SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA KOTTE, Sri Lanka (ABP) — Religious freedom advocates worry that an anti-conversion bill making its way through Sri Lanka's Parliament could be used to justify discrimination against the small South Asian country's Christian minority. Groups including the National…
Activity reported on anti-conversion bill in Sri Lanka
SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA KOTTE, Sri Lanka (ABP) — Religious-freedom advocates worry that an anti-conversion bill making its way through Sri Lanka’s Parliament could be used to justify discrimination against the nation’s Christian minority. Groups including the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of…
Va. Baptists approve scaled-back budget, hear Campolo’s appeal
ROANOKE, Va. (ABP) — The Baptist General Association of Virginia, acknowledging an uncertain economic environment, approved a reduced budget for 2009 during a quiet annual meeting that drew about 1,200 people. About the only fireworks during the Nov. 11-12 meeting…
Azerbaijani pastor on trial released to house arrest
(ABP) — A jailed Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan was released Nov. 6 until Nov. 17, when his trial on what supporters say are bogus charges was scheduled to resume. Mission News Network reported the release of Hamid Shabanov, 52, leader…
American Baptist mission agency faces budget shortfall
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (ABP) — The board of American Baptists’ National Ministries met Nov. 12-13 to consider cuts to cover a $1 million gap between the organization’s income and expenses. According to American Baptist News Service, National Ministries Executive…
Georgia Baptists reject church with woman pastor
Julie Pennington Russell preached a sermon at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration earlier this year in Atlanta. JONESBORO, Ga. (ABP) — The Georgia Baptist Convention has decided to refuse gifts from a historic member church that last year called a…
Georgia Baptists reject church with woman pastor
Julie Pennington Russell preached a sermon at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration earlier this year in Atlanta. JONESBORO, Ga. (ABP) — The Georgia Baptist Convention has decided to refuse gifts from a historic member church that last year called…
West Virginia Southern Baptists
support marriage amendment
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (ABP) — The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists passed a resolution Nov. 7 calling on church members to support an amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage.The resolution called on members to “avail ourselves of…
Religious leaders ask Obama
to ban torture through order
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A multi-faith coalition of more than 200 religious organizations is calling on President-elect Barack Obama to, as one of his first acts in office, sign an executive order banning torture.“This is an opportunity where one individual could…
Continued investigation sheds light
on Baylor Election Day incidents
WACO, Texas (ABP) — According to Baylor University officials, continuing investigations into three Election Day incidents on campus revealed two apparently were not racially motivated as originally suspected.In a Nov. 13 letter to students, faculty and staff, Baylor Interim President…
Baptist state conventions
cope with budget woes
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Southern Baptist state conventions meeting around the country this fall are adjusting their finances to cope with a weakening economy.In the opening session of the Nov. 11-12 Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting, Executive Director James Porch…
North Carolina Baptists nix plan
that forwarded gifts to CBF
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — North Carolina Baptist churches soon won’t be able to support the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship through the state convention, messengers decided at their annual meeting Nov. 12.The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina voted to kill that…