NEW YORK (ABP) (ABP) — The Church of England recently issued a statement identifying organ donation — even by living donors — as a Christian duty motivated by compassion and a mandate to heal. But what about donating a womb…
Budget changes only topic of discussion during Virginia Baptist meeting
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists increased their support for a variety of state, national and international ministries – and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding…
Evangelical scholar: Africans understand Old Testament better than Westerners
SAN DIEGO (ABP) – African Christians tend to understand and appreciate the Old Testament far better than their Western counterparts, author Philip Jenkins told his fellow evangelical scholars Nov. 15. Jenkins, a professor of religious studies and history at Pennsylvania…
Church starters begin pioneering work in mountains of India
ATLANTA (ABP) — For five years, Sam Bandela has worked among hill tribes in the mountainous central region of India. As tsunami relief and personal challenges intervened, Bandela struggled to find trusted local partners, train indigenous church planters and fund…
Budget changes only topic of discussion during Virginia Baptist meeting
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists increased their support for a variety of state, national and international ministries – and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding…
Ky. Baptists elect officers unopposed, hear ‘troubling’ report on spirituality
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (ABP) – Messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 13-14 elected all of the body's officers by acclamation, decided to shorten next year's annual meeting and heard a sobering report on the theological views of average…
Keith Beene, 40, dies unexpectedly; led communicators’ association
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) – Keith Beene, the 40-year-old administrator of a professional society for Baptist communications professionals, died unexpectedly in the early hours of Nov. 16, according to the group's president. David Winfrey, president of the Baptist Communicators Association, said…
Florida Baptists say alcohol use disqualifies leaders from service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Only teetotalers will be allowed to serve as trustees of the Florida Baptist Convention's agencies and boards, as a result of a vote at the convention's annual meeting. With no discussion and less than half…
Evangelical scholars discuss justification by faith, may change doctrinal statement
SAN DIEGO (ABP) – As hundreds of scholars, pastors and theologians gathered Nov. 14 for the opening day of the 59th annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, a question loomed over their heads: How narrowly to define who qualifies…
N.C. Baptists cut WMU funding, loosen ties with colleges, take stand on gays
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Messengers changed the face of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, loosening ties to its five colleges and retirement home, cutting funding to its women's auxiliary, and expelling a church that accepts gays in leadership…
Alabama Baptists, in quiet meeting, adopt record $44.6 million budget
MOBILE, Ala. (ABP) — Messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention's annual meeting Nov. 13-14 quietly adopted a record budget and re-elected their officers. Members of the state's largest religious group also moved forward with work toward a future relocation…
Moderates, conservatives each get mixed bag during Tenn. convention
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (ABP) – Neither an organized conservative group nor a coalition of moderates and unaligned conservatives were the clear-cut winners during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting, held Nov. 13-14 in Kingsport, Tenn. Messengers elected presidential and vice presidential…