When does a church “jump the shark?” That phrase refers to the time Fonzi, the star of the old television comedy “Happy Days,” jumped a shark (literally) and has served as an example of a TV show that tries something…
Pastor calls on SBC to adopt zero-tolerance of racism
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — A prominent African-American pastor has announced plans to ask the Southern Baptist Convention to amend its constitution to ban churches that condone racism. Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, said in a…
Ronnie Floyd asks for prayer for GCR Task Force report at SBC
RICHMOND, Va. — In an email communiqué June 1, Ronnie Floyd asked editors of state Baptist papers to spread the word that he is asking for prayer. Floyd, pastor of First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., is chairman of the…
Mercer taps former Southwestern prof for music slot
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — David Keith, a professor of church music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 27 years before retiring in 2006, has been named director of the Townsend-McAfee Institute for Graduate Studies in Church Music at Mercer University…
Mercer taps former Southwestern prof to lead church-music institute
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — David Keith, a professor of church music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 27 years before retiring in 2006, has been named director of the Townsend-McAfee Institute for Graduate Studies in Church Music at Mercer University…
CBF leader seeks to rally churches to make up missions-offering shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader is appealing to churches to step up contributions to the organization's annual Offering for Global Missions, which is currently running 30 percent behind projected receipts. Receipts to the offering as of April…
CBF leader seeks to rally churches to make up mission offering shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's leader is appealing to churches to step up contributions to an annual Offering for Global Missions running 30 percent behind projected receipts. At the end of April, receipts to the offering totaled just…
Former SBC president Ed Young undergoes bypass surgery
HOUSTON (ABP) — Former Southern Baptist Convention president Ed Young is recovering from triple-coronary-bypass surgery May 27. Ed Young According to media reports, Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston, went to the hospital earlier in the week after…
CBF leader seeks to rally churches to make up mission offering shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's leader is appealing to churches to step up contributions to an annual Offering for Global Missions running 30 percent behind projected receipts. At the end of April, receipts to the offering totaled just…
Church secretary accused of embezzling $1.5 million
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist church in East Tennessee is considering cutting back on ministries amid reports that a trusted employee of 47 years embezzled more than $1.5 million in church funds. Barbara Whitt (Hamblen County Sheriff's Department…
OPINION: Why ‘stuff’ happens
“Stuff” happens. This slogan (in its raw form) originated in the movie Forrest Gump when Forrest stepped into a clump of rather disgusting canine discard, prompting him to shrug his shoulders and say “ ’Stuff’ happens.” Later in the movie,…
Father of fallen Marine files brief in case against Westboro Baptist Church
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq in 2006 filed a brief May 24 with the Supreme Court arguing that the free-speech rights of a Baptist church that picketed his son's funeral should not trump his…