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…
Executive Committee president cites ‘grave concerns’ about CP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released a white paper May 7, “What’s in a name? The Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving,” that expresses “grave concerns”…
GCR task force lists 7 recommendations for SBC
The recommendations, for example, include a call for “the adoption of the language and structure of Great Commission Giving as described in this report in order to enhance and celebrate the Cooperative Program and the generous support of Southern Baptists…
Clergy shortage turns to ministerial glut in some denominations
WASHINGTON (RNS)—After a decade-long clergy shortage in America’s pulpits, Christian denominations are now experiencing a clergy glut—with some denominations reporting two ministers for every vacant pulpit. “We have a serious surplus of ministers and candidates seeking calls,” said Marcia Myers,…
If there’s a just way to wage war, what about ending one?
WASHINGTON, D.C. (RNS)—For centuries, Christianity’s theory of “just war” has helped religious and political leaders determine when, if ever, war is justified and how to conduct a moral military campaign. Now, as the United States prepares to reduce troop levels…
If there’s a just way to wage war, what about ending one?
WASHINGTON, D.C. (RNS)—For centuries, Christianity’s theory of “just war” has helped religious and political leaders determine when, if ever, war is justified and how to conduct a moral military campaign. Now, as the United States prepares to reduce troop levels…
Revival of outdoor baptismal services connects churches to communities
(Editor's note: The originally published version of this story omitted the name of one of the two writers, John Hall, from its byline.) DENTON, Texas (ABP) — Some Baptist churches are going back to the future — and making a…
Board distances BGCT from gay-affirming Dallas church
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board voted May 25 to refuse any financial contributions from a Dallas church that has ordained as deacons practicing homosexuals, and the board has asked the church to stop identifying…
Passport VP nominated as CBF moderator-elect
ATLANTA (ABP) — Colleen Burroughs, vice president of the Passport youth camping ministry she started with her husband in 1993, will be nominated as moderator-elect of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Atlanta-based CBF announced May 24. If elected, she would…