ROME (ABP) — Baptists in Europe pledged to work more closely with other Protestants on the continent in an agreement signed Sept. 24. Leaders of the European Baptist Federation and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe signed an accord…
Jimmy Carter discharged from hospital
CLEVELAND (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter was discharged Sept. 30 after two nights in a Cleveland hospital for what doctors say was a stomach virus. A joint statement by MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and the Carter Center in…
British Baptist minister faces sexual-battery charges
FAIRFAX, Va. (ABP) — A former British Baptist minister jailed in Virginia on molestation charges made a court appearance Sept. 23. Robert Dando Robert Dando, former pastor of Worcester Park Baptist Church in Surrey, United Kingdom, is being held without…
Baptist prof and civil-rights advocate dies
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — A long-time Wake Forest University religion professor active in the Civil Rights Movement died Sept. 29. McLeod Bryan, 90, is being remembered not only for his own work for peace and justice, but also for…
BGCT board declines proposal to alter messenger-challenge process
DALLAS (ABP) — Procedural and constitutional concerns prompted the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board to reject a study committee’s proposal to change how the BGCT handles messenger-seating challenges at its annual meeting. At the 2009 BGCT meeting, Kyle…
Okla. church latest in effort to test boundaries of tax law, politics
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group has called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a church in Oklahoma for violating a law that prohibits tax-exempt charities from endorsing political candidates. The church is one of the latest in…
Jimmy Carter’s hospital stay extended
ATLANTA (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter will spend a second night in a Cleveland hospital after becoming ill Sept. 28 on a book-signing tour. A statement from Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center said early Sept. 29 that Carter was "feeling…
Jimmy Carter reported ‘resting comfortably’ in Cleveland hospital
CLEVELAND (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter was hospitalized Sept. 28 after falling ill on a flight to Cleveland for a book signing. President Jimmy Carter with his Nobel Peace Prize. Deanna Congileo of the Carter Center in Atlanta said…
Rural Churches: Strong sense of community gives churches new life
(ABP) — America’s rural churches were built upon and grew from a strong sense of community. Although many of rural congregations are in decline now, that community reliance may be the key to spiritual renewal and to thriving ministry. Some…