NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A Tennessee pastor will join what already promises to be a contentious election for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention when the denomination holds its annual meeting June 13-14 in Greensboro, N.C. Jerry Sutton, the…
Court says prison program violates First Amendment
DES MOINES, Iowa (ABP) — In what could be a major setback for government's ability to fund religious charities, a federal judge has ruled against an Iowa program designed to rehabilitate prisoners through Christianity. U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt of…
Church founded by Lottie Moon leaves small temple for new building
PINGDU, CHINA (ABP) — A vibrant congregation founded by Lottie Moon, the famous missionary to China, has moved out of the crumbling temple it used as a meeting place, thanks to a church located thousands of miles away. The partnership…
Third SBC presidential candidate, another 1st VP may be nominated
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Jerry Sutton, the pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., may accept a nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, according to his assistant. “Some people have asked him to, and he has…
Controversies born from blogs promise stormiest SBC since 1991
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) – Blogs have already revolutionized secular politics, and whether a subset of them have revolutionized Baptist politics will be seen at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting June 13-14 in North Carolina. The meeting, in Greensboro, will…
Burleson calls for SBC to investigate ‘manipulation,’ ‘coercion’ at IMB
ENID, Okla. (ABP) — Wade Burleson is calling for the Southern Baptist Convention to investigate “manipulation” and “coercion” by his fellow trustees of the International Mission Board. But the Oklahoma pastor backed down from his threat to publish details of…
AIDS-HIV summit prior to CBF to focus on poverty connection
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sharing Christ with people who are dying of AIDS, drowning in poverty and going to bed hungry requires addressing all of those problems simultaneously, according to officials of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. That's why this year's CBF…
Exercise gives seniors independence, provides community, experts say
ANNISTON, Ala. (ABP) — When the early morning sunlight begins to peek over the horizon, many people nationwide hit the snooze button to catch a little more sleep before beginning their day. Dunaway Conner and his cycling companions, however, have…
Forrest Pollock to nominate Page for Southern Baptist presidency
DALLAS (ABP) — A Florida pastor announced June 1 that he will nominate Frank Page as an alternative candidate for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency during the denomination's upcoming annual meeting. Forrest Pollock, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in…
Mercer Press to begin filling gap in kids’ Sunday school literature
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — In an attempt to meet needs and re-connect with its Baptist constituency, the publishing arm of Mercer University will begin offering children's Sunday school literature this fall. The move, according to Mercer University Press officials, is…
Suspect arrested after fire destroys church buildings in rural Kentucky
OLNEY, Ky. (ABP) — Lafayette Baptist Church, a rural Kentucky congregation that dates back to the late 1800s, lost its church facility in an apparent arson attack May 20. The fire, reportedly set early Saturday morning, was not discovered until…
Baptist groups send workers, supplies, funds to help victims of Java quake
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (ABP) — Several Baptist groups have joined the worldwide outpouring of support for victims of a deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 5,700 people May 27. More than 200,000 people remain homeless, according to the Indonesian government….