PHOENIX (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has urged the Arizona Supreme Court to protect the freedom of two artists to operate their business in keeping with their Christian beliefs. The ERLC, joined by eight other parties, filed a friend-of-the-court brief Dec. 20 requesting the state’s justices reverse a lower court’s support for a Phoenix ordinance requiring Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski to use their painting and calligraphy business for same-sex … [Read more...]
Pro-life issues on 2019 agenda for Missouri’s General Assembly
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri’s 2019 legislative session begins Jan. 9, and once again pro-life issues are on the forefront. Susan Klein, the executive director of Missouri Right to Life and a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Holts Summit, said her organization’s legislative priority is to is the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” This legislation will prevent abortions on babies that can feel pain during an abortion. This legislation extends general protection to unborn babies … [Read more...]
MBC’s Christian Life Commission files amicus brief supporting religious freedom
JEFFERSON CITY – A Christian bed-and-breakfast owner in Hawaii has appealed to the United States Supreme Court after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that she must serve same-sex couples, even in violation of her Christian beliefs about marriage and sexuality. Now the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission (CLC) has joined with two other public policy agencies to support her plea for religious freedom. The CLC filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the … [Read more...]
High Court upholds Tenn. pro-life constitution change
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Tennessee's Amendment 1, Oct. 1, by refusing to review a decision upholding the pro-life measure. On the first day of its new term, the high court announced it would not review a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that sided with the state in a lawsuit against the amendment, which removed a right to abortion and a requirement for abortion funding from the Tennessee constitution. Opponents challenged the 2014 initiative … [Read more...]
Kavanaugh confirmation: Prayer, civility urged
WASHINGTON (BP) – Southern Baptist leaders called for prayer and the restoration of civility in public discourse in the wake of the highly divisive battle that ended with Brett Kavanaugh's narrow confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed Kavanaugh, 53, in a 50-48 roll call Oct. 6 after an already bitter struggle over President Trump's nominee escalated when sexual assault allegations were made against the federal appeals court judge. The vote followed party lines in … [Read more...]
Voter registration packs ready for churches
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission has prepared a voter registration packet for churches. The packets include step-by-step instructions and materials that will be needed to conduct a voter registration drive on site. Churches are urged to hold registration drives on the weekends of Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. Citizens must be registered to vote (or change their address if they have moved since the last time they voted) by Oct. 10 in order to vote in the … [Read more...]
Baptist promoted to Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Senate confirmed the promotion of U.S. Air Force Chaplain Colonel Ronald M. Harvell to the rank of Brigadier General on Aug. 20. With the promotion, Harvell, a Southern Baptist, becomes the Air Force's 26th Deputy Chief of Chaplains. He has been serving as the Air Mobility Command Chaplain based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Harvell will now transition to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., for his new pastoral leadership responsibilities. "My wife and I … [Read more...]
Univ. of Iowa reinstates religious groups for now
IOWA CITY, Iowa (BP) – The University of Iowa has reinstated multiple religious student groups as registered campus organizations after one group threatened to seek a temporary restraining order amid pending litigation. InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship sued the university Aug. 6 because school officials revoked the fellowship's status as an official student organization over a requirement that InterVarsity Graduate leaders "share the group's faith and exemplify its … [Read more...]
Again: Colo. says cake artist Jack Phillips broke law
DENVER (BP) – Christian cake artist Jack Phillips is in court again, defending the same religious freedom right the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed on his behalf in a previous case in June. This time, transgender attorney Autumn Scardina filed a discrimination complaint against Phillips for refusing to bake a birthday cake celebrating Scardina's transition from a male to female identity. Pink cake on the inside and blue frosting on the outside describes the cake Scardina requested. The … [Read more...]
Case against Army chaplain called ‘anti-religious’
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (BP) – A U.S. Army investigator ignored key evidence in saying a Southern Baptist chaplain was derelict in his duties for rescheduling a marriage retreat to accommodate a lesbian couple, the chaplain's attorney said. Army Chaplain Jerry Scott Squires refused to conduct a Strong Bonds marriage retreat because a lesbian officer planned to attend, the investigating officer identified as Major Ford said at the close of an extended investigation. Squires is endorsed by … [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...]
Governor stands for freedom ahead of Trinity Lutheran case
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens went public with a defense of religious liberty less than one week before the Supreme Court heard a high profile religious liberty case coming out of Missouri. But his actions raised concern among some Supreme Court Justices as to whether the case was still worth addressing. Greitens posted a video, April 13, on his Facebook page and website, announcing that the state of Missouri would no longer discriminate against religious … [Read more...]
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