One characteristic of the robust religious freedom Americans enjoy is that the government doesn’t control the church nor the church the government. But that doesn’t mean churches are lawless zones. While houses of worship and other nonprofit religious organizations often…
Texas Hispanic Baptists celebrate century of history, look to future
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Participants at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas annual meeting June 27-29 remembered how God has been faithful in working through the body for a century, celebrated how he continues to use it today and anticipated…
Under questioning, Kagan sheds little light on church-state views
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee wound down July 1, a day after she faced the only direct questions regarding religious freedom she received during her three-plus days of testimony before the…
Supreme Court ruling on gun ownership could affect churches
Editor's note: This story was changed July 4 to correct an error in the 10th paragraph. WASHINGTON (ABP) — A landmark Supreme Court ruling June 28 that said possessing a handgun is a constitutional right is expected to unleash a…
Canadian Baptist Ministries appoints first non-Anglo general secretary
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (ABP) — Leaders of Canada’s largest Baptist body have, for the first time, appointed a non-Caucasian to their top executive post as they bid farewell to their leader of 10 years. Sam Chaise (CBM photo) Canadian Baptist Ministries…
Former WMU leader receives courage award
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — With the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship unable to appoint fully funded missionaries for several years and facing the possibility of calling field personnel home unless gifts to its annual Offering for Global Missions increase, CBF churches continue…
Crumpler, accepting Courage Award, notes CBF churches still funding SBC
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — With the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship unable to appoint fully funded missionaries for several years and facing the possibility of calling field personnel home unless gifts to its annual Offering for Global Missions increase, CBF churches continue…
Missouri Baptist Convention moving Windermere case to federal court
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The ongoing Baptist struggle over 1,300 acres around a Missouri Baptist conference center on the Lake of the Ozarks has moved to federal court. On June 23, the Missouri Baptist Convention filed a motion to…
W. Va. Baptists mourn Byrd’s passing; Va. Baptist church to host funeral
WASHINGTON (ABP) — West Virginia Baptists are mourning the passing of one of their most famous members — longtime Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va) — and a Virginia Baptist congregation will host his memorial service July 6. Byrd in an undated…
Kentucky seminary relocating
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, an 8-year-old theological partner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is moving to the campus of Georgetown College, a historic Baptist school that loosened ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 2005. The…
Baptist Seminary of Ky. relocating, reaches accreditation milestone
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — The Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, an 8-year-old theological partner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is moving to the campus of Georgetown College, a historic Baptist school that loosened ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 2005….
Prof says oil spill could be wakeup call for evangelicals
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The head of a committee that drafted a recent Southern Baptist Convention resolution on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill said on National Public Radio that the ecologic al disaster could be a "defining moment" for…