Baptist seminary president removed over controversial remarks about abused women
By Bobby Ross Jr., Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Michelle Boorstein| The Washington Post FORT WORTH — Prominent Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson has been removed from his job as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary amid an evangelical #MeToo moment: a massive backlash from women upset over comments he made in the past that are newly perceived as sexist and demeaning. Seminary leaders were vague as … Continue reading Baptist seminary president removed over controversial remarks about abused women
Best Reporter winner: Bobby Ross Jr. honored by Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists
TULSA, Okla. — I was honored May 19 to win second place for “Best Reporter” from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists. The award recognized my 2017 stories on Syrian refugees in Canada, the 50th anniversary of the Detroit race riot, Hurricane Harvey disaster relief, a woman who confessed to murder after her baptism and a prom for special-needs teens and adults. Jennifer Palmer of Oklahoma … Continue reading Best Reporter winner: Bobby Ross Jr. honored by Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists
Minister ‘Still Wrestling’ with his faith after murder of his wife and son
“There were mighty dark days,” recalls Les Ferguson Jr., author of a new book exploring the doubt that consumed him. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service JACKSON, Miss. — In a few weeks, Les Ferguson Jr. will move on from the pulpit at Lake Harbour Church of Christ in Ridgeland, Miss., just north of Jackson, to a new position in Oxford, home to “Ole … Continue reading Minister ‘Still Wrestling’ with his faith after murder of his wife and son
Christian Chronicle again wins top national prize, plus four first-place honors for my stories
CHICAGO — For the fourth year in a row, The Christian Chronicle — where I serve as chief correspondent — was recognized as the top national or international newspaper in the Associated Church Press’ annual “Best of the Church Press” contest. I was blessed to receive six individual honors — including first place in four categories — at the April 20 awards banquet. In case … Continue reading Christian Chronicle again wins top national prize, plus four first-place honors for my stories
‘Jesus loves me and my guns’: Faith and firearms touted at the NRA’s prayer breakfast
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For The Washington Post DALLAS — Midway through his 15-minute testimony at the National Rifle Association’s annual prayer breakfast Sunday, retired major league first baseman Adam LaRoche took off his sweater. Underneath, LaRoche — who hit 255 home runs in a 12-year career — sported a black T-shirt with a message that drew cheers from the firearms-friendly crowd of about 1,300. “Jesus … Continue reading ‘Jesus loves me and my guns’: Faith and firearms touted at the NRA’s prayer breakfast
He’s a major-league pitcher — and a plumber — whose faith helps keep him focused
Detroit Tigers ace Michael Fulmer works as a plumber in the offseason and serves as a mentor for adults with developmental disabilities. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service ARLINGTON, Texas — It’s not hard to stay humble when you’re unclogging a toilet. Or when you’re throwing gopher balls to Miracle League ballplayers swinging for the fences. At least that’s how Detroit Tigers … Continue reading He’s a major-league pitcher — and a plumber — whose faith helps keep him focused
From Vietnam to Kenya, two boys’ lives touched by God
How an 11-year-old came to donate ‘the biggest gift’ ever received by a California church. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MALIBU, Calif. — A little boy from Vietnam. A little boy from Kenya. This is the story of how one of those boys — all grown up — paid forward his blessings from God. The recipient of that boy’s extreme gratitude? The … Continue reading From Vietnam to Kenya, two boys’ lives touched by God
When God comes with a loud thud
Why an old, declining church closed to make way for a new, growing congregation to take over its building. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Pendleton met and married his wife, Marcia, at the Red Bridge Church of Christ, a once-thriving congregation less than a mile from the Kansas state line. He baptized his daughter, Kelly, there. When loved … Continue reading When God comes with a loud thud
The very definition of old news, and what a joy to read: A feature on a 400-year-old church
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
About five years ago, I traveled to rural Iowa to report on a 156-year-old church surrounded by corn and soybean fields and a cemetery where generations of deceased members rest in peace.
The news angle was that the tiny congregation was working hard to survive despite immense challenges facing it and similar houses of worship.
As part of the same “Rural Redemption” project, I spent a Sunday with a 200-year-old assembly in the farming and coal-mining country of southeastern Ohio.
I thought those churches had long histories!
But Washington Post religion writer Julie Zauzmer recently wrote about an Episcopal congregation in rural Virginia that is marking 400 years — 400 years! — in 2018.
The Post’s headline pretty much nails it:
This 400-year-old church is older than almost any institution in America
This won’t be a long post because my basic message is simple: This is an interesting, well-reported story, and I’d urge you to read it.
What did I like about it? I’ll quickly mention three things.
• • •
All of my GetReligion columns (May 2018):
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 