RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — When the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship held its General Assembly recently in Houston, leaders documented a quiet shift that went almost unnoticed among the 2,000 people attending the annual meeting. For the first time, participants from the…
Religious leaders back common ground on abortion
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A number of religious leaders are backing an effort to defuse the contentious debate over abortion with common-ground solutions that reduce the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting women who might otherwise abort for…
EDITORIAL: A tax by any other name
O.K., Richmond churches, listen up. The city wants some money. Finance committees, brace yourselves for an added expense. Along with families, churches and businesses, cities also are feeling the financial crunch. Perhaps that’s why the city of Richmond has followed…
Saddleback removes audio clip saying abuse no excuse for divorce
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — A senior staff member of Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, quoted earlier this year as teaching the Bible does not permit a woman to divorce an abusive husband, has said the audio clip containing the comment…
Oklahoma Baptist newspaper apologizes to governor for illustration
OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) — A Baptist newspaper in Oklahoma has apologized for publishing an illustration digitally edited to make it appear a controversial proclamation declaring America a Christian nation was endorsed by the state’s Baptist governor. The Baptist Messenger, official…
Church bus accident claims one life; another teen still critical
SHREVEPORT, La. (ABP) — A Baptist church’s youth minister is recovering at home from injuries he received July 12 when the bus carrying his youth group to a Georgia camp rolled over on a Mississippi interstate highway, injuring 23 passengers…
BAPTIST BRIEFS
New Hope honored as Publisher of the Year. New Hope Publishers, the general trade publishing imprint for national Woman’s Missionary Union, was recognized as Publisher of the Year by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association at its Golden Scrolls Banquet…
Religious leaders urge inquiry into use of torture
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-profile religious leaders from various faiths is pushing President Obama to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate alleged United States-sanctioned use of torture since 9/11. Thirty-three religious leaders met with administration officials after…
Christians and Muslims should speak with, not about, each other, says European Baptist
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (ABP) — Christians and Muslims should speak with each other rather than about each other, a prominent European Baptist leader told reporters prior to a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement July 24. Tony Peck,…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: On evolution
I greatly appreciated Jonathan Waits’s letter in the May 21 edition [“Evolution is uncertain”]. I differ with him in that I am a young-earth creationist, but he was very respectful and pointed out several important facts that many strict evolutionists…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Got faith?
Our nation is experiencing difficult times. Our churches are also facing difficult times. After a lot of soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that the two things are connected. Polls and surveys are constantly revealing our overall disappointment…
Baylor Alumni Association loses links to university
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University graduates who want to reach their alumni association no longer can do it through the school's phone system, e-mail or website. The university recently notified the Baylor Alumni Association it would be removed from…