INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — A federal judge in Indiana has said that state's practice of allowing explicitly Christian prayers to open legislative sessions violates the Constitution. In a Nov. 30 ruling, Federal District Judge David Hamilton ordered a halt to official…
Supreme court hears arguments on abortion-clinic protesters
WASHINGTON (ABP) — On a day when anti-abortion protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court's building, the justices inside concerned themselves with a decades-old case on whether federal law can ban certain protests at abortion clinics. The Nov. 30 arguments in…
Illinois pastor heads to Iraq but leaves church in good hands
ATLANTA (ABP) — For years, Jorge Zayasbazan's mission has been starting churches. But as his National Guard unit soon heads to Iraq, he will have an entirely different mission. Zayasbazan, pastor of Grace Chapel in Round Lake Beach, Ill., will…
Moderates in N.C. ponder ‘realignment’ to bypass conservative convention
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Moderate Baptists in North Carolina are now talking seriously about “realignment,” a move that could divert millions in contributions from the conservative-controlled Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Executives of virtually all of the convention's institutions…
Southern Baptist agency nixes controversial charismatic practice for new missionaries
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (ABP) — The International Mission Board will no longer appoint Southern Baptist missionaries who use a “private prayer language” — a controversial practice related to speaking in tongues and previously practiced by IMB president Jerry Rankin. The Southern…
Truett alumni association honors Kyle Lake
WACO, Texas (ABP) – The alumni association of Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary announced Nov. 14 they will establish an endowed scholarship fund to honor former graduate Kyle Lake. Lake, 33-year-old pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco,…
As justices again consider abortion attention turns to shifting court
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the Supreme Court took up its first major abortion case in five years Nov. 30, attention focused on the body's shifting membership and what that might mean for abortion rights in the future. During oral arguments…
Southern Baptist agency nixes controversial charismatic practice for new missionaries
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (ABP) — The International Mission Board will no longer appoint Southern Baptist missionaries who use a “private prayer language” — a controversial practice related to speaking in tongues and previously practiced by IMB president Jerry Rankin. The Southern…
Truett alumni association honors Kyle Lake
WACO, Texas (ABP) – The alumni association of Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary announced Nov. 14 they will establish an endowed scholarship fund to honor former graduate Kyle Lake. Lake, 33-year-old pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco,…
Ala. Baptists promote reconciliation during bus-boycott anniversary
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (ABP) — Acknowledging they have not always been on the right side of racial issues, Alabama Baptists endorsed a call to use the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a way to foster racial harmony. The…
Religious leaders decry narrow House passage of deficit bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A diverse group of religious leaders lambasted the House of Representatives Nov. 21 for its narrow passage of a deficit-cutting bill that makes many of its cuts in programs that benefit poor people. The House passed the…
Louisiana Baptists honor Clayton on retirement from newspaper
WEST MONROE, La. (ABP) — While Louisiana Baptists offered words of praise for their retiring newspaper editor during their recent annual meeting, they also gave support to keeping the paper independent. Meeting in West Monroe Nov. 14-15, Louisiana Baptists honored…