CHICAGO (ABP) — America's five largest historically African-American Baptist organizations are cooperating to raise $50 million to help rebuild Haiti and provide aid to victims of a Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the area surrounding the capital of Port-au-Prince. Called…
Baptist expert says Establishment Clause applies to foreign policy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Baptist church-state specialist voiced concern about a think-tank report urging a new direction for U.S. foreign policy focused on the role religion plays in world affairs. Writing for the On Faith blog WashingtonPost.com, Brent Walker, executive…
For principled and practical immigration reform — now
By David Gushee A coalition of law-enforcement, labor, policy, religious and other groups is gearing up for a major push for comprehensive immigration reform this spring. Serious behind-the-scenes efforts are underway to secure broad and bipartisan sponsorship for new immigration-reform…
Baptists pledge support for earthquake victims in Chile as death toll nears 700
ATLANTA (ABP) — As Baptists began to dig in for a long-term response to the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, focus shifted Feb. 27 to another quake that killed hundreds and caused billions of dollars in property damage in Chile. …
Ministers go online to meet spouses
HOUSTON (ABP) — One in five Americans surfing the Internet is looking for romance, according to a recent poll. Online dating appeals even to young ministers, who due to their vocation must be wary about looking for love in the…
Ministers go online to meet spouses
HOUSTON (ABP) — One in five Americans surfing the Internet is looking for romance, according to a recent poll. Online dating appeals even to young ministers, who due to their vocation must be wary about looking for love in the…
Great Commission Task Force calls for increased cooperation between SBC entities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A task force studying ways to make the Southern Baptist Convention more effective recommended greater flexibility and cooperation among state and national entities in a progress report to the SBC Executive Committee Feb. 22. Ronnie Floyd,…
CBF Coordinating Council recommends reduced budget
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will vote this summer on a budget $1.65 million smaller than the current spending plan. The CBF Coordinating Council voted Feb. 19 to recommend a $14.5 million budget for 2010-2011 at the…
What next for Baptist Christian higher education?
By David Gushee I have experienced vastly different versions of Christian higher education at places ranging from Palmer Seminary in Pennsylvania, to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary during the early Al Mohler era, to Union University under the presidency of David…
Building Green: What can I do?
Churches can green their facilities in a number of ways. But what can individual Christians do to make their lives more environmentally friendly? Here are a few resources: Journey of Environmental Stewardship Evangelical Environmental Network The Center for Christian Ethics…
Seminary president labels Southern Baptist mission strategy ‘heresy’
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — The president of Liberty Theological Seminary has labeled a method used by Southern Baptist missionaries to spread the gospel in Muslim lands deceptive and heretical. In a podcast interview on the SBC Today blog, Ergun Caner…
Relief groups walk delicate line on spreading gospel, providing aid
WASHINGTON (RNS) — When night falls in Port-au-Prince, thousands of homeless Haitians find shelter beneath weatherproof plastic sheets emblazoned with the logo of Samaritan’s Purse, a group that’s zealous to spread Christianity worldwide. The 20-by-20-foot sheets offer a tangible way…