This year, the Baptist Convention of New England is celebrating 50 years of Southern Baptist work in New England and 25 years as a constituted state convention. The celebration will culminate at our annual meeting on Nov. 13-15, in Marlboro,…
‘Peace committee’ proposed for Missouri
REPUBLIC, Mo. (ABP) — As battles between conservatives continue to roil the Missouri Baptist Convention, one prominent layman in the state is proposing a miniature re-creation of the ill-fated Southern Baptist Convention “Peace Committee.” But the convention's president — cautioning…
Virginia native named CBF leader
ATLANTA (ABP) — Jim Smith has been named the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's director of field team ministries for CBF global missions. The position was previously held by Jack Snell, who died in October after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer….
No cancer found in Mohler surgery
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — As expected, a tumor removed from the colon of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler proved not to be cancerous, according to a seminary news release. Mohler underwent surgery March 20 to remove the mass….
British Baptist to lead U.S. seminary
CHICAGO (ABP) — The head of British Baptists' mission agency will become the head of an American Baptist seminary, according to the Baptist World Alliance. Alistair Brown, general director of BMS World Mission since 1996, has been selected to be…
Obama pastor’s tough sermons just part of long, prophetic tradition
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The longtime pastor of Sen. Barack Obama's black megachurch in Chicago has come under fire for sermons that many have called racist, offensive — and even dangerous. Jeremiah Wright has called the federal government the “U.S. of…
Fundamentalist now applies to ‘other groups that scare us’
Were the 9/11 terrorists who flew airplanes into the Twin Towers fundamentalists? Technically, no. Practically, yes. “Fundamentalism” specifically refers to a conservative movement within U.S. Protestant Christianity that began about a century ago, scholars agree. But they concede the term…
Beliefs alone not to blame when faith turns violent, scholars say
ATLANTA (ABP) — Every faith group has its extremists, but not all extremists turn violent. What makes the difference? While most religious violence follows common patterns, faith seldom turns violent except in response to social oppression, say experts who study…
Fundamentalists of all stripes want to turn back the clock
Despite all their theological and cultural differences, fundamentalists of every faith share at least one common characteristic — resistance to modernity. That's the assessment of scholars and firsthand observers who have evaluated the varieties of religious expression. “Fundamentalism worldwide is…
Black liberation theology provides the doctrine behind fiery rhetoric
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — Jeremiah Wright's condemnation of the United States — particularly pronouncing damnation on America — looped hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube and news broadcasts. In the process, the pastor preached himself and his most famous…
RIGHT OR WRONG
More and more, when I treat people as I believe a Christian should, other people dismiss my actions by saying something like, “That's so PC” — politically correct. Even Christians seem to reject Jesus' statement, “Love one another.” How should…
Scholars examine Billy Graham’s legacy
Ecumenist, prophet, peacemaker. Friend of presidents and queens. Evangelical powerbroker who was sometimes too closely tied to politicians. Each description applies to Billy Graham. An official 1991 biography by William Martin called America's foremost evangelist a “Prophet With Honor.” The…