Churches move to cut ties to Scouts after gay policy change
The Southern Baptist Convention, whose 3,981 Scout troops make it the BSA’s sixth-largest religious sponsor, plans to address the issue at its annual meeting in Houston, June 11-12.
Author Archives: Bob Smietana
Stories
Church leaders tackle the stigma of mental illness
(RNS) For years, Southern Baptist leader Frank Page did not share the painful details of his daughter’s suicide, fearing that some Christians might speak ill of her if they knew. Mental illness and suicide were taboo topics for many churches, seen as a kind of spiritual failure. That may be starting to change.
Modern hymn writers revive a lost musical art
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Most songwriters in Nashville want to get their songs on the radio. Keith and Kristyn Getty hope their songs end up in dusty old hymnbooks.
Christian worker quits over 666 on tax form
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Walter Slonopas said he quit his job last week in order to save his soul, resigning after his W-2 tax form was stamped with the number 666.
Catholic hospital under fire for saying fetuses aren’t ‘people’
(RNS) A Catholic hospital in Colorado has argued in court documents that it is not liable for the deaths of two 7-month-old fetuses because those fetuses are not people.
Pastor who pushes corporal punishment accused of abuse
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) A pastor known for promoting corporal punishment has been accused of physically abusing a woman for 25 years, beginning during her childhood. By Bob Smietana / USA Today.
Marathon ministry trains runners to put ‘one foot in front of the other’
(RNS) Over the past 10 years, Mark Simpson and his wife have helped train more than 3,000 people to run a marathon. Most, like Simpson, were couch potatoes before they started. “We have faith in them until they can have faith in themselves,” he said. By Bob Smietana.
