Baptist Collegiate Ministry of Vanderbilt University has decided to remain a registered student organization on campus, even with the "All-Comers" policy Vanderbilt has decided to implement among religious groups.

Thom Thornton, director of Vanderbilt BCM, explained to Baptist Press that his group has "been assured by the university that we can select leaders committed to the organization's mission."

In November 2010, Vanderbilt University began to implement rules which mandated that religious organizations allow all students to run for leadership positions, even if the students did not agree with the spiritual aims of the group. more >>

Mars Hill Church founding pastor Mark Driscoll responded to controversy over being chosen as a guest speaker at Liberty University in Virginia by poking fun at the apparent inaccuracy of a blogger who claimed the megachurch pastor was not welcome at the campus.

Driscoll is scheduled to speak at the campus on the topic of "The Rebellious and the Religious" during the daytime on Friday. On Friday evening and on Saturday, he and his wife will teach from their book, Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together, as part of their ongoing tour to help promote the book.

"The trouble started with a Southern Baptist blogger . . . yes, you should have seen that one coming," Driscoll wrote in his blog post on Monday titled, "An Official Response to The Kerfuffle At Liberty University." more >>

A gay rights group demonstrated at Oklahoma Baptist University on Wednesday as part of an ongoing project to advance acceptance of homosexuality in religious organizations.

Members of Soulforce demonstrated across the street from the OKBU campus in Shawnee, holding a silent vigil and dialoguing with students.

Marty O'Gwynn, assistant to the president of Oklahoma Baptist University, told The Christian Post that the Soulforce participants were not given permission to demonstrate on campus. But he also noted that the protesters were peaceful. more >>

A University founded by the Baptist General Convention of Texas is considering a change in name in order to be more appealing to prospective students.

Houston Baptist University, founded about 50 years ago, has been mulling over a name change that would make the academic institution seem, in the words of one board member, less "limiting."

"Houston and the name Baptist are somewhat limiting to a national Christian university," said HBU board member Ray Cox Jr. at a town hall meeting. more >>

There are currently more than 45,000 Southern Baptist churches across the United States. Most of those churches, however, are concentrated in the South, with fewer churches located in states like New York and New Jersey.

In an effort to remind people of the importance of church planting, especially in under-reached and under-served areas like the Northeast and West, the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board – currently the North American Mission Board – created Start-a-Church Sunday.

Placed on the SBC calendar in 1991 as part of the Convention's Bold Mission Thrust initiative, a multi-pronged emphasis on evangelism, missions and church planting, Start-a-Church Sunday continues to remain on the calendar today as an annual reminder to churches of the importance of starting new churches. more >>

Two prominent theologians took opposite sides and debated the theological system of Calvinism, which is experiencing a resurgence in church culture, on "The Exchange" webshow this past week.

Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Research, moderated the discussion between Roger Olson and Michael Horton, who both have recent books released on the topic of Calvinism, but taking opposing views on the system. Stetzer wrote in a Nov. 15, 2010 blog post that he thinks "there IS a resurgence of Calvinism (particularly within evangelicalism)," and that it is among a younger population.

Stetzer briefly explained on his program the theology behind Calvinism using an acronym known as T.U.L.I.P: Total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. more >>