Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Workshop Challenges New Covenant Baptists to Seek Peace
Humans are caught "in an inextricable network of mutuality" that requires nations to overcome differences to work together for peace, Baptist ethicist Paul Dekar said Thursday at a special-interest session on...
Gore Urges New Covenant Baptists to Take Up Mantle of Creation Care
Former Vice President Al Gore challenged 2,500 fellow Baptists at a Thursday luncheon with prophetic zeal to take up the mantle of reversing global warming. Speaking to a luncheon crowd at this week's New Baptist...
Author John Grisham Offers Tips to Restore Baptists’ Good Name
Why are Baptists so often viewed as narrow, intolerant, politically naive and prone to internal warfare? "The reason is because for so long so many Baptists have worked so hard to exclude so many," author John Grisham...
Gore serious, and funny
Former Vice President Al Gore, during a luncheon today on protecting the earth from climate change, was passionate and serious. He was also funny.Since I am science-challenged, you can read the serious stuff...
The unholy trinity
Churches must recognize the spread of HIV/AIDS as a justice issue and overcome pervasive stigmas about the disease if they are to live out the gospel in their communities, according to panelists at a special interest...
Human need in the spotlight
While participants at the New Baptist Covenant enjoyed rare fellowship with brothers and sisters from different traditions, On Thursday morning they were sharply reminded of needs throughout the world and of Christ’s...
Bill Leonard on Celebration’s significance
Church historian Bill Leonard, dean of the Wake Forest Divinity School, just gave me his perspective on the historical significance of this Baptist Celebration."It is the largest gathering of Anglo- and...
Classic Campolo
Only Tony Campolo, the constant burr under the evangelical saddle for decades, would tell a Baptist gathering: "Rise up you suckers and go out and do the work of Jesus!"Only Campolo would tell former President Jimmy...
Students learning, contributing
Students from moderate minded divinity schools are learning from and participating in the New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta. Each session features a student as the scripture reader, and others are serving as...
A well-deserved welcome
I'll leave it to others to comment at more length on Jimmy Carter's speech during the opening session of the "Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant." The speech was quite good and called Baptists to remember what being...
Praying for voters
Planners of the New Baptist Covenant celebration have worked hard to downplay any political aspects of the meeting, though they have constantly been accused of having a political agenda. It hasn’t helped that...
Jimmy Carter Rates New Baptist Covenant Celebration His ‘Most Momentous’ Religious Event
One of the world's most famous Baptists, Jimmy Carter accepted Christ at age 11 and began teaching Bible lessons 65 years ago. "But this celebration of the New Baptist Covenant is the most momentous event in my...
Can We Be Saved By Lent?
The first Sunday of February is Transfiguration Sunday, followed by Ash Wednesday ringing in Lent. It is a reflective time to wrestle with sin and rediscover our need for salvation. Have you ever been puzzled or...
Clinton Challenges ‘Epidemic of Indifference’ in Address to African-American Baptists
The past seven years in Washington have seen an "epidemic of indifference" and a "collective turning of the government's back" on people in need, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told a joint meeting...
Political motive questions still being asked
A large number of reporters from various religion and secular news outlets participated in an opening media conference this afternoon (Jan.30) moderated by former President Jimmy Carter. He and other organizers of the...
Labyrinthine, sartorial hallways
I don’t get to use these words often, so I’ll do it while I have the chance … the hallways of the Georgia World Congress Center’s three interconnected buildings are not so labyrinthine as they are long, and the place...
Sen. Graham drops out of Baptist celebration to politic for McCain
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, made a late withdrawal from the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant. Graham, one of two Republican senators on the program, had been enlisted to address the challenge of immigration.A...
Constantinian Christianity
Erick Prince, founder of Blackwater, testified last fall before the House Oversight and Government reform committee concerning his company's activities in Iraq. Steeped in conservative Christian traditions, the Prince...
See No Evil
Many people feel my blog about a pastor in Florida charged with sending obscene text messages is a private church matter that should not be talked about and that speaking out is wrong. Some feel it is really sinful and...
Republican Power Structure Used Religious Conservatives, Panelists Say
The Republican Party used religious conservatives in a machine manufactured and bankrolled by fiscal conservatives, reaping benefits like tax cuts and new business opportunities, a group of panelists said in a Tuesday...
Media take note of SBC’s absence
Most advance news stories from secular media give considerable attention to the fact that the largest Baptist body in the U.S., the Southern Baptist Convention, is not participating with other Baptists in Atlanta this...