LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — The Arkansas House of Representatives approved a bill Feb. 11 that would allow people with concealed-weapon permits to bring their gun to church. The bill, approved by the House by a vote of 57-42, now…
Baptist, Orthodox leaders hold groundbreaking conference in Europe
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (ABP) — European Baptist and Orthodox scholars convened Feb. 8-11 in talks aimed to promote understanding between two Christian groups often at odds over issues like proselytizing and the separation of church and state. The International Baptist…
Prayer mats and yarmulkes in workplace
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Com-plaints of religious discrimination in the workplace are on the rise, but civil rights advocates say that may not be such a bad thing. That's because a likely reason for a steady rise in reported incidents has…
Intelligent design renews debate between science and religion
WACO, Texas (ABP) — If there ever were a chance that conflict between evolution and religion might die a natural death, it ended with the birth of intelligent design. Just ask William Dembski. Educated as a probability theorist, Dembski had…
FIRST PERSON: The price of coffee
FALLS CHURCH — “$2.19,” the cashier says after I place my order for a small iced coffee. I'm tempted to order an iced latte instead, but that would bump up the price by a dollar. I choose to stick with…
Monkey business
Two hundred years after his birth on Feb. 12, 1809, British naturalist Charles Darwin remains controversial. His theory of evolution became the linchpin of modern science, but a majority of Americans believe God created humans in their present form. And…
Regional NBC celebration planned in North Carolina in April
A regional celebration of the New Baptist Covenant is scheduled for April 24-25 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The event, focused on the theme, “This is God's Year to Act: Responding to a Society in Crisis,” will be held at Wake Forest…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Advertise for the Lord
I am writing from a small town in southwestern Virginia. When our church heard of the buses in Washington we were sickened. But we did not just sit by in astonishment. We sent out letters to churches in our county…
First regional New Baptist Covenant event focuses on reconciliation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter went to a shrine of the Civil Rights Movement Jan. 31 to drive home a point about racial reconciliation among Baptists, stepping up into the pulpit of the Birmingham, Ala., church where…
Columbia Church challenges members to ‘Spend Yourself’
Although many pastors would be content if their churches met in three different congregations with 14 separate services using seven different languages, Jim Baucom, pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, challenged the church leaders to “take it to…
Senate rejects aid for religious buildings
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Senate defeated 54-43 an amendment to the economic stimulus bill Feb. 5 that would have allowed federal funding for renovations at college buildings that are used for religious activity. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., proposed the…
$10.1 million gift accelerates barracks building at FUMA
FORK UNION — Fork Union Military Academy has received a gift of $10.1 million, allowing the Virginia Baptist-affiliated school to begin construction on a new barracks facility — a project initiated three years ago. The donors are Jerry and Laura…