ATLANTA (ABP) – An annual emphasis that encourages Baptist churches for the first time to invite a woman to preach is also an opportunity for churches that fully support women in ministry, say sponsors of Martha Stearns Marshall Month of…
Pastor says Jesus wouldn’t remove church with woman pastor
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (ABP) – A North Carolina pastor says he thinks a Baptist association’s vote to remove a church for calling a woman pastor isn’t what Jesus would do. “All four Gospels tell us that the message of the…
Supreme Court won’t review NYC ban on worship in schools
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Church-state observers expressed surprise at the Supreme Court’s Dec. 5 refusal to hear an appeal of a ruling that New York City has the right to bar the use of public school buildings for worship when school…
Church withdraws from association that ousted woman pastor
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (ABP) – A North Carolina Baptist association that expelled a church last summer for naming a woman as pastor lost another prominent member congregation Dec. 4. Members of the 132-year-old First Baptist Church of Mount Airy, N.C.,…
Church marks decline in city’s homicide rate
Highland Baptist Church gathers for an annual tradition memorializing homicide victims during Advent. (Photo by Bill Campbell) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) – A somber Advent tradition was mingled with hope as Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., placed 46 crosses on…
Gay-marriage stand costs pastor his pulpit
LILYDALE, Australia (ABP) – An Australian Baptist pastor and his congregation have parted company over the issue of gay marriage. Matt Glover Matt Glover, pastor of Lilydale Baptist Church, said recently on a marriage-equality website that allowing same-sex marriages would…
Baptist fined in Uzbekistan
OSLO (ABP) – The leader of a Baptist church in Uzbekistan was fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage Nov. 21 for holding what authorities considered an illegal religious meeting outside of a registered house of worship. Forum 18, a…
Parole decision delayed for former music minister convicted of abuse
BENTON, Ark. (ABP) – The Arkansas Parole Board is reportedly postponing a decision about whether to release a convicted sex offender after two years of a 10-year prison term for sexual abuse of multiple boys while a longtime music minister…
Scholars say evangelicals tinkering with the Trinity
MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) – A group of evangelical scholars has released a statement labeling an increasingly popular teaching about gender roles a revival of an ancient heresy concerning the nature of God. Released Nov. 7, “An Evangelical Statement on the Trinity”…
Baylor professor fighting dismissal charges
WACO, Texas (ABP) – A Baylor University professor is fighting dismissal charges that supporters say are aimed at silencing a dissident voice in America’s Jewish community. Marc Ellis According to published reports, Marc Ellis, university professor of Jewish studies and…
Church leader questioned about handling of sexual abuse allegation
CLINTON, Miss. (ABP) – Questions about a Mississippi Baptist church’s handling of child sex-abuse allegations against a former minister are focusing on a church elder and politician who is nominated as the state legislature’s first Republican Speaker of the House…
Race issue rises in St. Louis Covenant dialogue
ST. LOUIS (ABP) – While society has gotten beyond much of the racism that mars American history, it still exists in ways that people don’t like to discuss, two pastors said at a session of the recent New Baptist Covenant…