WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist groups associated with the North American Baptist Fellowship are pouring into areas affected by deadly spring tornadoes and floods, at the same time they make longer view assessments of how best to help victim families rebuild…
Self-care important for clergy but often neglected
SAN FRANCISCO (ABP) — “You cannot go to church,” Christian philosopher Elton Trueblood once said. “You are the church wherever you go.” That is especially true if you are the pastor. While many people with high-demand occupations view Sunday worship…
10 practices for ministerial health
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lists 10 best practices for ministerial health and wellness: • Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. • Love your neighbor as you love yourself — be an example of self-care…
Ministry rebuilds damaged ministries
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Clergy wellness means different things at different stages of a ministry, and ministers who come to Ministering to Ministers Foundation are at a point of personal or professional crisis. The Richmond, Va.,-based organization provides weeklong “wellness…
Kimball clarifies how religion turns lethal
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Power corrupts, and when it accrues to religious leaders the combination of power and religion can turn lethal, says Middle East scholar Charles Kimball. Kimball, presidential professor and director of religious studies at the University of…
10 Ways to help overcome religious illiteracy
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — In his book When Religion Becomes Lethal Middle East scholar Charles Kimball says significant numbers of Jews, Christians and Muslims view each other from a vast reservoir of ignorance. Most Americans, he said, know little about…
Ergun Caner moving to school begun by J. Frank Norris
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) – Ergun Caner, the former president of Liberty Theological Seminary demoted for exaggerating claims about his Muslim upbringing, has been hired as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Arlington Baptist College, according to a press…
Christians, Muslims, Jews to share sacred texts
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Christian clergy across the country will organize readings from the Quran and other sacred texts Sunday, June 26, as part of an initiative to counter anti-Muslim bigotry and negative stereotypes of Islam. Announced in a telephonic press…
Lawyer: Former prof’s lawsuit against Baptist college ‘moot’
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) – A Louisiana court canceled a hearing May 16, effectively nullifying a lawsuit filed against Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College by an art professor who claims he was fired for writing a letter critical of the school’s administration, the…
Christians, Muslims, Jews to share sacred texts on June 26
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Christian clergy across the country will organize readings from the Quran and other sacred texts Sunday, June 26, as part of an initiative to counter anti-Muslim bigotry and negative stereotypes of Islam. Announced in a telephonic press…
Religious-freedom ambassador takes oath of office
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Suzan Johnson Cook, an American Baptist pastor, author and motivational speaker, was sworn in May 16 as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom by Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero. Nominated by President…
Pastor, denominational statesman James Pleitz dies
James Pleitz PENSACOLA, Fla. (ABP) – James Pleitz, a well-known pastor in Florida and Texas and active in denominational leadership, died Sunday, May 15. He had been in care of the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence in Pensacola, Fla., since…