VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (ABP) — Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said that God told him to look for a quick rebound of the economy in 2009 but warned against threats of long-term runaway inflation and instability in the Middle East. In…
Rick Warren accuses critics of ‘Christophobia’
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Pastor Rick Warren termed criticism of his selection to pray the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration "hate speech" and "Christophobia" in a video message on the Saddleback Church website. "A lot of you…
Pentagon tightens policy on distributing religious literature to recruits
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Pentagon recently reversed its policy of granting religious groups like the Gideons International preferential access to provide literature to new recruits. A new regulation distributed in November says non-federal entities can continue to receive permission to…
Controversy over inaugural prayer is nothing new
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President-elect Barack Obama's surprise pick of Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration Jan. 20 isn't the first time the ceremonial prayer has created controversy. Rick Warren's invitation to pray at…
Religion in presidential race tops ranking of ABP stories in 2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Baptist journalists and observers ranked religion in the 2008 presidential election the year's biggest story for Baptists. Faith in politics played a major role in the year's news cycle, according to an annual ranking of top…
Christian leaders call for easing travel restrictions to Cuba
NEW YORK (ABP) — Christian leaders on Dec. 18 called on President-elect Barack Obama to ease travel restrictions to Cuba they say hinder religious work. Denominational and ecumenical leaders from a variety of faith groups said restrictions imposed in 2005…
Survey says most Americans believe in multiple paths to salvation
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A majority of American Christians believe that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life, says a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Even among evangelicals, a branch of Protestant…
Southwestern Seminary cuts budget
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has announced plans to cut its budget by about 10 percent — a reduction between $3.5 million and $4 million — in an effort to "protect the institution from future financial…
Study says churches with WMU stronger supporters of SBC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Southern Baptist churches that have Woman's Missionary Union organizations support the denomination's missions programs at significantly higher levels than congregations without WMU, according to an analysis of reported church giving. Tensions over several issues surfaced in…
President Bush discusses faith in TV interview
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a television interview broadcast Dec. 8, President Bush said he doesn't know if God wanted him to be president, doubts the Bible is literally true, agrees you can believe in God and evolution simultaneously and believes…
William Jenkins, long-time Virginia Baptist board staffer, dies at 85
William H. Jenkins, for more than 30 years a staff member of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, died Dec. 10. He was 85. At the time of his death, Jenkins was living in Arizona, where he had moved after retiring…
Bush admnistration leaves mark on faith-based funding
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush's administration and a host of court rulings have indelibly altered the way that the federal government relates to religious charities, according to an analysis by experts on the subject. “The heart — the core —…