ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — The Baptist University of the Americas has joined a 3-year-old partnership with other Baptist groups to start Spanish-language churches across the United States. The San Antonio, Texas, school signed on to the partnership with the Hispanic…
Anti-poverty reformers seek consensus among political, religious groups
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Christian anti-poverty advocates are promoting a “Covenant for a New America” that calls for policy changes to build consensus across the political aisle and across denominations. The document outlines three “fundamental commitments”: — “Work must work and…
Don’t be afraid of evangelicals, Obama tells other progressives
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Speaking to a group of Christians rallying in Washington, a possible contender for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination said it's time for progressives and liberals to talk about faith, but only if they can speak authentically. “Nothing's…
Leland Center receives accreditation; faculty lauded for ‘notable scholarship’
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — The John Leland Center for Theological Studies received full accreditation status from the Association of Theological Schools June 15. It now offers diploma, master of divinity, and master of theological studies classes to roughly 150 students…
Study counts 1,600 ordained, Baptist women in the South
ATLANTA (ABP) — Roughly 1,600 Baptist women in the southern United States have been ordained to the ministry, according to a new report released by Baptist Women in Ministry. The study reviewed women in churches affiliated with the Alliance of…
Former mission board worker gets anonymous gift for ailing wife
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Nathan and Fran Porter, former employees of the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board, have received an anonymous $5,000 donation to help pay for Fran's mounting medical expenses, Porter told Associated Baptist Press June 29. The…
Arkansas Supreme Court overturns state’s ban on gay foster parents
LITTLE ROCK (ABP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously June 29 that the state's child-welfare agency cannot ban gays from being foster parents. The ban had been the only one of its kind in the nation. The justices agreed…
Alito tips balance upholding Kansas’ death-penalty law
WASHINGTON (ABP) — New Justice Samuel Alito cast the deciding fifth vote in a June 26 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of Kansas' death-penalty law. The high court divided closely — and acrimoniously — in the case. On a…
Former Illinois Baptist exec Maurice Swinford dies
HERRIN, Ill. (ABP) – Maurice Swinford, who led the Illinois Baptist State Association for five years until his retirement in 1993, died Saturday. He was 78. An Illinois native born in Charleston, Swinford began working for the statewide association as…
Fellowship breaks tradition with commissioning ceremony
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship broke tradition June 23 during its annual general assembly in Atlanta by commissioning only short-term and self-funded mission workers, rather than any fully funded career missionaries. The group commissioned 19 new affiliated workers…
Carolyn Anderson, head of CBF Florida, announces retirement for next January
ATLANTA (ABP) — Carolyn Anderson, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida since 2003, has announced her plans to retire Jan. 1. Anderson's announcement came at the June 22 CBF of Florida meeting during the Fellowship's annual general assembly…
Correction
There is an error in the 5th paragraph of the June 24 ABP story, “Episcopalians send mixed messages, Presbyterians moderate at meetings.” Please delete the second sentence of that paragraph and replace it with the following: “Only a handful of…