NASHVILLE (BP) – Americans may be rethinking their affinity for marijuana, evidenced by a New York Times reversal on the issue and a study suggesting scant evidence supporting medical marijuana’s use in mental health. Motives for the reconsideration vary, said Ray Hacke, an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute, a Christian legal organization. “I don’t know that marijuana is a moral good any more than alcohol is a moral good,” Hacke told Baptist Press. “People are looking at it … [Read more...]
Christ’s ascension ‘largely forgotten’ but recoverable this Easter, theologians say
NASHVILLE (BP) – Jesus’ ascension has been celebrated in various ways by different Christian denominations. Some remember the ascension with special prayers and Scripture readings. Many in the high church tradition observe Ascension Day annually 40 days after Easter by extinguishing a candle that symbolizes Jesus’ bodily presence on earth. Less conventionally, believers in previous eras have eaten birds on Ascension Day to mark the occasion Jesus “flew” to heaven. Some Christians climb a … [Read more...]
Trump talks faith, gender transitions, IVF in State of the Union
WASHINGTON (BP) – The contemporary revival of American society includes revivals of faith and traditional morality, President Donald Trump said Feb. 24 in his State of the Union address. The nearly two-hour speech, the longest State of the Union in 60 years, argued Americans should stick with Republican control of Congress in this year’s midterm elections. In the process, Trump touched on a variety of issues traditionally of interest to Southern Baptists and other evangelicals, including … [Read more...]
For CP, ‘the sky is not falling,’ pastor survey finds
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist pastors enthusiastically support the Cooperative Program (CP), according to a survey released Feb. 16 at the SBC Executive Committee’s meeting in Nashville. But they also see opportunity for better CP vision casting to rising generations. Ninety-one percent of pastors either agree or strongly agree that CP “helps churches accomplish more together than they could alone.” More than 87 percent agree or strongly agree that their church views CP “as a … [Read more...]
Godly grief: ‘Blue Christmas’ not inevitable after a loved one’s death
NASHVILLE (BP) – In planning her deceased husband’s funeral, one mother argued with her daughter about who should serve as pallbearers. “They weren’t kind to him when he was sick and dying, and I don’t want them serving as pallbearers,” the mother said. The daughter countered that the people in question were family and ought to be included. Then she stormed out of the room. As the mother sat crying, Stewart said to her, “The greatest example ever set was the one Jesus set when He had … [Read more...]
Midwestern Seminary professor’s departure to Anglicanism prompts discussion of Baptists & tradition
NASHVILLE (BP) – Social media buzzed with reaction when Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary theology professor Matthew Barrett announced his departure from the SBC to become an Anglican (Learn more about Anglicanism here). He cited the “beauty of Anglicanism” and claimed its practices better align with “how Christians have worshipped across history.” But a cadre of Baptist theologians who focus on connecting Southern Baptists with the broader Christian tradition disagree. They say … [Read more...]
Mohler questions ERLC’s ‘utility,’ draws pushback from Commission’s defenders
NASHVILLE (BP) – An SBC entity president has expressed “grave doubts” about the usefulness of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) in Southern Baptist life. The ERLC and its advocates followed those comments with a flurry of defense for the Convention’s public policy Commission. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said he “has grave doubts about the utility of the ERLC. And it’s not just about the current moment.” He made his comments on an … [Read more...]
Gender, abortion, immigration among Trump’s initial executive orders
WASHINGTON (BP) – President Donald Trump’s flurry of executive actions during his first week in office has drawn mixed reviews from evangelicals. Initiatives to combat radical gender ideologies and protect pro-life demonstrators sparked praise while facets of Trump’s immigration crackdown met with caution in some cases and opposition in others. The president’s other executive actions spanned a range of topics, including freedom of speech; the death penalty; Diversity, Equity and … [Read more...]
Trump ‘saved by God to make America great again,’ president says at 2nd inauguration
WASHINGTON (BP) – In a day punctuated with references to God and Judeo-Christian principles, Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. “Those who wished to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, to take my life,” Trump said in his inaugural address. “Just a few months ago in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then and believe even more so now that my life was saved for a reason: … [Read more...]
SBC President Clint Pressley: ‘Hold fast’ to BF&M, CP
NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC will thrive through challenging days ahead if it holds fast to its confession of faith and its cooperative ministry model, SBC President Clint Pressley told the Convention’s Executive Committee Sept. 17. In his first address to the EC since being elected SBC president in June, Pressley said 2025 is an ideal year to celebrate both the Convention’s Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) and its Cooperative Program (CP) since both will celebrate their 100th … [Read more...]
FBC Alexandria ‘no longer in friendly cooperation’ with SBC over views on female pastors
INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The SBC voted June 11 to discontinue its cooperative relationship with a Virginia church that has a female associate pastor. The church has ordained at least three women as pastors over more than four decades and told the SBC Credentials Committee it would consider a female as senior pastor. Messengers voted to declare First Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., not in friendly cooperation with the Convention by a ballot vote of 6,759 to 563 at the Indiana Convention … [Read more...]
Stephen Rummage to lead 2024 SBC Pastors’ Conference
NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Oklahoma pastor Stephen Rummage, an author and preaching professor, was elected president of the 2024 SBC Pastors’ Conference by acclamation June 12 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Rummage, pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, will lead planning of next year’s SBC Pastors’ Conference June 9-10 in Indianapolis. Rummage is a former chairman of the SBC Executive Committee and former president of the Florida Baptist Convention. … [Read more...]
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