WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new study suggesting that religiously motivated conversion from homosexual orientation is possible and not harmful has been hailed by some social conservatives, while others are questioning the study's motive and methodology. The study, funded by an…
Pastor of burned church, arsonist’s mom talk in chapel service about redemption
BRIERFIELD, Ala. (ABP) — An unlikely pair shared the pulpit at Judson College's weekly chapel Sept. 18. Jim Parker is pastor of the Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield, Ala., the second of nine Alabama churches burned by arsonists in February…
Hearing the Call: Clarification an important task at Baptist schools
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Sometimes a Christian may report receiving a crystal-clear call from God to join the ministry. But more often than not, he or she may feel like there's some static on the line. That's the conclusion of…
Hearing the Call: Ministers hear call to service from different voices
SEDALIA, Mo. (ABP) — Veteran ministers may have little in common when it comes to locale and style, but many agree on at least one thing: God uses a variety of ways to call people to Christian service, they say….
Hearing the Call: Church approves 82-year-old for ‘gospel ministry’
HALLSVILLE, Texas (ABP) — A Baptist church in rural Texas recently licensed one of its own to preach the gospel — 82-year-old Buck Lineberger. The ceremony at First Baptist Church in Hallsville, Texas, came 65 years after Lineberger initially felt…
Divided Maryland high court rules against gay marriage
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) — Maryland's highest court has delivered the latest blow to supporters of same-sex marriage rights, narrowly ruling that the Maryland Constitution does not confer upon gays the right to marry each other. A sharply divided Maryland Court…
Dobson, in message to colleagues, discourages support of Thompson
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of the most powerful leaders in conservative evangelical Christianity has reportedly discouraged his colleagues from supporting Fred Thompson as a presidential candidate. James Dobson, according to a Sept. 19 Associated Press report, sent a private e-mail…
ABP fills two positions, affirms strategic alliance
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The Associated Baptist Press board of directors hired an interim development director and filled the position of news editor at their semi-annual meeting Sept. 16-18. Meeting in Richmond, Va., directors of the independent news service based…
McCain’s claim of Baptist identity raises reporter, blogger queries
WASHINGTON (ABP) — GOP presidential candidate John McCain is raising questions about his religious affiliation with a comment he made Sept. 16 at a campaign stop in heavily Baptist South Carolina. The Arizona senator, according to the Associated Press, answered…
Southern Baptist pastor in California charged with sexually abusing two girls
FRESNO, Calif. (ABP) — Another Southern Baptist pastor has been charged with child molestation. Police arrested John Bonine, pastor of Sierra Heights Baptist Church in Fresno, Calif., at his home Aug. 10. The 43-year-old father of eight is accused of…
Southern Baptist pastor in California charged with sexually abusing two girls
FRESNO, Calif. (ABP) — Another Southern Baptist pastor has been charged with child molestation. Police arrested John Bonine, pastor of Sierra Heights Baptist Church in Fresno, Calif., at his home Aug. 10. The 43-year-old father of eight is accused of…
Hearing the Call: Congregations strive to create a culture of calling
(ABP) — Hearing God's call to vocational service may not be as easy in a Baptist church as it once was, but some congregations are determined to change that. Once upon a time, a public invitation at the close of…