to Greece and Turkey, sponsored by Campbell University Divinity School and Nurturing Faith...
A Visit with Jeremiah Provides Perspective for Today
Sometime in every election cycle I feel a need to stop by with an old friend named Jeremiah for a reality check. He has some experience with the challenges inherent in the complexities of religious faith and political...
Financial Crisis Continues for Christian Schools in Israel
Christian schools in Israel "are at risk of collapsing financially," said Abdel Masih Fahim, general secretary of The Office of Christian Schools in Israel, in a May 23 statement. There are currently "47 Christian...
6 Steps to Help You Overcome Discouragement
"It's A Wonderful Life" opens with a conversation between God, St. Peter and Clarence, angel second-class. Clarence is about to get his big chance as a guardian angel, and upon hearing that his charge, George Bailey,...
Crossover Between Foster Care and Juvenile Justice a Pressing Issue
"Crossover youth" - children and youth who have experienced abuse, neglect or exploitation that engage in delinquent activities - are particularly vulnerable and pose unique challenges to both the foster care and...