GAINESVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Religious leaders in Gainesville, Fla., recently stood together on the steps of the town's City Hall in a show of solidarity against a small congregation in the community that has gained international attention for its plan…
Judge says church can desecrate flag in funeral protests
LINCOLN, Neb. (ABP) — A federal judge has barred Nebraska from enforcing the state's flag-desecration law on members of a controversial Baptist church who claimed in a lawsuit the statute violated their constitutional right to freedom of speech. A Westboro…
Baptist Army chaplain first slain in combat since Vietnam
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — An independent Baptist who died Aug. 30 in Afghanistan is the first United States Army chaplain to be killed in the line of duty since the Vietnam conflict, according to Army officials. Dale Goetz (courtesy Maranatha…
Lawsuit by former National Baptist president settled, NBC leaders hear
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The National Baptist Convention USA has settled one lawsuit with a disgraced former president who sued after losing a re-election bid in 2009, the convention's parliamentarian and general counsel told leaders attending the annual convention…
Al Mohler’s pastor recommended as new NAMB president
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — The pastor of one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most visible leaders will be recommended as the new head of the denomination’s North American Mission Board. Kevin Ezell (Highview Baptist Church photo) Kevin Ezell, pastor of…
Update: N.C. pastor facing deportation released on bond
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Hispanic North Carolina pastor is out on bond after the first stage of deportation proceedings against him, and is planning his case to avoid getting snared by a 15-year-old crime for which he has already served…
Baptist groups: Donations not keeping pace with Pakistan relief needs
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist organizations in the United States and elsewhere are continuing their efforts to provide relief after catastrophic flooding in Pakistan — but funds are being stretched to the limit by the disaster’s massive scale. {youtube}rFk4cRfd3hs{/youtube} According to…
Former Va. Baptist chaplain leads fight to save woman on death row
JARRATT, Va. (ABP) — Unless the federal Supreme Court or Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) step in to stop it, Teresa Lewis will die on Sept. 23 in the death chamber at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Va. Some say…
Conservative, moderate Baptist thinkers criticize Glenn Beck rally
WASHINGTON (ABP) — When popular conservative radio and TV personality Glenn Beck called for “revival” on the National Mall Aug. 28, he was making a hash of both patriotism and faith, according to published comments by a pair of prominent…
N.C. pastor facing deportation to have bond hearing Sept. 2 in Atlanta
(Editor's note: The headline for this story as originally published incorrectly stated the date for which Hector Villanueva's bond hearing was scheduled as Sept. 1. The correct date — as noted in the body of the story — is Sept….
Christian group questions Iraq future as Obama announces end to war
WASHINGTON (ABP) – As President Obama announced the end of American troops’ combat role in Iraq Aug. 31, an international Christian peace group issued a report questioning the United States’ projection of a bright future for the war-torn Middle Eastern…
New Orleans church marks Katrina anniversary by moving beyond lament
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Five years after the hurricane that killed thousands and nearly killed a great American city in the process, one church in New Orleans decided to remember its community’s mourning — but then move on to the…