WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court debated with lawyers at length Monday (Dec. 5) whether a state has the right to compel speech in the latest case involving the intersection of religious freedom and same-sex marriage. The justices heard oral arguments for more than two hours in a designer’s challenge of a Colorado policy that requires her to create custom websites for same-sex weddings in violation of her religious beliefs. After two lower courts ruled in favor of the state, the … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist ERLC offers guide for pastors on LGBT issues
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read about further resources, compiled by a Missouri Baptist pastor, here. NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist pastors and churches have a new theological and practical guide to help them address issues involving sexuality and gender. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) published the document “A biblical resource for pastors on gender and sexuality”on its website (www.erlc.com), Oct. 11. The guide is intended to assist pastors and other ministry leaders in … [Read more...]
State attorneys general warn VA about abortion rule
WASHINGTON (BP) – An alliance of 15 attorneys general have warned Secretary Denis McDonough they will “act decisively” if the Department of Veterans Affairs uses a new rule to violate their states’ restrictions on abortion. Led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, the coalition wrote McDonough Nov. 17 to object to a V.A. interim final rule (IFR) that provides abortions in certain cases for military veterans and family members. The attorneys general told the secretary they will not … [Read more...]
What does the Bible say about marijuana?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read more about this issue here and here and here. On Nov. 8, Missouri voters chose to legalize recreational marijuana possession and use. Christian proponents argue that marijuana should be decriminalized because it is naturally created by God and allows for freedom of conscience. As Christians, how should we view the legalization of marijuana? Does the Bible speak to cannabis use? Though the literal words for marijuana aren’t in Scripture, the applicable principles are. … [Read more...]
Senate nixes religious liberty amendments, approves same-sex marriage
Missouri Sen. Blunt once again supports bill, Sen. Hawley opposes bill EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated at 12:50 p.m. with reporting from Pathway staff. WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Senate voted to enshrine same-sex marriage as the law Tuesday (Nov. 29) while rejecting efforts to strengthen religious freedom protections in the proposal. With 12 Republicans joining all Democrats present, the Senate voted 61-36 for the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) after defeating three … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist pastor collects resources on biblical gender, sexuality
OZARK – After noticing the struggles in his congregation with contemporary gender and sexuality perspectives, as well as from talking with other pastors struggling with the issues, a Missouri Baptist pastor has assembled resources to help ministry professionals and laypeople deal with LGBTQ+ issues from a biblical viewpoint. M. Lane Harrison, lead pastor of LifePoint Church in Ozark, says, “While historically Southwest Missouri has been a bastion of conservatism…, in the last decade many … [Read more...]
Last chance remains to protect religious liberty in U.S. Senate
FRC, ADF call Missourians to urge Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to protect religious freedom UPDATE: On Nov. 29, the U.S. Senate nixed the Lee amendment and passed the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act." Read more here. WASHINGTON – United States Senators have a last chance to block threats to religious liberty brought about by the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act." As such, faith-based policy experts are calling Christians to contact their senators and urge them to protect religious … [Read more...]
First English Baptists share little known link with Mayflower’s passengers
LONDON, England – In 1612, eight years before the Pilgrims set sail for the New World to find a home where they could worship together in freedom, English Baptist pastor Thomas Helwys proclaimed a message that would transform Western civilization for centuries to come. Writing to King James I, Helwys published a tract called A Short Declaration of the Mistery of Iniquity, and in it he wrote the following inscription: “Hear, O king, and despise not the counsel of the poor, and let their … [Read more...]
Blunt votes ‘yes,’ Hawley ‘no,’ on same-sex marriage bill
MBC leaders opposed bill prior to vote, calling it an ‘intentional attack on religious freedom’ (EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated at 4:35 p.m., Nov. 16, adding additional coverage from Baptist Press below.) WASHINGTON – United States Senators from Missouri were divided, Nov. 16, about whether the lawmaking body should move forward with the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voted against moving forward with the bill. But Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who … [Read more...]
‘Intentional attack on religious freedom’: MBC leaders oppose so-called ‘Respect for Marriage Act’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read an update to this story here: "United States Senators have a last chance to block threats to religious liberty brought about by the so-called 'Respect for Marriage Act.' As such, faith-based policy experts are calling Christians to contact their senators and urge them to protect religious freedom." Read more at https://mbcpathway.com/2022/11/25/last-chance-remains-to-protect-religious-liberty-in-u-s-senate. JEFFERSON CITY – The so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” … [Read more...]
ERLC, Iowa Baptist convention urge court to protect parental rights
ST. LOUIS (BP) – A Southern Baptist Convention entity and a Baptist state convention have joined with other organizations in urging a federal appeals court to block a public school district transgender policy they contend prevents the rights of parents to care for their children. In defense of parental rights, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed Thursday (Nov. 10) with the Eighth … [Read more...]
MBC’s Christian Life Commission honors Parson for pro-life support
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Christian Life Commission (CLC) awarded its 2022 Distinguished Service Award to Missouri Governor Mike Parson – in recognition, especially, of his efforts to uphold the sanctity of life within the state. Parson and his wife, Teresa, are members of First Baptist Church, Bolivar. The Parsons hosted members of the CLC for a luncheon at the Governor’s mansion in Jefferson City, Oct. 26, after which the commission presented the … [Read more...]
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