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…
Wellness responsibility of both minister and church
HERNDON, Va. (ABP) — Most congregations know healthier clergy lead to healthier churches, but few consider how clergy wellness and congregational busy-ness are related, said Larry Golemon, an ordained Presbyterian minister and former research manager at the Alban Institute. “Clergy…
OPINION: Learning the language of the soul
I’ve never been great at languages. I wish I were. A natural linguistic facility would have made my years of learning biblical languages (or living in foreign countries, for that matter) slightly less trying. Language study, I understand, comes with…
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…
Ed Vick, moderate Baptist lay leader, dies
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) – Ed Vick, a prominent Baptist layman and supporter of moderate causes including Associated Baptist Press, died May 13, seven weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Vick, 76, of Raleigh, N.C., served as a director…