(240 words) (ABP) — A biopic about evangelist Billy Graham hit theaters with a thud its opening weekend Oct. 10-12, earning far less than other religion-themed movies like Fireproof and Bill Maher's agnostic comedy documentary Religulous. Billy: The Early Years,…
‘Billy: The Early Years’
falls flat in box office
(240 words) (ABP) — A biopic about evangelist Billy Graham hit theaters with a thud its opening weekend Oct. 10-12, earning far less than other religion-themed movies like Fireproof and Bill Maher's agnostic comedy documentary Religulous. Armie Hammer portrays evangelist…
CBF field personnel minister among Middle Eastern group
(408 words) ATLANTA (ABP) — Frank Morrow was in the Middle East doing relief work after a natural disaster when a local official asked, “Why do you do what you do? Why did you come?” Morrow opened a paperback Bible and shared…
Pastor says he’s ‘poli-ticked’ about election
(855 words) GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — At a time when polls indicate growing distaste for politics in the pulpit, one Southern Baptist mega-pastor is launching a high-profile sermon series aimed at getting Christians off the bench and into political action….
Everett sermon at Southwestern may be sign of thaw in relations
(421 words) FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — In a sign that once-frosty relations between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary may be thawing, the BGCT's new executive director, Randel Everett, spoke there Oct. 15. "I…
Candidates spar over abortion in final presidential debate
(806 words) HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (ABP) — John McCain and Barack Obama differed sharply over the legality of abortion in their third and final presidential debate Oct.15 at Hofstra University, in one of the only mentions in this year’s presidential debates…
N.Y. Baptist group says to defrock pastor facing child-porn charge
(763 words) OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. (ABP) — A statewide fellowship of independent Baptist churches in New York is recommending defrocking one of its pastors arrested on child-pornography charges. Leaders of First Baptist Church in the Upstate New York town of Oswegatchie…
SBU administrator named as Oklahoma Baptist president
SHAWNEE, Okla. (ABP) — David Whitlock, 46, an administrator at Southwest Baptist University, has been named Oklahoma Baptist University's 15th president, OBU trustees announced Oct. 10. "Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, Dr. Whitlock will fit us well," Alton…
Connecticut latest jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage
HARTFORD, Conn. (ABP) — The Connecticut Supreme Court Oct. 10 made that state the latest in the union to offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples. The state’s justices ruled 4-3 that the equal-protection and due-process provisions of the Connecticut…
Study: Younger evangelicals less conservative than elders
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A large study of religious Americans suggests that white evangelicals' views on gay rights may be shifting, rapidly, to the left. The survey, which includes one of the largest samples of younger voters' political and religious views…
Little framed in moral terms during presidential debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Economic woes and national security dominated a second presidential debate that offered little new information for undecided voters, including those looking for a values-based hook on which to hang their presidential choice. Democratic candidate Barack Obama…
Book says Southern Baptist women stronger than confession suggests
CORVALLIS, Ore. (ABP) — While professing to believe the Bible teaches them to submit to their husbands, Southern Baptist women tend to function as equal partners when it comes to most decision-making in the home, according to a new book…