CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) – Ten years after the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship adopted an organizational value prohibiting the funding of organizations that affirm practicing homosexuals and prohibiting it from employing gays, a large crowd packed a CBF General Assembly workshop June…
CBF to evaluate structure, funding in two-year study
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Facing chronic budget shortfalls, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship moderator Hal Bass has appointed a 14-member task force to study the organization’s missional and organizational future. The task force, emerging from consensus during a recent gathering of leaders…
CBF to evaluate structure, funding in two-year study
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Facing a chronic budget shortfall, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship moderator Hal Bass has appointed a 14-member task force to study the organization’s missional and organizational future. The task force, emerging from consensus during a recent gathering of…
CBF workshop explores church’s response to homosexuality
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Fifteen years after the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship adopted an organizational value prohibiting the funding of organizations that affirm practicing homosexuals, a large crowd packed a workshop June 25 on what it means to be the “presence…
Historian urges CBF to reclaim ‘audacious identity’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) –Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Leonard, founding dean of Wake Forest University Divinity…
Historian urges Cooperative Baptists to reclaim ‘audacious identity’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Bill Leonard urges CBF to celebrate, rather…
Bellevue pastor defends disqualifying lesbian coach’s team
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) – The pastor of a Tennessee Southern Baptist mega-church defended a decision to bar a coach from its softball league because she is a lesbian. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported June 16 that church leaders told Jana…
CBF commissions 16 for global service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — More than 1,200 people were challenged to be passionate about joining in God’s mission June 23, as 16 new field personnel were commissioned for full-time mission service by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. CBF Global Missions Coordinator…
Fellowship commissions 16 for mission service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 1,200 people were challenged to be passionate about joining in God’s mission as 16 new field personnel were commissioned for full-time mission service by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship June 22. Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in…
Historian urges Cooperative Baptists to reclaim ‘audacious identity’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Leonard, founding dean of Wake Forest University…
Critics say Caner isn’t only ex-Muslim with dubious past
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Liberty University is expected to release a report soon on whether Ergun Caner, president of the school’s Baptist Theological Seminary, fabricated or exaggerated his life story as a former Muslim extremist rescued by Jesus. Caner is no ordinary ex-Muslim….
Southwestern Seminary leaders cut health-care benefits for retirees
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — An organization of retired faculty and staff from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has asked the school’s trustees to reconsider their recent decision to discontinue providing health insurance coverage at no cost to retirees. But in…