Before we dive into the Friday Five, a few updates to earlier posts:
• I followed up Thursday on my analysis last week of The Associated Press’ haunted obituary of Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland. Kudos to AP for a new piece that delves into the important role of the black church in Cummings’ life.
• Earlier this week, I highlighted the bush-league PR response by the Houston Astros to a foul-mouthed, female-sportswriter-bullying assistant general manager named Brandon Taubman. Welp, the Astros eventually did the right thing and fired Taubman, a Houston Chronicle sports columnist writes.
• Also this week, I asked “What’s the real story?” concerning plans to close the first-ever international Chick-fil-A? The location at British mall apparently will shut down after six months amid protests by gay-rights activists. In that post, I mentioned a lawsuit over the San Antonio airport refusing to allow a Chick-fil-A. Now, the San Antonio Express-News reports that the Chick-fil-A could wind up opening there after all.
Now, on to the Friday Five:
1. Religion story of the week: Here’s a “story of the week” that actually hasn’t hit the mainstream press yet, assuming my Google News search skills are adequate.
Separate stories emerged this week, both concerning female professors and Southern Baptist seminaries, but the only reports I’ve seen were in the religious press: One involves the faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, voting to affirm women colleagues amid attacks from some critics.
The other concerns well-known English professor Karen Swallow Prior’s planned move from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. Christianity Today notes important background concerning Prior, including her status as a “Never Trumper.” Despite that status, her departure drew a kind tweet from “Always Trumper” Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty’s president:
Maybe there’s a big-picture story on women professors at Southern Baptist seminaries for an enterprising Godbeat pro. (Honestly, I have a vague memory of reading such a story in the not-so-distant past, so if somebody has a link, I’d welcome that, too.)
2. Most popular GetReligion post: Speaking of Baptist women, our No. 1 most-clicked commentary of the week was Julia Duin’s piece on “the harsh comment that the Rev. John MacArthur, an extremely conservative evangelical pastor, made about Beth Moore, possibly the most famous woman in Southern Baptist life today.”
Duin’s post title sums up her thesis: “When it comes to John MacArthur, Beth Moore and Russell Moore, let's ask tougher questions.”
3. Guilt folder fodder (and more): Our Media Project colleagues at Religion Unplugged won an award this week.
Religion Unplugged, where writers such as our own Clemente Lisi and Terry Mattingly are featured, was honored as a top site for culture and entertainment news, receiving an Eppy Award presented by Editor & Publisher.
Congratulations to the entire team!
4. Shameless plug: I profiled the new president of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., for The Christian Chronicle.
It’s a compelling story about how one mission trip to Uganda changed the entire trajectory of Jim Gash’s life and that of a boy falsely charged with two murders.
5. Final thought: Jesus really does save.
Happy Friday, everybody! Enjoy the weekend!