TYLER, Texas (ABP) — For some Texans, “one day” came sooner than they thought. Two weeks ago, Texas volunteers in shelters for Hurricane Katrina victims were talking about how they could be evacuees “one day.” That time came sooner than…
Senate Judiciary Committee approves Roberts, 13-5
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Federal appeals-court judge John Roberts is one step closer to becoming the 17th chief justice of the United States, after gaining the approval of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 22. The committee approved Roberts by a bipartisan…
Texas Baptists prepare for Rita as category 4 storm bears down on coast
DALLAS (ABP) — With Hurricane Katrina fresh on their minds, Baptist General Convention of Texas leaders are preparing relief resources to serve as quickly as possible when Hurricane Rita strikes along the Gulf Coast. BGCT staff members are lining up…
Former Katrina shelter becomes haven for Rita evacuees
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — As Hurricane Rita bears down on the Texas coast, a shelter that housed victims of Hurricane Katrina has been emptied and reopened for evacuees of the new storm. Churchill Baptist Church in San Antonio, which has…
House allows religious discrimination in reauthorizing Head Start program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Once again, the House of Representatives has voted to allow religious social-service providers using federal money to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion. The Sept. 22 move was the latest in a long series of…
SBC Executive Committee increases salary structure
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has voted to raise the salaries for some of its upper-level employees as questions continue about the openness of its salary structure. The vote came during the committee's Sept. 20…
Alabama Baptist churches help state literacy effort
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (ABP) — Alabama is leading the way in raising literacy rates, one child at a time, said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings at the second Governor's Reading Summit Sept. 15 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia…
House may vote this week on faith-based provision
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Yet another fight over expanding government grants to religious groups is likely to erupt in the House of Representatives this week. The full House is scheduled to take up a bill Sept. 21 extending the Head Start…
Bush proposes school vouchers for Katrina evacuee families
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, President Bush may be able to push through Congress a pet project that they have stymied for four years now — a wide-ranging federal school voucher program. Just a day after Bush presented…
Houston churches step up to meet needs of Katrina evacuees
HOUSTON (ABP) — Monica Villacres and her 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, made it safely through Hurricane Katrina at their house in New Orleans. But two days later when the water was rising, there was no power and they had no way…
Group revises Bible curriculum following national controversy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group that encourages teaching the Bible as history and literature in the public schools has revised its curriculum, incorporating many of the changes recommended by an organization it characterized as “anti-religion extremists.” In late August, the…
Texas association helps evacuees find home away from home
DALLAS (ABP) — Murray Broden and Benny Hand are getting used to running out of time. The two men held out in their New Orleans homes as long as they could until the flood waters after Hurricane Katrina made the…