ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina has called Ka’thy Gore Chappell as leadership development coordinator. Chappell was introduced March 25 during the evening worship service of the state CBF general assembly at First Baptist Church…
DC convention elects exec in divided vote
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Ricky Creech, once a Southern Baptist missionary and associational director of missions and more recently on the staff of a Georgia United Methodist church, was elected in a close vote March 28 to be executive director of…
Historian Edwin Gaustad dies at 87
SANTA FE, N.M. (ABP) — Prolific author, influential historian and lifelong Baptist Edwin Gaustad died Friday, March 25, in Santa Fe, N.M. He was 87. Edwin Gaustad Gaustad, professor emeritus of history and religious studies at the University of California-Riverside,…
Pastor facing possible deportation prepares for court, will seek pardon
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — A Hispanic Baptist pastor arrested last summer by immigration authorities won't find out until September whether he will be deported for a crime committed in 1995. Hector Villanueva, pastor of Bautista la Rocha in Siler City,…
Tennessee amends anti-Shariah bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — Tennessee lawmakers are rewriting a bill that described Islamic law as a threat to U.S. security and seemed to equate peaceful Muslim practices with terrorism. State Sen. Bill Ketron and House Speaker Pro Tempore Judd Matheny,…
Christians question conventional wisdom on divorce stats
It’s been proclaimed from pulpits and blogs for years-Christians divorce as much as everyone else in America. But some scholars and family activists are questioning the oft-cited statistics, saying Christians who attend church regularly are more likely to remain wed….
Controversial Florida pastor presides at burning of Quran
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (RNS) — The controversial Florida pastor who halted plans to burn a Quran on the 9/11 anniversary last year oversaw the burning of the Islamic holy book March 20 after it was found “guilty” during a “trial” at…
DC convention elects executive director in divided vote
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Ricky Creech, once a Southern Baptist missionary and associational director of missions and more recently on the staff of a Georgia United Methodist church, was elected in a close vote March 28 to be executive director of…
BOOK REVIEW: Bonhoeffer’s questions ring true for 21st century Christians
What Would Bonhoeffer Say? By Al Staggs (Parson’s Porch Books) Al Staggs is an itinerant performance artist who has been dramatically interpreting Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Walter Rauschenbusch, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Clarence Jordan and Thomas Merton for decades. He’s a theologian who,…
U.S. colleges adding Muslim chaplains
ITHACA, N.Y. (RNS) — When Jainal Bhuiyan attended Cornell University, he and his fellow Muslim students were mentored and led in religious prayers by a collection of Muslim professors, graduate students and staff. “That was our network that filled the…
Annual contributions from BGAV churches in 2010 are listed
The Baptist General Association of Virginia treasurer's office has released a detailed summary of Cooperative Missions gifts for the period Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2010, from churches affiliated with the BGAV. Questions about the report may be directed to the treasurer's office…
More U.S. colleges adding Muslim chaplains
ITHACA, N.Y. (RNS) — When Jainal Bhuiyan attended Cornell University, he and his fellow Muslim students were mentored and led in religious prayers by a collection of Muslim professors, graduate students and staff. “That was our network that filled the…