All Landmark Baptists believe in church succession, at least to some degree, but not every Baptist holding that position is — or was — a Landmarker, according to Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection. Neither J.M. Carroll,…
No evidence recession pulls people into pews
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Economic recession has not led to increased attendance at U.S. houses of worship, according to Gallup pollsters. Despite anecdotal evidence cited in high-profile media outlets, Americans' worship patterns held steady in 2008, the Gallup Poll reported. Since…
Baptists celebrate past with an eye to the future
In 400 years, the Baptist movement has grown to 200,000 churches with more than 50 million members in countries around the world. But even though Baptists globally continue to show statistical growth, the largest Baptist group in the United States…
Most Americans believe in multiple paths to salvation, survey reveals
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Most American Christians believe at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life, a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals. Even among evangelicals, who profess belief that an individual must…
Dan Goodman, N.C. seminary professor, dies suddenly
BOILING SPRINGS, N.c. (ABP) — A 40-year-old professor at a North Carolina Baptist divinity school died unexpectedly Jan. 13. Gardner-Webb University officials released a statement saying Dan Goodman, the Bob D. Shepherd Chair of New Testament Interpretation at the college’s…
Deadly Zimbabwe cholera outbreak crime against humanity, group says
NEW YORK (ABP) — The cholera outbreak that has killed thousands in Zimbabwe should be considered a crime against humanity and laid at the feet of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, an international doctors’ group said in a new report. Physicians…
Faith leaders urge Obama to ban torture on Inauguration Day
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A broad coalition of faith leaders has written a letter asking President-elect Barack Obama to make banning torture one of his first acts in office. Thirty-three leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions asked Obama to “restore…
U.S. team’s mission changes after Costa Rica earthquake
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Ten mission volunteers in Costa Rica to provide safe drinking water and vision clinics turned to disaster relief when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Jan. 9. This grandstand is staging area for a feeding operation being staffed…
Baptists, Muslims say dialogue a step in right direction
Baptist and Muslim scholars recently gathered at Andover Newton Theological School near Boston for a historic dialogue. (PHOTO/S. Farooqui) NEWTON CENTER, Mass. (ABP) — Several dozen Baptists and Muslims gathered Jan. 9-11 to repair a relationship better known for harsh…
UPDATE: Warren’s church says violence no excuse for divorce
(Editor's note: This story updates, replaces and corrects one issued Jan. 8, which incorrectly attributed the domestic-violence comments to Warren rather than Holladay. ABP regrets the error.) LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Comments on the Saddleback Church website that the Bible does not…
Robert Handy, Baptist historian, seminary professor, dies
NEW YORK (ABP) — Robert Handy, who studied under legendary Christian scholars like Paul Tillich before becoming a prominent Baptist historian in his own right, died at a retirement community in West Caldwell, N.J., Jan. 8. He was 90. Handy…
UPDATED: Warren’s church says domestic violence no excuse for divorce
(Editor's note: This story corrects and replaces an earlier story that erroneously attributed the comments on the audio to Rick Warren. ABP regrets the error.) LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Rick Warren, the Southern Baptist mega-church pastor chosen to deliver the…