RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — “If you know what hymns a congregation is most addicted to, you will be able to infer what, in Christianity, means most to that church.” When the late hymnist Erik Routley wrote that in 1982,…
Musical choice reveals congregation’s theological position
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Terry York is willing to bet that if he goes into a Baptist church, sits down and listens, he can tell — long before the preacher speaks — whether the congregation is theologically conservative or moderate….
NAMB trustees name acting interim after president resigns
Longtime NAMB staff member Richard Harris was named acting interim president Aug. 12. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — North American Mission Board trustees on Aug. 12 named Richard Harris, the organization's senior strategist for missions advancement, as acting interim president…
BWA presentation on church and gays reveals differing regional approaches
EDE, Netherlands (ABP) — A friendly debate about the Bible, human sexuality and the church’s response to the advance of gay rights during the Baptist World Alliance’s recent annual gathering revealed differences between some in the developing world and some…
Texas pastor charged with cyber-stalking former attendee
MARSHALL, Texas (ABP) — A pastor active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has resigned from his church amid allegations that he sent inappropriate e-mails to a woman who once attended the congregation. The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office in Shreveport, La.,…
Cecil Sherman to receive freedom award — again
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Exactly one year to the day after honoring Cecil Sherman with its Religious Freedom Award in a private presentation in a Houston hospital room where the prominent Baptist leader was fighting for his life, Associated Baptist…
NAMB president, 3 associates stepping down
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board and three top associates resigned during a called meeting of the agency's board of trustees Aug. 11. Geoff Hammond Trustees convened the special meeting after…
Center for Congregational health elects Bill Wilson president
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — A Georgia pastor with close ties to the moderate Baptists has been elected president of the Center for Congregational Health, a non-denominational ministry that provides consultants and trained leaders to help churches become “healthier communities of…
Panel applies theology to immigration debate
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Baptists cannot deal with immigration biblically and ethically until they understand a basic stewardship principle: everything — including the privilege of living in a particular country — is a gift from God, said a panelist in…
Panelists offer theological foundation for immigration debate
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Baptists cannot deal with immigration biblically and ethically until they understand a basic stewardship principle: everything — including the privilege of living in a particular country — is a gift from God, said a panelist in…
Pastor says God can use Christians to rebuild
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Just as God used Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem after the Jews returned from exile, God also will use his people today to rebuild and repair brokenness in society, said Major Jemison, pastor of…
Pastor says God can use Christians to rebuild
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Just as God used Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem after the Jews returned from exile, God also will use his people today to rebuild and repair brokenness in society, said Major Jemison, pastor of…