RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Two Virginia Baptist benefactors have offered a large matching-gift challenge to Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Seminary officials announced Jan. 19 that Louise and Harwood Cochrane had issued a $3 million challenge to their fellow BTSR…
Giving not showing fatigue that some analysts feared
(ABP) — News reports and televised images of suffering by South Asia tsunami victims or hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast residents prompted Americans to reach deep into their pocketbooks to give last year. Americans gave more than $2.7 billion to aid Gulf…
Churches that fail to manage risks fail in stewardship, says consultant
SAN ANGELO, Texas (ABP) — When church leaders fail to identify and manage risks in areas such as legal liability, health and safety standards, and compliance with civil-rights laws, they neglect an important aspect of biblical stewardship, risk-management consultant Dick…
Draper, retiring LifeWay president, honored for 15 years of ministry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Affirming his commitment, compassion and vision, friends and colleagues gathered Jan. 13 to honor James T. Draper Jr., who will retire Feb. 1 as president of LifeWay Christian Resources. Draper, elected president of the former Baptist…
Unanimous Supreme Court dodges broad questions in abortion ruling
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A unanimous Supreme Court managed Jan. 18 to uphold a New Hampshire law requiring parental notification for minors seeking abortions without breaking new ground on abortion rights — though many had hoped or feared they would. In…
Giving to Protestant churches drops to 2.6% of income, study finds
(ABP) — If American Christians tithed, churches could gain $156 billion a year, a recent study found. And if denominations allocated a greater percentage of their receipts to international human needs, they could make strides in eliminating poverty-related child deaths,…
Supreme Court says federal drug laws can’t be used to stop assisted suicide
WASHINGTON (ABP) — By a 6-3 majority Jan. 17, the Supreme Court rebuffed the Bush administration's efforts to punish doctors who participate in physician-assisted suicides under an Oregon law. The ruling does not establish a constitutional “right to die.” But…
California school district agrees to settle intelligent-design suit
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Just days after they were sued over it, a California school district has agreed to stop teaching a course critics said promoted creationism and intelligent design. Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced Jan. 17…
Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian youth gather at Disney for worship, challenge
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (ABP) — More than 2,200 Christian teenagers — Baptists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians — explored common and distinct dimensions of their faith during the first “Faith in 3D” conference Jan. 13-16 at the Disney World Resort. With…
IMB trustees tried power of press to silence dissent, Burleson says
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — A new staff policy, which gives trustees of the International Mission Board power to censor news stories about their work, reportedly was used Jan. 11 to try to persuade a trustee to resign. That's the picture…
Baptists Today taps Sherman for Judson-Rice Award
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Cecil Sherman, the first national coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will receive the sixth annual Judson-Rice Award at an April 21 dinner at First Baptist Church of Asheville, N.C. The event is sponsored by the…
Wrap-up: Alito gives few hints on Roe v. Wade, First Amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In four days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Bush's pick for a pivotal seat on the Supreme Court revealed little about how he may rule on the day's most controversial issues. But experts said…