WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group says the IRS should review Liberty University's tax-exempt status for its decision to revoke recognition of its Democratic Party student club. University officials ordered the student group May 15 to cease using the…
157 graduate at Bluefield College
BLUEFIELD — One hundred fifty-seven Bluefield College seniors received diplomas and three retired BC professors earned distinguished titles during the school’s 87th spring commencement, Saturday, May 16. President David Olive welcomed the nearly 1,000 family and friends gathered outside in…
‘Build now,’ say construction experts to congregations looking to expand
RICHMOND — Despite the anxiety created by the sagging economy, this is an excellent time for churches to consider building, says Rod Hale, long-time church facility consultant for Virginia Baptists. Church architects agree. Jim Byerly, of Huff Morris Architects in…
Even at 500, Calvin isn’t slowing down
Like most 24-year-old men, Stephen Jones is keenly interested in sin. But while many of his peers enjoy their youthful indiscretions, Jones takes a more, shall we say, Puritanical stand. The weekend of June 12-15, Jones and 4,000 other young…
Major Baptist celebrations begin this week in Europe
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BWA) — The Baptist World Alliance and the European Baptist Federation have planned major activities July 24-Aug. 1 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist movement. The EBF, one of six regional fellowships…
Baptists support separation of church and state, but not all agree what it means
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptists have, since their earliest days, been advocates of religious liberty and its corollary, the separation of church and state. But different groups of modern-day Baptists in the United States interpret church-state separation — and the Constitution’s…
On church-state issues, Obama brings new perspective, incremental policy change
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Americans who expected President Obama to make swift and dramatic changes from his predecessor on church-state relations may be disappointed. In his first few months in office, Obama has indicated only a handful of alterations to President…
Human rights offering helps Christians in Middle East plant house churches
FREMONT, Calif. (ABP) — She gets up early, traveling all day to teach Bible studies and lead worship services. She must remain unknown to keep the churches she works with safe. She does her work quietly, fearing persecution — or…
Oppressed believers view separation of church and state differently from underside
For many Baptists in the United States, the separation of church and state is no more than a historical concept or fodder for the culture wars. For Baptist minority groups in other countries, however, it can be a matter of…