WASHINGTON (RNS) — Americans haven’t heard much about congressional hearings on the radicalization of U.S. Muslims, but more than half think it’s a good idea, and nearly as many believe Muslims here haven’t done enough to fight extremists in their…
RIGHT OR WRONG? Is any career choice a calling?
{mosimage}I knew I wanted to become a lawyer in middle school and always felt it was a calling. That sense has not changed despite attempts to denigrate my profession. Who hasn’t heard the lawyer jokes like, “The reason sharks do…
SBC leadership group declines moving to biennial meetings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has recommended against changing from an annual meeting to holding its convention every other year. Responding to a motion from last summer's convention to move from an annual to biennial…
Committee opts not to oust Alliance churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) –Membership in a group that welcomes and affirms gays does not automatically disqualify a church from participation in the Southern Baptist Convention, the SBC Executive Committee decided Feb. 22. Two years ago the convention expelled a Texas…
SBC Executive Committee proposes funding cut
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention will ask messengers at this year's annual meeting to reduce its own share of the Cooperative Program unified budget by two-tenths of a percent in the first step…
SBC Executive Committee inaugurates new leader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention gathered Feb. 21 to witness a new chapter in denominational life with the inauguration of Frank Page as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. Southern Baptist Convention leaders…
Bill Self, prominent CBF pastor, announces retirement plans
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) – The pastor of a leading church in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Feb. 20 that he plans to retire after his successor is named. Bill Self, senior pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga.,…
Mother, son confess to stealing church funds
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (ABP) — A mother and son pleaded guilty in federal court Feb. 19 to stealing more than $1.5 million from a Southern Baptist church where the mother worked for 47 years. Barbara Whitt, 69, and Michael Whitt, 43,…
SBC’s Executive Committee inaugurates new president and CEO
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention gathered Feb. 21 to witness a new chapter in denominational life with the inauguration of Frank Page as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. Page, a former pastor…
Huckabee draws heat for anti-Islam remarks
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist preacher and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has landed in hot water for comments critical of Islam. The former Arkansas governor and potential 2012 presidential hopeful criticized two Protestant churches that opened their doors to Muslims…
Baptist disaster-relief pioneer reflects on lessons learned
DALLAS (ABP) — A Baptist disaster-relief pioneer has published a long-awaited memoir about more than 40 years of meeting human need. John LaNoue recounts examples of the “activity of God” in Texas Baptist Men disaster relief ministries during the dedication…
World Vision wins on ‘Jeopardy!’
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (ABP) — A Christian relief organization won big in a man-versus-machine contest pitting a computer against two human champions on the TV game show Jeopardy! Watson, the computer designed to rival a human's ability to answer questions…