JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists have a chance to join the voices calling for Missouri’s General Assembly to pass a bill next year to put a new constitutional amendment on a statewide ballot. The petition outlining the plan by a broad coalition of religious freedom advocates – including Missouri Baptist leaders – is available to be read and signed with the click of a mouse at www.crlpetition.com. More than one fifth of messengers attending the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting … [Read more...]
Proposing a religious liberty bill for Missouri
As attacks on our religious liberty have intensified in recent months, Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats asked me to spearhead a statewide multi-faith initiative that would further secure religious liberty for Missourians. For the past three months I have had the privilege of being a part of a broad coalition of church leaders, legal scholars, State Capitol staffers, lawmakers, pro-family and religious liberty groups in crafting legislation that would respect and … [Read more...]
Religious liberty challenge facing Missouri Baptists, faith groups
JEFFERSON CITY – It is coming to Missouri and if its citizens do not act soon, religious liberty for everyone will likely face an unprecedented threat. Last month the Oregon Department of Labor ordered Melissa and Aaron Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery, to pay a $135,000 fine because they refused to bake a “wedding” cake for two lesbians. It is not because they hate homosexuals. In fact they have repeatedly stated and demonstrated their love for homosexuals. The state is … [Read more...]
‘Moral emergency’: Mohler’s new book responds to reality of sexual revolution
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (SBTS) — In the span of three months in the summer of 2015, three headlines marked historic events that generations of Americans past could never have imagined. First it was former “world’s greatest athlete” Bruce Jenner debuting his gender transition on the cover of Vanity Fair. Next the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Within a few weeks Americans witnessed the horrors of abortion in a series of undercover videos purporting to show Planned … [Read more...]
Missouri voters overwhelmingly support freedom of religion
JEFFERSON CITY – Missourians are overwhelmingly in support of protecting religious freedom, according to a new statewide poll commissioned by Missouri Alliance for Freedom. When asked should the government be able to force pastors to perform same-sex weddings if same-sex marriage violates the clergy’s religious beliefs and the teachings of the church, 78 percent answered “no.” Only 15 percent responded “yes.” When asked should churches or other religious property such as schools be forced … [Read more...]
Abedini prayer vigils set globally 9/26
NASHVILLE (BP) – The wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini is on a 21-day “Daniel” fast and is organizing prayer vigils internationally Sept. 26, the third anniversary of her husband’s imprisonment in Iran for his Christian faith. Naghmeh Abedini, in asking Christians to pray for her husband and the persecuted church, also is promoting a letter-writing campaign to ask United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to advocate for Abedini’s release when Iranian President Hassan … [Read more...]
Missouri battle brews over religious freedom
Whether or not we think Kim Davis is the perfect citizen to serve as the poster child for the defense of religious liberty in America, in my view, became irrelevant when an unelected federal judge threw her in jail like a common criminal. Adding to the shock was an ABC News/Washington Post poll that claimed 63 percent of Americans thought she should issue the marriage license to same-sex couples – if it violated her conscience and commitment to obey God. If Americans really feel that way, … [Read more...]
Houston to vote on equal rights ordinance
HOUSTON (BP) — Houston’s City Council voted Aug. 5 to put the controversial equal rights ordinance (known as HERO) on the Nov. 3 ballot after a vote to repeal the law failed but not before debate arose over the ballot language. Council members opposed to the ballot language cautioned Mayor Annise Parker the city could find itself again on the losing end of a legal battle over how the city chooses to parse its words for the voters. The vote marked a “dubious” anniversary for HERO … [Read more...]
Injunction in contraceptive case extended while awaiting Supreme Court ruling on appeal
DALLAS — The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that it would keep in place the preliminary injunction won by GuideStone earlier at the District Court level while GuideStone appeals its case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The preliminary injunction, which protects certain ministries from providing abortion-causing drugs or devices in their health plan, or face crippling fines, was first issued by a federal judge in December 2013. Upon the government’s appeal, a three-judge panel of the … [Read more...]
Religious freedom addressed in survey
NASHVILLE (BP) — Americans believe firmly in religious freedom but think atheists are more welcome than Muslims in the United States, Nashville-based LifeWay Research finds. More than 90 percent say people should be free to choose and practice religious beliefs. Nearly 7 in 10 call America a nation of many religions. Yet Americans acknowledge the nation embraces Christians and Jews more heartily than atheists or Muslims. While 92 percent agree America is a welcoming place for Christians … [Read more...]
Fight to defund PPFA ‘far from over’
WASHINGTON (BP) — The legislative effort to defund Planned Parenthood failed Monday (Aug. 3) in the U.S. Senate, but pro-life advocates said they will not give up. The Senate voted 53-46 to bring to the floor a bill to eliminate federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. In its latest financial report (2013-14), PPFA said it received more than $528 million in federal grants, contracts and reimbursements. It performed 327,653 abortions in … [Read more...]
Missourians stand for life in Columbia
COLUMBIA – Missouri Baptists are among those fighting for the lives of the unborn in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic here. Susan Klein, a Missouri Baptist pastor’s wife and legislative liaison for Missouri Right to Life, spoke to pro-lifers gathered in Columbia, July 28, for a “Women Betrayed Rally.” “We stand united all across the U.S. to speak for the unborn and against the horrors of Planned Parenthood,” Klein said. “Women are deceived and betrayed inside the walls of Planned … [Read more...]
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