Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
How Your Church Can Support Peace for Israel, Palestine
Many Christians across the United States may have little interest in, and perhaps not much knowledge of, the World Council of Churches (WCC). Some Christians are even quite critical of the WCC. Nevertheless, the WCC is...
How to Make the Transition to Bivocational Ministry
I receive a phone call from pastors who are concerned about the finances of their churches every few weeks. This concern is often centered on the prospect that they will be asked to become bivocational. Pastors usually...
Profiles in Goodwill: Clista Adkins
Clista Adkins is a minister currently living in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is a board member of the Baptist Center for Ethics. 1. Where did you grow up? Shreveport, Louisiana. 2. What is your favorite Bible verse, book...
September 18, 2014
Air Force: 'So Help Me God' Oath is Optional (ABC News) Middle East: ISIS Bans Math, Social Studies for Children (CNN) Russia: Factory Gives Fighter Jet to Head of Russian Orthodox Church (Reuters) Former Michigan...
Absent evidence
Don't you love those days when you have more stuff to do than you can shake a stick at, but not enough room to shake the stick? I've got writing projects galore to get on with, not to mention Nurturing Faith videos to...
These Stats Shine Light on Local Church Health
It happens nearly every day for me—the inevitable conversation about the demise of organized religious activities, specifically local church attendance and giving. The vultures are gathering to feast on the carcass of...
Profiles in Goodwill: Steve Vernon
Steve Vernon is the associate executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is a board member of the Baptist Center for Ethics. 1. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Happy, Texas, just south of...
Keeping Christian Social Action Work from Disintegrating
There has been huge growth in social action projects established by churches in the United Kingdom in the last 15 years. The rise of food banks has probably been the most high-profile example, but there has also been a...
September 17, 2014
Texas School Textbook Battle Heats Up Over Religion (CBS Local) Turkey: European Court Tells Turkey to End Compulsory Religion Courses (Todays Zaman) Nigeria: South Africans Killed in Church Collapse (AlJazeera) Terri...
Why Your Church Needs to Learn How to Care
Caring for others is a habit to be learned. One of the hardest classes I took in seminary was not theology, philosophy, Hebrew or Greek. It was pastoral care. The aim of pastoral care is to teach students how to...
Profiles in Goodwill: Babs Baugh
Babs Baugh is a member of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, and is a board member of the Baptist Center for Ethics. 1. Where did you grow up? Houston, Texas. 2. What is your favorite Bible verse, book or...
Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon Declares “State of Emergency”
The Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon has issued a "state of emergency," hoping "to preserve what remains of the Christian--and moderate non-Christian--presence in the East, and to...
September 16, 2014
Historic Fort Worth Church Dedicates New Sanctuary (WFAA) 'Never Forget the Sacrifices;' 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Victims Remembered in Service (Birmingham News) Battle Brewing Among Evangelicals Over Same...
4 Ways Your Church Can Pay Your Next Minister Fairly
I have advised several local church search committees about many important considerations as they seek transitional or ongoing clergy to serve their congregations over the past year. During these discussions, I feel it...
Profiles in Goodwill: Keith Herron
Keith Herron is the senior pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and is a board member of the Baptist Center for Ethics. He has recently accepted the call to pastor the St. Lucas UCC...
Is Christianity Dead in Iraq? 4 Signs of Hope
We have heard about the atrocities, the thousands of Christians displaced and the ancient churches being destroyed by Islamic State (IS). Is this a temporary battle that U.S. firepower will help win or are we...
September 15, 2014
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Church (Seattle Times) When You're the Only White Person in the Room (CNN) Truett Cathy's Lessons on Life and Business (Wall Street Journal) Meditation Effective in Reducing Migraines,...
Oh, my achin’ back …
I'm too old for this. Really. But too cheap to hire professional movers. So, with a promising sale of Susan's house in Macon on the horizon, we spent the weekend packing and cleaning and digging a drainage ditch the...
September 13, 2014
N.C. Dunkin' Donuts Bakery Sued for Religious Discrimination (USA Today) Christians Enraged With Cruz Over Pro-Israel Comments (Daily Beast) Eastern Christians Meet With Obama, Discuss Concern for Mideast Minorities...
Yakking it up
When a child goes to college, parents can learn a lot. For example, I hadn't known about one of the latest social media rages until my son told me about some comments another student had made on YikYak. Yik what?...
Baptists Offer Divergent Responses to Obama’s ISIS Speech
Baptists and other Christians responded in varying ways to President Barack Obama's prime-time speech about proposals to confront a growing terrorist threat in the Middle East. Although previously authorizing limited...