Prominent Baptist pastor in military-ruled Myanmar detained again hours after release from prison
Bangkok, Thailand AP A prominent Christian church leader and human rights advocate from Myanmar’s Kachin ethnic minority was detained by the authorities just hours after he was released from prison under an amnesty by the military government, a relative, a colleague and local media said Thursday. Rev Hkalam Samson, former head of the Kachin Baptist Convention and […]
More than 80 Australian Baptist leaders throw support behind ‘yes’ vote as referendum nears
Geelong, Australia More than 80 Australian Baptist leaders have signed a public letter supporting a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘Voice to Parliament’. The Baptist Leaders for Yes group, which published the letter on Friday, says the referendum “stands as a once in a generation opportunity to […]
Essay: Some Baptists debate about women preaching, others listen to women preach
Baptist minister BRIAN KAYLOR says, in an article first published on Religion News Service, that focusing almost entirely on the SBC not only minimizes the theological (and political and racial) diversity of Baptists, but it also privileges a patriarchal body over others…
Cyber fraud cost Florida Baptists more than $US700,000
United StatesRNS Staff at the Florida Baptist Convention thought they were sending mission money to help pay for church planting. Then the money disappeared. “The Florida Baptist Convention continues to work with federal and state investigators, our internal and external auditors to recover over $700,000 in funds stolen from the convention through cyber-targeting,” according to […]
Postcards: Faith-based volunteers show up to help after Mississippi tornadoes
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports how Christian groups have responded after the devastating tornadoes in Mississippi…
In the US, Baptist Joint Committee gains faith and justice centre, grows religious liberty work
United StatesRNS The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is acquiring the Center for Faith, Justice, and Reconciliation in a move its leaders say will help them broaden efforts to support a more universal range of religious freedoms in the country. The 87-year-old coalition of 15 Baptist denominations, including both predominantly Black and white Baptist […]
Cubans adapt a month after devastating hotel explosion
Havana, CubaAP The worshippers pray beneath a torrid sun, taking shelter beneath umbrellas or some of the few trees that border the Amphitheater of Old Havana, just a strip of highway from the channel into the city’s harbour. Hundreds of Baptists have been meeting on open-air bleachers set atop stone tiers for services on recent […]
Child sex abuse found across major UK religions – report
London, UKAP An inquiry investigating child sexual abuse in a wide range of religious organisations and settings in England on Thursday found “shocking failures” in how many religions handled abuse allegations, with victim-blaming and abuse of power by religious leaders often contributing to under-reporting. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse looked into child protection […]
Australian churches, Christian organisations launch campaign to resettle 20,000 Afghans
Sydney, Australia Mainstream Australian churches and Christian organisations have launched a campaign for the “just and compassionate commitment” to resettle 20,000 refugees fleeing from the Taliban in Afghanistan. In a significant sign of unity, the denominations and organisations have joined together in support of the ‘Christians United for Afghanistan‘ campaign, which is lobbying the Federal […]
Baptists organise multi-ethnic diaspora rally in Washington DC against coup in Myanmar
RNS Clara Thethtet Tunwin had had enough. Tunwin, who emigrated with her family from Myanmar in the early 2000s, had been closely following news of protests against the military coup in her home country and was angered at the violence she saw. “I just could not take it anymore,” she said. Anti-coup protesters walk through […]