Let Us Prey: Stopping Predators in the Church

Last updated on: June 23, 2024 at 12:39 pm By Ginny Baxter

Predators are quite good at targeting and preying on churches because churchgoers are generally easy, trusting targets. Unfortunately, religious organizations are less effective in stopping predators in the church. That we know. So, what can Christian churches do? Catholics have been dealing – or not dealing – with sexual abuse of children for decades. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is taking its time finding solutions to its scandal, which is more about men attacking women than child abuse. And the... Read more

Misogyny Wins the Day at SBC’s Annual Meeting

Last updated on: June 15, 2024 at 5:47 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

Misogyny has prevailed once again in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which held its annual meeting in Indianapolis June 11-12. Although a constitutional amendment to ban female pastors failed by a small margin, the organization’s new president, Clint Pressley of Charlotte, NC, assured the world that the SBC’s complementarian beliefs remain strong. In other words, misogyny wins the day. Complementarianism is the belief that God gives men and women complementary roles in the home and church. Translated, it... Read more

An Outsider’s Preview of Upcoming SBC Annual Meeting

Last updated on: June 7, 2024 at 11:29 am By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

Southern Baptists Set ‘Pivotal’ Meeting June 10-12 Funding for sexual abuse reform, an amendment to officially ban female pastors and the election of a new Southern Baptist Convention president will top the agenda at the upcoming SBC annual meeting June 10-12 in Indianapolis. As an outsider looking at the SBC, I have mixed feelings. First and foremost, it isn’t any of my business because I left Southern Baptist denomination a lifetime ago. And while I have a few opinions about... Read more

New Methodist Leader Talks Hope, Unity, Inclusiveness & God

Last updated on: May 13, 2024 at 10:35 am By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

The issues are complex, and the future of the United Methodist Church is far from certain. Yet, Bishop Tracy S. Malone peppers her conversation with words such as hope, unity, inclusiveness and God as she settles into her two-year term as president of the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Council of Bishops. Malone’s election to the church’s highest office is historic. She became the first black woman ever elected to lead the United Methodist Church in November 2023. She accepted the... Read more

7 Scriptures that Can Ease Your Anxiety

Last updated on: May 2, 2024 at 1:58 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

Have you ever met someone who says they have never experienced anxiety? Neither have I. It’s safe to say that anxiety is a widespread problem. In my article, The Body-Mind-Soul Connection on Patheos, I looked at new research into the link between faith and physical and mental health. It begs this question: how do we tap into our godly resource when we feel anxious, stressed or upset but don’t know where to begin? In today’s post, I am sharing 7... Read more

How to Read the Bible: A Guide for Beginners

Last updated on: April 23, 2024 at 5:43 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

Reading the entire Bible can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are new to the Christian faith and/or want to better understand Christian beliefs. It’s a long book, but it reveals how people have dealt with many of the same problems we encounter today. It also teaches us how to live our best life and opens windows into a relationship with the Lord. My main goals for writing this article are to help you find the Bible that’s best... Read more

Can Non-whites Save the Struggling Church?

Last updated on: April 22, 2024 at 10:25 am By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

The Christian church in America is struggling. That’s obvious. Conservatives are going in one direction and progressives and liberals in another. There seems to be no room for compromise, as the recent United Methodist split demonstrated. Church membership is plummeting. The face of evangelicalism is beginning to change. The white population, which has dominated America’s Christian landscape from the beginning, is set to become a minority within the next few years. What will American Christianity look like in the next... Read more

Antisemitism & War: Stories of How the Jews Fought Back

Last updated on: April 16, 2024 at 5:38 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

And a Plea for Christians to Take Heed With antisemitism on the rise worldwide, it is time that Christians and others who value human life shine not one light — but billions of lights — on hatred. This wide-ranging post attempts to shed my small light on antisemitism, share true stories of how Jews fought back against the Nazis during World War II, and remind Christians of Christ’s teachings about love and hate. And while my post targets antisemitism, its... Read more

How Do You Recognize a False Prophet (Or False Messiah)?

Last updated on: April 9, 2024 at 4:47 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

The Christian church in 21st-century America is filled with false prophets. They have always been with us but now seem to be everywhere we look – our phones, computers, televisions, online bookstores…. even our own churches. False prophets say they speak for God, but many teach false theology. They tell us what we want to hear and may look and sound the way we do only better. But they are dangerous. So, how do you recognize a false prophet when... Read more

Joe Lieberman Remembered as a Man of Faith & Integrity

Last updated on: March 30, 2024 at 12:46 pm By Ginny Baxter

0 Comments

‘He Believed in Something Beyond Himself’ Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman was a man of faith, integrity and deeply held convictions according to friends and colleagues. And today, the people who knew him best join other Americans in mourning his death on Wednesday. Lieberman, who died from complications related to a fall, was 82. Lieberman served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut for four terms and was Democrat Al Gore’s running mate in the disputed 2000 election. As such,... Read more