Pastors

A debate has been sparked among Black pastors who are trying to square a heroic view of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist who was gunned down in Utah this month, with the insulting statements about people of color that were key to his political activism. Conservatives and white Christians, particularly evangelicals, are emphasizing Kirk's faith and label him a martyr. From the pulpits of Black churches, pastors used their sermons to denounce what they called hateful rhetoric from Kirk that runs counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Many Black clergy have linked the veneration of Kirk to a history of weaponizing faith to justify colonialism, enslavement and bigotry.

Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting have narrowly rejected a proposal to enshrine a ban on churches with women pastors in the denomination's constitution. Opponents argued the proposal was unnecessary because the SBC already has a way of ousting such churches.

A group of clergy convened in front of the State Capitol Building to stand in solidarity and support House Bill 2 on Tuesday morning.The group of about 40…