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Jose Chicas, a native of El Salvador who has been living in church sanctuary for more than three years, moved out Friday (Jan. 22) after President Joe Biden signed an executive order temporarily halting the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

An accreditation body investigating recent events at Southwest Baptist University recently notified the school of an upcoming focused visit to further investigate recent governance changes. The visit by the Higher Commission also automatically changed SBU’s accreditation path.

The American Catholic bishops are split over how to deal with Joe Biden, the first Catholic president since John F. Kennedy, but it’s not just one split. A small but vocal minority wants to punish the new president for his support of legalized abortion, gay rights, and birth control.

The pastor of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s Baptist church praises her as “human decency and dignity at its best.” Amos

More "Baptist Without an Adjective"

Baptist

An accreditation body investigating recent events at Southwest Baptist University recently notified the school of an upcoming focused visit to further investigate recent governance changes. The visit by the Higher Commission also automatically changed SBU’s accreditation path.

The Summit Church, whose senior pastor is Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear,  has retained the services of an outside firm to perform an independent review of specific actions taken by one of the pastors at The Summit Church in his handling of 2010 sexual misconduct allegations.

On his first day as president, Joe Biden signed several executive orders to undo Trump administration actions. One order signed by Biden on Wednesday repealed the previous administration’s Muslim and African travel ban — a move that BJC quickly praised. 

Nation

Jose Chicas, a native of El Salvador who has been living in church sanctuary for more than three years, moved out Friday (Jan. 22) after President Joe Biden signed an executive order temporarily halting the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

More than most people, Americans who work, live, or worship near state capitol buildings will have front-row seats on whether the change of leadership Wednesday in the White House will lead to a lessening of tension that has been afflicting the nation.

In his first hours as president, Joe Biden will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trump’s policy legacy, signing a series of executive actions that reverse his predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change, and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

World

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a number of existing problems: political divides, inequities, conspiracy theories. It also has exposed religious persecution in a number of countries, according to Open Doors.

A disused, rubble-filled piece of land has caused friction between the ancient Christian community and the local Palestinian community, which is in administrative control of East Jerusalem despite Israel’s longtime military occupation and effective annexation of the area.

In March, as the coronavirus pandemic shut down countries around the world, a massive earthquake struck Croatia. Now, as this tumultuous year closes, the Balkan nation again finds itself hit by earthquakes. And Baptists there are among those hurt by the quakes and ministering to their neighbors.

Faith & Culture

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take their oaths of office on Wednesday using Bibles that are laden with personal meaning, writing new chapters in a long-running American tradition — and one that appears nowhere in the law.

Rev. Raphael Warnock won one of Georgia’s two runoff elections for U.S. Senate and might be sworn in later this week. He can reflect on these other African American ministers who kept up a busy church life while serving in Congress.

A scholar of African American religion and Christian theology says one cannot appreciate the importance of MLK Day without understanding the tradition that formed one of America’s most influential civil rights leaders.

Scriptures in Pictures

The parable of the trees by Jotham in Judges 9, as seen in photos of a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in an effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The biblical writer Matthew quotes words from the prophet Jeremiah in the Christmas story. This Christmas, that contrast of death and hope can also be seen with the coronavirus pandemic during this season.

Christmas markets, a cherished tradition in Germany and neighboring countries, have joined the long list of annual traditions that were canceled or diminished this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here is a reflection on Lamentations 1:1, as seen in photos of European Christmas markets.

Editorials

Editor Brian Kaylor reflects on a comment by Joe Biden at a memorial service on Tuesday to those who died from COVID-19: “To heal we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember. But that’s how we heal.”

Before janitors could even remove the litter and excrement from the Capitol after last week’s attack by a pro-Trump mob, some politicians and preachers started issuing calls for unity and reconciliation. But, Editor Brian Kaylor argues, skipping past truth-telling and

After the Oklahoma City bombing, Billy Graham offered words on hope and justice. A quarter-century later, his son instead inflames partisan divides following an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Like the sons of the biblical prophet Samuel, Franklin appears unable

W&W Voices

Columnist Heather Feeler writes that instead of unrealistic annual goals, she is working on being more intentional in the months to come. She explains some of the ways she is working on finding warmth and light this winter season.

Palestinian Christian journalist Daoud Kuttab writes about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and what it reveals about the impact of Christian fundamentalism in the U.S. and Israel.

Nolan Porter offers a pastoral response to the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He urges Christians not bow to the lord of chaos and mob rule, but instead lead the way in moving above and beyond the

Other Opinions

The American Catholic bishops are split over how to deal with Joe Biden, the first Catholic president since John F. Kennedy, but it’s not just one split. A small but vocal minority wants to punish the new president for his

Decades after his death, White evangelicals finally came to recognize King’s contribution to American democracy and biblical justice. But during his lifetime, a large segment of the American church derided King and other activists and even resisted the aims of

Our ability to champion religious freedom abroad starts at home. But over the past four years, our federal government’s violations of its own citizens’ religious freedom rights threatens our commitment to making a difference around the world.

EDITOR’S PICKS