BROOKLYN, N.Y. (ABP) — Blogs are a growing but still relatively underutilized influence on today's religious discourse, according to a study of the religious blogosphere by the Social Science Research Council. "Blogs have given occasion to a whole new set…
Tenn. school board settles lawsuit over First Amendment violations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A Tennessee school board voted March 1 to settle a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last fall alleging a pattern of unconstitutional promotion of religion. The Cheatham County Board of Education voted 5-1…
Baylor University slated to receive its largest gift in history
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University has announced the largest gift in the school’s history — an estate provision estimated at $200 million from an anonymous donor. Much of the gift will benefit the Baylor School of Social Work. The…
IMB head welcomes proposed funding hike
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board welcomed a recent progress report by a Great Commission Task Force as a "token" step toward redistributing more resources to the denomination's primary task of reaching…
Rankin welcomes GCR report’s ‘token commitment’ to IMB funding boost
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board welcomed a recent progress report by a Great Commission Resurgence Task Force as a "token" step toward redistributing more resources to the denomination's primary task of…
African-American Baptist groups pledge $50 million for Haiti
CHICAGO (ABP) — America's five largest historically African-American Baptist organizations are cooperating to raise $50 million to help rebuild Haiti and provide aid to victims of a Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the area surrounding the capital, Port-au-Prince. Called the…
In Texas, Religious Right loses fight with national curriculum implications
DALLAS (ABP) — The Religious Right suffered a surprise setback in Texas March 2, when incumbent Don McLeroy — a creationist and outspoken critic of church-state separation — narrowly lost his re-election bid for the powerful State Board of Education…
CBF establishes relief fund for Chile
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has established a Latin American earthquake fund and sent an initial $5,000 for relief and rebuilding efforts in Chile. Raquel Contreras, president of the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Chile, said in…
CBF establishes relief fund for Chile; Chilean Baptists describe needs
{youtube}Sy140myN_g4{/youtube} ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has established a Latin American earthquake fund and sent an initial $5,000 for relief and rebuilding efforts in Chile. Raquel Contreras, president of the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Chile, said…
Supreme Court declines Okla. county’s attempt to display 10 Commandments
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court has declined to hear a case that could have allowed it to clarify its rules on displaying the 10 Commandments and other religious artifacts on government property. And, as a result, an Oklahoma county…
Baptist expert says Establishment Clause applies to foreign policy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Baptist church-state specialist is voicing concern about a think-tank report urging a new direction for United States foreign policy focused on the role religion plays in world affairs. Writing for the On Faith blog at WashingtonPost.com,…
Former Baptist editor Fletcher Allen dies at 78
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (ABP) — A retired denominational journalist who worked three decades for Baptist newspapers in three states died Feb. 27 after a long battle with cancer. Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, 78, of Franklin, Tenn., worked 17 years as associate…