DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — A church denied voting rights in the Georgia Baptist Convention because it is led by a woman pastor could face further sanctions, Pastor Julie Pennington-Russell reports in the church newsletter. In a recent meeting with representatives…
Former youth minister pleads guilty to sending explicit emails to teen
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (ABP) — A former American Baptist youth minister has pleaded guilty to sending sexually explicit emails and photos to a 15-year-old girl he was counseling. At his arraignment Nov. 5, David Esarey, 30, denied sending photos to the…
Website seeks to rally support for women’s ordination
CONROE, Texas (ABP) — A former Baptist General Convention of Texas employee and her husband of 47 years have started a website urging Baptist women to speak up for their rights to be ordained as deacons and senior pastors. A…
Baptist foundation loses money in Madoff scandal
OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) — At least one Baptist group lost money as part of Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme. The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma said it lost $1.4 million, less than 1 percent of its assets, when third-party…
Prominent Dallas pastor accepts BGCT post
DALLAS (ABP) — Jim Denison has resigned as senior teaching pastor at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to become founding president of the Center for Informed Faith and theologian-in-residence with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The new Center…
Birmingham site of first of four regional New Baptist Covenant meetings
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Planners of a Jan. 31 gathering of diverse Baptist groups hope a national mood set by the election of America's first African-American president will spill over into renewed relationships between black and white Baptists. "We are…
Christian social entrepreneurs measure success by a different yardstick
HONG KONG (ABP) — A growing number of Christian businesspeople — who see entrepreneurial ventures as missional opportunities — believe doing good and doing well don’t have to be mutually exclusive. These Christian social entrepreneurs are committed to using their…
Religious torture opponents pleased, concerned by Obama executive order
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious opponents of torture expressed simultaneous approval and concern Jan. 22 about a series of executive orders by President Obama upending his predecessor’s policies on detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects. On his second full day in…
Interfaith leaders urge Obama to act quickly on Middle East peace
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders are urging President Obama to act early in his administration to work for peace in the Middle East. Groups including Churches for Middle East Peace called on Obama in a Jan. 21 letter…
Former youth worker pleads guilty to molestation charge
LAKELAND, Fla. (ABP) — A former volunteer youth worker at a Florida Southern Baptist megachurch pleaded guilty Jan. 21 to molesting three boys, putting his fate in the hands of a judge instead of a jury. After jury selection and…
Multi-racial throng elated to watch barrier crumble
WASHINGTON (ABP) — “Now I don’t have to lie when I tell my children they can do anything,” one black father, with tears in his eyes, declared to the celebrants around him on the National Mall the moment Barack Obama…
Multi-racial inaugural throng elated to watch racial barrier crumble
WASHINGTON (ABP) — “Now I don’t have to lie when I tell my children they can do anything,” one black father, with tears in his eyes, declared to the celebrants around him on the National Mall the moment Barack Obama…