AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Recently, white Texas Baptist pastor Larry Bethune became the president of a mainly African-American Baptist group — and it didn't make news, because it was nothing new. Perhaps what is news to many Baptists is that…
Dan Stringer, Baptist executive for three conventions, dead at 79
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Dan Stringer, believed to be the only person to serve as chief executive of three Baptist conventions, died Oct. 2. He was 79. Stringer, who served the Florida Baptist Convention, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention and Northwest…
Book by former student-body president aims to correct record on Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — Ralph Brodie has been waiting for 50 years to tell his side of the desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School. A lot of his classmates have been waiting, too. “The main thing ……
Among first missionaries in Burma, Baptists now help refugees in U.S.
NEW YORK (ABP) — If any group in the United States has a reason to care about the people of Burma, it is Baptists. That's what Duane Binkley, a Baptist missionary to the region, said Oct. 4, the day the…
Theology, attitudes hinder Mormon entry into Christian mainstream
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While a Mormon presidential candidate continues to occupy a prominent place in the race for the White House, a recent study has found that most Americans say they know little about the practices of the Church of…
Jack Snell, Baptist pastor, mission advocate, dead at 66
ATLANTA (ABP) — Jack Snell, a well-known Baptist pastor and global missions coordinator, died Oct. 2 after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66. Snell, who at the end of his life oversaw more than 150 Cooperative Baptist…
Texas Baptist board approves big staff, budget cuts
DALLAS (ABP) — After extensive debate, the Baptist General Convention of Texas executive board voted 52-28 to approve a $50.1 million budget recommendation — a move that eliminates as many as 30 staff positions for Baptists' largest statewide body. The…
Survey: Christians still not agreed about problem of global warming
NEW YORK (ABP) – Despite a newfound focus among many Christian leaders on environmental care, a new survey suggests that rank-and-file Christians are far less concerned than non-believers about environmental issues. According to the survey, conducted by the Barna Group,…
It’s not easy being green: Humans suffer most from environmental exploitation
NEW YORK (ABP) — This isn't your Earth mother's environmentalism. While images of polar bears on shrinking glaciers and hummingbirds in sparse rainforests used to move people to “go green” to save Mother Nature, those at the forefront of Christian…
Opinion: On behalf of indoctrination
Several years ago, I invited a local surgeon who was an Orthodox Jew to come and speak to my undergraduates about the specifics of his faith. One of the points he emphasized was the importance of family and of marrying…
In first day of session, court declines church-state cases
WASHINGTON (ABP) — On the first day of their 2007-2008 term, the justices of the Supreme Court declined to hear two church-state cases that could have yielded controversial rulings. Among the hundreds of cases the court turned away Oct. 1…
Global Women conference focuses on world’s needs
SUNNYVALE, Calif. (ABP) — Women from 11 different countries and of diverse faith traditions gathered here Sept. 14-16 to investigate issues affecting women worldwide. Held at the Iranian Christian Church in Sunnyvale, Calif., the annual Global Voices conference, sponsored by…