MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — It appears that antiquated racist language will remain in the Alabama Constitution for the time being after an automatic recount determined that an attempt to strip it failed. Supporters of the amendment that would have removed…
Tommy Deal chosen as Florida CBF associate
LAKELAND, Fla. (ABP) – Tommy Deal, 49, has been hired as associate coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida. The Orlando resident is currently director of operations and volunteers for Christian Service Center for Central Florida, a non-profit social-service…
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…
Church puts interactive twist on familiar Christmas drama
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) – With just a portable heater as defense against the cool night, Kendra Jackson waits for the next group of Christmas celebrants to arrive. The 30-something mother of two daughters is portraying Anna in the interactive Christmas…
Godsey to retire as Mercer president in 2006; search to begin for successor
MACON (ABP) — Kirby Godsey, Mercer University's longest-serving president, announced he will retire in 18 months, and trustees expect to start the search for his successor as early as spring. At a recent trustee meeting, Godsey, 68, revealed his plans…
One-day mission blitz grows into interdenominational effort
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Ten years ago, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., was a church ready for a new challenge. To revitalize the congregation, staff members envisioned a brief local-missions blitz with the ambitious goal of involving more…
‘Conformity’ trend in state conventions worries some, encourages others
(ABP) — Those who look for denominational trends are disturbed by several recent actions they say are tightening “the noose of conformity” in Baptist life. In a smattering of actions across the Baptist map, several state conventions are narrowing the…
Networks reject UCC ads, citing gay controversies
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Some progressive groups are protesting a decision by two major TV networks to reject advertisements that stress a major Protestant denomination's inclusiveness. The United Church of Christ announced Nov. 30 that negotiations with NBC and CBS officials…