WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U.S. military says it has destroyed Afghan-language Bibles confiscated from soldiers in Afghanistan to ensure troops did not break regulations against proselytizing. According to Reuters, officials denied that evangelical Christian soldiers seen in a video by…
ABP directors give posthumous award to Herb Reynolds
DALLAS (ABP) — The late Herbert H. Reynolds, longtime president of Baylor University, was praised recently by one of Congress' most ardent defenders of church-state separation as a mentor who "ignited my passion for religious liberty and separation of church…
Evangelical global-warming skeptics hire lobbyist
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As Congress debates clean-energy legislation, a conservative Christian group is ramping up lobbying efforts to raise questions about the science of climate change. The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation Committee recently hired Shannon Royce, a…
Religious freedom panel adds Nigeria to list of world’s worst violators
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom added Nigeria to its list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom in an annual report released May 1. Citing sectarian violence, attempts to expand Sharia law and complaints…
ABP gives posthumous award
DALLAS (ABP) — The late Herbert H. Reynolds, longtime president of Baylor University, was praised recently by one of Congress' most ardent defenders of church-state separation as a mentor who "ignited my passion for religious liberty and separation of church…
ABP directors give posthumous award to Herb Reynolds
DALLAS (ABP) — The late Herbert H. Reynolds, longtime president of Baylor University, was praised recently by one of Congress' most ardent defenders of church-state separation as a mentor who "ignited my passion for religious liberty and separation of church…
Churches flock to social networking sites
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — Just how many Christians are flocking to Facebook? It’s not an idle question, to judge from the number of people asking it on the wildly popular social networking site. “We Can Find 10,000,000 Christians on Facebook”…
Wide-open freedom of the Web offers challenges and ministry opportunities
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (ABP) — While social networking sites are far from private or anonymous, the public nature hasn’t prevented individuals from boldly posting information or photographs they likely wouldn’t share with such a diverse crowd in “real” life, pastors…
Former Southern Baptist pastor pleads guilty to sexual abuse
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — A former Southern Baptist pastor arrested in 2007 on charges that he sexually abused two teenage boys has avoided prison — for now. Steven Haney Steven C. Haney, 48, pastor of Walnut Grove Baptist Church in…
Hate-crimes bill divides evangelicals
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Hate-crimes legislation passed April 29 in the U.S. House of Representatives drew mixed reviews in the religious community. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1913, which passed the Democratic-controlled House by a vote of…
Swine flu postpones Texas Bible drill
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has postponed this weekend's state final Bible Drill and Speakers' Tournament due to the swine flu scare. The event, originally scheduled May 1-2 at the Baptist Building in Dallas, has been…
‘Outed’ blogger sues sheriff’s, prosecutor’s office
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — A formerly anonymous blogger who criticized his prominent Southern Baptist pastor has sued police and state prosecutors for revealing his identify to the church even though an investigation showed he had done nothing illegal. Tom Rich and…