How to keep LGBTQ people from becoming ‘spiritual orphans’
At a three-day conference in Texas, parents and church leaders tackle faith and sexuality. Third Place, Convention or Meeting Coverage, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle DALLAS — Carrie Underwood’s “Love Wins” video played on the big screens as the E3 Conference opened at the Highland Oaks Church of Christ. “I believe you and me are sisters and brothers. And I believe … Continue reading How to keep LGBTQ people from becoming ‘spiritual orphans’
When a sermon goes viral: Pastor in middle of social media storm over Kavanaugh
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
I don’t believe I’ve ever met the Rev. Bob Long, even though my time as religion editor for The Oklahoman overlapped with his tenure as pastor of a large United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.
But I know his voice.
For years, I’ve heard Long on the radio, often while driving to work. Long is a mini-celebrity here in Oklahoma, known for inspirational radio messages that include cheerful music and a quick life lesson from the pastor.
“That’s something to think about,” he concludes each 60-second segment. “I’m Bob Long with St. Luke’s Methodist Church.”
This week, Long has gained notoriety for a different reason — for a sermon in which he put the face of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on his church’s big screens.
As The Oklahoman’s Carla Hinton (who succeeded me as religion editor in 2002) reported on Wednesday’s front page, a social media storm erupted with a tweet from a churchgoer who was not pleased with Long’s choice of optics:
• • •
All of my GetReligion columns (October 2018):
Continue reading “When a sermon goes viral: Pastor in middle of social media storm over Kavanaugh”
In Dallas, Houston and elsewhere, Christians ask God to bring #Justice4Botham
Members of Churches of Christ celebrate the life of Botham Jean, who was shot to death 23 days before his 27th birthday. Second Place, In-Depth Coverage, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle DALLAS — “Praise as protest,” declared the bold letters on the T-shirt that Ashley Hawthorne sported at the Dallas County courts building this weekend. On a gloomy Saturday, clouds … Continue reading In Dallas, Houston and elsewhere, Christians ask God to bring #Justice4Botham
In the Great Smoky Mountains, feeding the spiritual needs of 5,000
Polishing the Pulpit, an annual gathering in East Tennessee, draws a record crowd. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — “Bring a Friend Night” at the Polishing the Pulpit conference gave the thousands of attendees an opportunity to introduce people to “the church that belongs to Christ.” “Meet a friend in town — hotel worker, waitress, someone at Walmart — and bring them to … Continue reading In the Great Smoky Mountains, feeding the spiritual needs of 5,000
National meeting signals ‘coming of age’ for Hispanic Catholics in U.S.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service GRAPEVINE, Texas — Latinos are not a challenge or a problem for the U.S. Catholic Church. They are the church. That’s the message from some Hispanic leaders as the fastest-growing segment of American Catholicism rapidly becomes the majority. “There are too many things that have gone wrong for the church to risk alienating its majority,” said Carmen Nanko-Fernández, … Continue reading National meeting signals ‘coming of age’ for Hispanic Catholics in U.S.
The crucial role of the ‘faith-based FEMA’ after Florence
Working alongside government agencies, Christian volunteers aid hurricane victims based on what each denomination does best. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Christianity Today For years, Ed and Marian Stinnette have served as the hands and feet of Jesus in disaster zones, helping victims recover from devastating storms such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now, the longtime Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and their home congregation, Port … Continue reading The crucial role of the ‘faith-based FEMA’ after Florence
After Botham Jean’s shooting death, his church intent on seeking justice
‘Why did it happen to somebody like him?’ grieving fellow Christians demand to know.
Second Place, News Story, Associated Church Press
Second Place, In-Depth Coverage, Associated Church Press
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
DALLAS — The preacher stood wearily on stage, wiping tears from his eyes.
The mayor, working to bring healing to a city of 1.3 million, sought solace on a front pew.
Allison Jean, mourning the fatal shooting of her son Botham Shem Jean by a Dallas police officer, wailed as the 250-member, predominantly black congregation sang hymns such as “Trouble in My Way.”
“I know that Jesus — Jesus — he will fix it after a while,” the church sang.
Television and newspaper cameras captured the emotion — and the heartbreak — as the Dallas West Church of Christ gathered to worship Sunday, three days after the inexplicable killing of 26-year-old Botham Jean in his own apartment.
This was no ordinary Lord’s Day for Christians grieving the sudden loss of a beloved song leader and Bible class teacher — and doing so under an immense media spotlight stretching from Texas all the way to the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia.
“Somebody like Bo — why?” longtime church member Sherron Rodgers said, uttering the question on everybody’s mind. “Why did it happen to somebody like him? I’m just sad.
“He was a special, kind person who would never mess with anybody,” she added. “He’d take off his jacket and give it to you. That’s the kind of person he was.”
This story appears in the October 2018 edition of The Christian Chronicle. It was picked up by Religion News Service and distributed on its national wire.
Continue reading “After Botham Jean’s shooting death, his church intent on seeking justice”
‘Botham is singing with the angels’: Victim remembered at vigil
Peace — and justice — sought in the police-involved killing of a beloved Harding University graduate. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle DALLAS — Tears flowed Saturday at the Dallas West Church of Christ as hundreds came together for a prayer vigil in memory of Botham Shem Jean, the 26-year-old church member shot to death by an off-duty, uniformed police officer. As the Dallas resident’s killing refocused … Continue reading ‘Botham is singing with the angels’: Victim remembered at vigil
Fatal mistake: Harding graduate known for his ‘beautiful’ singing voice killed
Botham Shem Jean was the victim of a police officer who entered his apartment, mistaking it for her own, according to authorities.
By Bobby Ross Jr. and Erik Tryggestad| The Christian Chronicle
By all accounts, Botham Shem Jean was a man of deep faith with a “beautiful” and “powerful” singing voice.
Relatives, friends and fellow Christians from the U.S. to his native St. Lucia expressed shock Friday upon learning of the 2015 Harding University graduate’s tragic death.
Jean, 26, was fatally shot in Texas on Thursday night when an off-duty Dallas police officer entered his apartment, mistaking it for her own, authorities said.
“He led singing often in HU Chapel and at the College Church of Christ in Searcy,” Glenn Dillard, Harding’s assistant vice president for enrollment management, said of the 26-year-old victim. “He had a beautiful voice.”
Jean grew up in a Church of Christ on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
“Botham was a soldier of Christ,” his aunt, Desma Charles, told The Christian Chronicle, “committed to singing, song leading and teaching.” He was a “very vibrant young man who was well-loved by many and had the souls of men at heart.”
Charles, who worships with the Gros Islet Church of Christ in St. Lucia, said she talked with her nephew two weeks ago about “holding onto the Lord in challenging times.”
“I can say more, but my heart is too heavy,” she added. “All the congregations on the island are in grief — Gros Islet, L’Anse Road and Vieux Fort Church of Christ.”
Jean attended the Dallas West Church of Christ, which plans a prayer vigil in his memory at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall said at a Friday afternoon news conference that police will seek a manslaughter charge against the officer. Hall declined to identify the officer pending the formal filing of the charge. Dallas police have asked the Texas Rangers to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting.
“Right now, there are more questions than we have answers,” Hall told reporters. The chief said the officer’s shift had ended, but she was still in uniform when she encountered Jean inside the apartment about 10 p.m. Thursday. The officer’s blood was drawn to test for drugs and alcohol, the chief said. Specific details about the shooting were scarce.
This story appears in the online edition of The Christian Chronicle.
Continue reading “Fatal mistake: Harding graduate known for his ‘beautiful’ singing voice killed”
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 