Ana Karim, a Cuban-American Alliance member, urges the group to contact lawmakers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — The Alliance of Baptists applauded President Obama for loosening restrictions on American's travel to Cuba and called for more reform during the progressive group's…
Alliance of Baptists urges end to Cuba travel ban
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — The Alliance of Baptists applauded President Obama for loosening restrictions on American’s Ana Karim, a Cuban-American Alliance member, urges the group to contact lawmakers.travel to Cuba and called for more reform during the progressive group’s April…
Hastey urges Alliance to stay true to vision
Stan Hastey retires June 30 after 20 years with the Alliance of Baptists. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — After two decades with the Alliance of Baptists, Stan Hastey said in his final "State of the Alliance" address April 18 he hopes…
Hastey, in farewell, urges Alliance to stay true to founding vision
Stan Hastey retires June 30 after 20 years with the Alliance of Baptists.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — After two decades with the Alliance of Baptists, Stan Hastey said in his final “State of the Alliance” address April 18 he hopes the…
Draft stem-cell guidelines still won’t allow funds for cloning
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Obama administration clarified its policy on embryonic stem-cell research April 17, issuing draft guidelines that will expand federal funding for the controversial research but retaining a ban on funding for its most ethically fraught versions. The…
LifeWay study: Protestant pastors divided on global warming
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Protestant pastors are sending mixed messages about the environment and climate change, according to a new study by LifeWay Research. In a survey of 1,002 clergy conducted last October, 47 percent agreed and 47 percent disagreed…
Page ‘concerned’ about Rick Warren’s comments on gay marriage
TAYLORS, S.C. (ABP) — A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention said he is “deeply concerned” about comments by Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren that a recent court decision allowing gay marriage is not part of his agenda….
For churches, a right and wrong way to cut staff
LAKELAND, Fla. (RNS)—As many congregations grapple with declining contributions, some faith communities are following the lead of cash-strapped corporations by laying off employees. But the stakes are higher, congregational leaders say, when you’re putting someone’s spiritual leader out on the…
Economic woes give churches a reason to go green
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Mary Miller used to have trouble getting fellow members of Wilmore United Methodist Church in Kentucky to go green. But as it turns out, a sour economy was an unlikely answer to prayer. As the economy shrank, so did…
Lecturer says Bible shaped MLK’s ‘beloved community’
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — The “beloved community” — an ideal that shaped the American civil rights movement — was built upon the Bible, Emmanuel McCall stressed during the annual Maston Lectures at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology. McCall, founding…
Lecturer cites food-related themes in Jesus’ ethical teaching
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Jesus taught important ethical lessons while dining, Emmanuel McCall told participants at the Logsdon School of Theology’s annual Maston Lectures. “Some of his most profound lessons were food-related,” said McCall, vice president of the Baptist World…
Authorities expose blogger who has been hounding FBC Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — The sheriff of Jacksonville, Fla., is defending actions of a detective who obtained a subpoena to learn the identity of an anonymous blogger critical of the pastor of the church where the detecive is a longtime…