RICHMOND, Va., (ABP) — Ties between the Baptist General Association of Virginia and Averett University, already strained from a dispute last year over homosexuality, suffered another setback when one of the school's student organizations hosted a gay pride week on…
Tsunami aid groups seek to apply Baptist generosity for long term
(ABP) — Tsunami disaster relief is not a race between the tortoise and the hare. It's more like a relay effort by the two. According to Baptist groups that remain deeply involved in helping victims of the catastrophe, the sprint…
Baptist NCC leader issues cautions for Christian tsunami relief
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Baptist minister who is a Sri Lanka native has issued a set of guidelines for Christians doing relief work in the wake of the Dec. 26 South Asian tsunamis. Shanta Premawardhana, the director of interfaith relations…
Senate ready to pass bankruptcy bill despite Christian opposition
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A bill that would make it much more difficult for many middle-income Americans to get out of debt appeared on its way to passage in the Senate March 10. The “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act…
Church historian Walter Shurden to be honored by Baptists Today
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Church historian Walter Shurden, founding executive director of Mercer University's Center for Baptist Studies, will receive the fifth annual Judson-Rice Award from Baptists Today. Mercer President Kirby Godsey will present the award on behalf of the…
BWA president won’t criticize SBC, cites ‘struggling Baptists’ worldwide
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (ABP) — Korean pastor Billy Kim, president of the Baptist World Alliance, declined to criticize a Southern Baptist plan to bring “like-minded Baptists” together to form an alternative to BWA. Kim said there are enough human needs around…
Federal court rules in Bush’s favor in AmeriCorps faith-based program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a program that is part of President Bush's plan to fund social services through religious charities. The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled March…
Church-politicking bill reintroduced, would allow candidate endorsements
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The church-politicking bill is back, and its supporters are as eager as ever to pass it. The measure died in the past two sessions of Congress. Nonetheless Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) again introduced a version of the…
Accreditor hands Wingate University probation for unauthorized program
WINGATE, N.C. (ABP) — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has put Wingate University on probation for one year, which university officials say is a result of “a procedural misunderstanding.” Wingate has appealed the sanction. In the meantime, the…
Chicago scalpers asking $190 for tickets to hear TV preacher
CHICAGO (ABP) — Tickets to hear popular TV preacher Joel Osteen in a Chicago arena reportedly are commanding a scalper's markup that rivals rock superstars U2. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, $10 tickets to the Houston pastor's May 5-6 “Worship…
Baptists have ‘gift’ of opposing merger of church, state, Gardner Taylor says
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABP) — Baptists have a unique, historic calling to “speak truth to power” when society tries to merge the forces of church and state, legendary African-American minister Gardner Taylor said March 5. “This is the Baptists' gift from…
CBF, Buckner sign partnership to expand global ministry among children
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A major initiative designed to transform the lives of children and families domestically and abroad is being launched in 2005 through a partnership among African Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Texas-based Buckner Baptist Benevolences….