SHANGHAI, China (ABP) — The 135-year-old Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Shanghai, China, was handed back to Chinese Christians in June, according to the Church Times of London. Built in 1869, the gothic cathedral is a symbol of…
Virginia editor leaving for Richmond pastorate
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Michael Clingenpeel, editor and business manager of Virginia Baptists' newspaper for the past 12 years, will be the next pastor of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond, Va. Succeeding James Slatton, who retired in 2003 after…
‘Notebook’ writer finds success in trend toward ‘moral fiction’
NEW BERN, N.C. (ABP) — To be the best-selling, tear-jerking master writer of romantic fiction, Nicholas Sparks' own life seems, well, pretty mundane. Spinning heart-throbbing tales is not what life is all about for Sparks, author of “The Notebook,” his…
Louisiana College elects trustee chair as resigning leader claims foul
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Trustees of Louisiana College, faced with the resignation of their chairman and the school's president, elected a new trustee leader in a closed-door, off-campus meeting July 9. Bill Hudson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rayne,…
Vote on marriage amendment may stall on procedural dispute
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Procedural disputes in the Senate will likely prevent an up-or-down vote on a federal same-sex marriage ban that was expected to take place July 14. Disagreements between Republicans and Democrats and within the GOP itself appeared June…
Bush-Cheney effort causes ethics leader to remind churches about tax status
DALLAS (ABP) — Recently publicized efforts by President Bush's re-election campaign to target “conservative churches” have caused the leader of Texas Baptists' public-ethics agency to issue a strong reminder to congregations about how to avoid risking their tax-exempt legal status…
Church strategy plans reveal what’s working & what’s not
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Warning that “inertia is against planning,” Mark Wingfield said churches must make an intentional effort to achieve effective long-range planning. Wingfield, associate pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, was among more than 140 workshop leaders…
Conservative, liberal groups react swiftly to Edwards pick
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sen. John Edwards is now officially John Kerry's running mate, and the reactions among social-issues advocacy groups are as unsurprising as Kerry's choice. Reaction was swift July 6 to the Massachusetts Democrat's choice of his Senate colleague…
Presbyterians decide narrowly to keep bar on gay ordination
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The Presbyterian Church (USA) rejected a recommendation July 2 that would have made it easier for non-celibate homosexuals to be ordained in the church. Delegates to the denomination's meeting also agreed to enter into a period…