WASHINGTON (ABP) — The 2010 midterm congressional elections were a clear victory for those who claim fealty to fiscal conservatism, but they were more a mixed blessing for religious and social conservatives. Religious conservatives, however, may still use the results to…
Consultants, columnists cite faith factor in Republican sweep
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — A political consultant who received national attention for religious outreach for Democrats in 2006 said this year's election results show the party cannot afford to ignore faith-and-values voters. Eric Sapp Eric Sapp — who in 2008…
British Baptist minister pleads guilty to child molestation in Va.
FAIRFAX, Va. (ABP) – A former British Baptist pastor pleaded guilty Nov. 3 to four counts of sexually molesting the young sons of family friends while on visits to their Northern Virginia home over a period of several years. Robert…
Mo. Baptists resist effort to drop almost nine-year litigation battle
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — A move to end a nearly nine-year-long legal battle against agencies formerly affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention met strong resistance at the MBC's 176th annual meeting. Messengers defeated a move by Michael Haynes, Greene County Baptist…
Supreme Court hears arguments involving prisoners’ religious freedom
WASHINGON (ABP) – The Supreme Court’s justices struggled Nov. 2 to divine whether a federal statute allows a prisoner to collect monetary damages when the state incarcerating him violates his religious freedom. From left to right, Baptist Joint Committee for…
Four Baptists arrested in Azerbaijan
OSLO, Norway (ABP) — Four Baptists in Azerbaijan received five-day jail sentences Oct. 31 after a police raid on a harvest festival in a private home, according to an international news service that specializes in religious freedom. Forum 18, a…
Russian leaders decry arson attacks on churches
KARACHAYEVO-CHERKESSIA, Russia (ABP) — Political and religious leaders in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus region denounced arson attacks on two Russian Orthodox churches and one Baptist church overnight on Nov. 1. An Orthodox church in the village of Ordzhonikidzevsky in…
Iraqi Baptist pastor says Baghdad’s Christians living in fear
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist pastor in Baghdad told a European Baptist leader that Christians there are living in fear following an Oct. 31 attack on a Catholic church in Iraq's capital that left more than 50 dead….
Richmond seminary starts D.Min. in contextual leadership
RICHMOND, Va. — Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will welcome the first students in the summer of 2011 to its newly-focused doctor of ministry degree in contextual leadership, the school has announced. “The doctor of ministry is an advanced professional…
Leland to partner with Northern Seminary to offer doctorate in missional leadership
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Two Baptist seminaries — one a 10-year-old school in suburban Washington and the other a nearly century old institution in suburban Chicago — are partnering to offer a doctor of ministry degree with an emphasis on…
Virginia Baptist projects continue in Haiti, despite cholera outbreak
RICHMOND, Va. — Despite the recent outbreak of cholera in Haiti, Virginia Baptists and their partners continue to focus on rebuilding homes destroyed in last January’s earthquake and constructing an orphanage for victims of the disaster. Meanwhile, the Baptist World…
How big is your back door?
For several months a recruiter had been building a relationship with a likely volunteer, speaking persuasively about a career in the army. He had spoken of the war and the need for recruits. Mostly, however, he had emphasized the retirement…