These are potentially good days for Missouri’s children and pregnant moms who need assistance. Gov. Eric Greitens recently signed a bill into law that will safeguard children across the state, especially those in foster care. Known as Senate Bill 160, sponsored by Reps. Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) and Cloris Brown (R-St. Louis) along with Sen. David Sater (R-Cassville), the new law is designed to ensure the protection of children from human traffickers, making the act of sex trafficking … [Read more...]
Charles elected as Pastors’ Conference president
PHOENIX (BP) – The 2017 SBC Pastors' Conference proved historic on many levels including the unanimous election of H.B. Charles Jr., pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., as the conference's first black president. The election took place during the afternoon session of the conference at the Phoenix Convention Center, June 12. In addition to the historic nature of the officer elections, this year's lineup of speakers included pastors of smaller to … [Read more...]
Hawkins recaps GuideStone’s legal & financial gains
PHOENIX (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources’ theme for 2017 is the “Year of Innovation,” President O.S. Hawkins said in the opening report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention, June 13–14 in Phoenix. The annual theme guides the entity’s work, Hawkins said, noting a difference between imitation and innovation. At GuideStone, he said, the focus in 2017 is on innovation for the benefit of participants. Hawkins reported to messengers about GuideStone’s litigation over the … [Read more...]
ERLC prioritizes life, parenting, Moore says
PHOENIX (BP) – Protection of human life and preparation of parents have been among the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's priorities during the last year, Russell Moore told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 14. In his annual report to the convention, Moore, the ERLC's president, said the entity's efforts during the past year have included: Defending life primarily by seeking federal defunding of Planned Parenthood, the scandal-ridden, leading abortion … [Read more...]
Resolutions: Heart of Southern Baptists in brief
I first attended the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in 1982, early in the days of the Conservative Resurgence. The next few years saw some of our best-attended and most contentious meetings. In those days, news media from everywhere descended on our meeting sites, trying to figure out who we are and what we’re doing. They mostly failed; we are notoriously hard to understand. Then and now, the aspect of convention business most comprehensible to non-Baptist observers is the … [Read more...]
Supreme Court to hear Christian baker’s case
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on June 26 to hear a major religious liberty case that will determine whether Christians within the wedding industry–for example, bakers, florists, and photographers–may refuse to serve same-sex couples because of their religious beliefs. In 2012, Jack Philips – a Christian baker in Denver, Colo. – was convicted by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission of “discrimination” for declining to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The commission ordered … [Read more...]
Religious liberty wins at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – In a 7-2 vote, the United States Supreme Court ruled, June 26, in favor of a Missouri church seeking to use public funds from the state of Missouri for renovating a playground on their church campus. The ruling is being called a “resounding victory” for religious liberty by many, including two Missouri Baptist attorneys—Michael and Jonathan Whitehead of Kansas City—who were on the legal team representing the church. At first sight, the problem that gave rise to this legal … [Read more...]
Neosho’s cross remains despite complaints from Atheist groups
NEOSHO – The city of Neosho has rebuffed a Wisconsin-based atheist group, which recently protested the existence of a cross in the city’s Big Spring Park. The cross was established at the park in the 1930s. The city released a statement, May 26, answering a letter sent by the atheistic Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and expressing their intent to keep the cross in place. The statement read: “It is the position of the city council that the correspondence forwarded by this … [Read more...]
Historic Baptists, liberty and the Trinity case
KANSAS CITY – What would John Leland say about scrap tires? Missourians, including churches that own vehicles, pay a fee to keep used tires out of streams and landfills. The fee underwrites a rebate for rubber playground surfaces. It’s open to all nonprofit groups, to keep kids safer and the environment cleaner. Trinity Lutheran Church, in Columbia, applied for a rebate. It was rejected, but not because the money ran out. It was rejected because it is a church. Missouri’s Constitution … [Read more...]
Strawberry Festival draws support for MBCH
Editor's Note: As reported in the June 13 edition of The Pathway, the Strawberry Festival hosted at First Baptist Church here each year draws valuable support for the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH). But, as noted more recently by officials from the MBCH, the Strawberry Festival does not fully fund the ministry. The event provides less than one percent of the MBCH’s annual operating budget and works alongside other means of funding—such as the Cooperative Program and the direct … [Read more...]
On the eve of a major religious liberty ruling: The nation’s eyes on Trinity Lutheran case
EDITOR’S NOTE: Michael Whitehead has practiced law in Missouri for more than 40 years. He practices with his son, Jonathan, in suburban Kansas City, and he serves as MBC general counsel and represents numerous individuals and ministry organizations. Both Mike and Jonathan are on the legal team defending Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, in a religious liberty case that was heard at the U.S. Supreme Court this spring. A ruling on the case is expected by the end of the month, before the … [Read more...]
Governor calls special session to address major pro-life issue
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Eric Greitens called a second special session of the Missouri General Assembly this year with the aim of striking down a St. Louis ordinance that makes it an “abortion sanctuary city.” Starting June 12 and continuing as long as needed, the special session will center around stricter regulations on abortion clinics, including requiring annual inspections and that clinics adopt plans for potential medical complications, Greitens said in a statement. Greitens said … [Read more...]
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