WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of President Bush's most controversial appeals-court nominees announced Dec. 9 he will retire rather than face another battle over his confirmation. Judge Charles Pickering announced in Mississippi that he will retire from the federal bench rather…
Herod’s slaughter aside, Christians too familiar with genocide, author says
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Christians reading the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth are often jolted by King Herod's act of genocide. When told by the wise men of the birth of a Jewish king, Herod ordered all the Jewish infants…
UCC officials file FCC complaints against network TV affiliates
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United Church of Christ has filed Federal Communications Commission complaints against two television stations in Florida over their parent networks' refusals to air a controversial church advertisement. Church officials, acting on behalf of UCC members in…
Widowed Alabama pastor learns to ‘truly trust God’
STEVENSON, Ala. (ABP) — With joy in his voice, Derek Boyd talked about picking up his sons from school. It is one of the highlights of his day. Full of thoughtful reflections and humorous anecdotes, his conversation naturally flowed back…
Former Southern Baptist leaders rally to support Baptist World Alliance
ATLANTA (ABP) — About 20 former Southern Baptist leaders met in Atlanta Dec. 4 to try to find ways to rebuild financial support for the Baptist World Alliance, which lost its largest member and funding source in October. The leaders,…
White House ‘faith-based’ director says Bush will continue agenda
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The man spearheading President Bush's effort to increase government grants to religious social-service agencies said the initiative will continue in Bush's second term, although he offered few specifics as to how that will happen. Speaking during a…
Scalia’s comments on Holocaust, church and state earn rebuke
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The man who may be the next chief justice of the United States reportedly gave a speech in which he suggested church-state separation did nothing to prevent the Holocaust. According to news reports of a Nov. 22…
Accrediting agency places Louisiana College on probation
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — The major accrediting agency for schools in the South has placed a Louisiana Baptist college on probation for a year for violating the agency's standards. Louisiana College officials announced Dec. 7 that the Pineville, La., school…
Faculty-wide vote at Baylor calls for president’s firing
WACO, Texas (ABP) — A majority of Baylor University faculty who voted in a nonbinding referendum on the leadership of President Robert Sloan say he should be dismissed. Of the 490 votes cast, 85 percent were against retaining Sloan as…