WASHINGTON (ABP) — Heavy turnout among evangelical voters concerned with moral issues was widely credited with lifting President George W. Bush to re-election Nov. 2, confounding the conventional wisdom about large-turnout elections. Exit polls suggest “moral values” issues were one…
Conservative-backed proposal would nix N.C. funding for moderate causes
DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — A conservative leader will propose scrapping the optional funding plans that are part of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina's budget, which would eliminate funding of causes popular among moderate Baptists in the state. Ted…
Federal judge strikes down Montana ‘faith-based’ program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal judge has struck down state funding of a “parish nurse” program in Montana, saying the program violated the Constitution. Judge Richard Anderson of the United States District Court for Montana ruled Oct. 26 that the…
BJC elevates Jeff Huett to communications post
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has named 26-year-old Jeff Huett as its new director of communications. Since May, Huett has been serving as acting communications director for the Washington-based agency, which advocates for religious freedom…
New Mexico Baptists salute exec, adopt far-reaching resolutions
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (ABP) — Messengers to the 92nd annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico adopted a record budget, gave their retiring executive emeritus status, and adopted two resolutions addressing public affairs when they met in Alamogordo Oct….
Falwell comment on terrorism draws response from fellow Baptists
(ABP) — If American troops kill Osama bin Laden, it should be “in the name of justice,” not “in the name of the Lord” as televangelist Jerry Falwell suggests, according to one Southern Baptist ethicist. Falwell, perhaps the best-known Southern…
Debate over believers’ priesthood reveals tension between individual, community
(ABP) — Do Baptists affirm the priesthood of the believer or the priesthood of believers? To outsiders, that question — singular or plural — may seem as esoteric as “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”…
Texas Baptists OK restructuring, elect first Hispanic president
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas gave initial approval to the convention's most significant reorganization in almost five decades and elected its first non-Anglo president. At the BGCT's annual meeting in San Antonio Nov….
Southeastern audit finds ‘no criminality,’suggests changes, trustee leaders say
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — Auditors have made “a number of constructive suggestions for improvements” to financial procedures at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. The recommendations came after reports surfaced about a car given to an aide…