WASHINGTON (BP) – Public engagement of cultural issues in a “Christ-shaped manner” is crucial for pastors and other Christians, ethicist Russell D. Moore said after hosting Southern Baptist leaders at a briefing in the U.S. Capitol. Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), joined congressional leaders and members of both legislative chambers in speaking to briefing participants June 12 in the Capitol building. The ERLC sponsored the event … [Read more...]
What does Hobby Lobby’s win mean?
Evan Lenow & Trey Dimsdale/Land Center In the highly anticipated decision of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the Supreme Court issued a victory to closely held for-profit corporations on the issue of religious liberty. While the decision was not as sweeping as some may have wanted—or as Justice Ginsburg claimed in her dissent—the Court’s decision upheld the idea that Americans need not check their right to religious liberty at the door when they enter the business world. At issue for the … [Read more...]
Page: CP advancing, not retreating
ERIN ROACH/Baptist Press BALTIMORE (BP) – Southern Baptists are advancing, not retreating, as they rally to give more through the Cooperative Program to fuel the Great Commission task, Executive Committee President Frank Page told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Baltimore June 10. “We thank God that two years ago the Cooperative Program stopped its declination at 5.41 percent and last year rose for the first time in two decades to 5.50 percent,” Page … [Read more...]
Mendacity, lawlessness in the marriage debate
One of the most troubling aspects to the same-sex marriage debate is the way much of the news media have deliberately misled the American people about different aspects of the issue. They tout polls and bloviate about the speed with which the American people are changing their minds in support of same-sex marriage. They state with faux certainty that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a same-sex marriage case next year (doubtful in reality) and that the court will allow same-sex marriage. How … [Read more...]
Speakers encourage SBC pastors to seek God, share a testimony
BALTIMORE, Md. (BP) – The 2014 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, themed “Show Us Your Glory,” concluded much as it began with speakers calling attendees to live passionately for Christ and to lead others to make disciples. The June 8-9 sessions in the Baltimore Convention Center preceded the June 10-11 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. “The greatest potential for the Kingdom of God is not in the pulpit, but in the congregation,” said J.D. Greear, lead … [Read more...]
GuideStone applauds Supreme Court decision in Hobby Lobby case
By Roy Hayhurst DALLAS — Today’s Supreme Court decision in favor of Hobby Lobby is good news for defenders of religious liberty, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said. The 5-4 decision affirms the right of the Green family, the Christian owners of the for-profit hobby supply chain, to operate their health plans in a way that is consistent with their values. While the Supreme Court has protected family business owners, it has left unanswered whether the so-called accommodation to the … [Read more...]
Interview with Hobby Lobby attorney Joshua Hawley
Pathway Associate Editor Benjamin Hawkins interviewed attorney Joshua Hawley, a University of Missouri law school professor who was on the Beckett Fund legal team that defended Hobby Lobby before the U.S. Supreme Court, shortly after the high court announced a 5-4 decision in favor of Hobby Lobby in its case against the ObamaCare contraceptive mandate: Hawkins: Why did the court decide the way it did? Professor Hawley: Hobby Lobby prevailed in this case because the Green family had … [Read more...]
Hobby Lobby Wins!
JEFFERSON CITY -- The U.S. Supreme Court June 30 voted 5-4 to uphold the right of business people to practice their faith at work in what is the most important victory for religious liberty in decades. The case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, concerned Obama Administration rules that would have forced business owners to fund abortion-inducing drugs. The Green family, who own Hobby Lobby, object to abortion on religious grounds and filed suit to defend their constitutional right not to be forced … [Read more...]
NFL draftee Sam’s kiss stirs comments
Tim Ellsworth/Baptist Press JEFFERSON CITY (BP) – While many journalists and celebrities praised Michael Sam when he was selected in last month’s NFL draft and subsequently kissed his boyfriend on national television, several Southern Baptists commentators took exception to the display. Sam, who became the first openly gay player to be selected by an NFL team, is a defensive end who played at the University of Missouri and publicly identified himself as a homosexual in February. The St. … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon hits record $154 million
Erich Bridges/International Mission Board RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Southern Baptists gave an unprecedented $154 million to the 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, breaking the record for the largest total in the offering’s 125-year history. The 2013 offering, finalized June 5, reached $154,057,852.36. The total represents an increase of nearly $4.8 million over 2012, or 3.2 percent. It tops the previous record, $150.4 million in 2007, by more than $3.6 million, and … [Read more...]
Blunt Pleads for Ibrahim, Abedini
Sen. Roy Blunt (R., Mo.) on the Senate floor Wednesday urged the U.S. to protect the rights of religious minorities throughout the world. Blunt specifically called for the release of Meriam Ibrahim and Pastor Saeed Abedini, who are both jailed for their religious beliefs. Speaking about Ibrahim, Blunt stated, “I think asylum in the United States for her U.S. citizen husband, children, and her would be an appropriate thing. And the danger they feel they face by someone who’s willing to … [Read more...]
SBC leaders lament lack of evangelistic passion
Carol Pipes/LifeWay Christian Resources NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southern Baptists experienced growth in the number of churches affiliated with the convention in 2013, while other key measures declined, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. The number of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) grew by 91 to 46,125, a 0.2 percent increase over 2012. SBC churches also reported 4,789 church-type … [Read more...]
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